Red laser projects virtual keyboard

17 Jun 2002

Scientists have invented a virtual keyboard projected onto a flat surface by a red-emitting diode laser.

Researchers from Israel-based company VKB have developed a virtual keyboard that can be projected onto any flat surface. Unveiled at this week's CeBIT exhibition, the company says the keyboard provides a mobile solution to keyboard data entry.

Because the keyboard is projected, it is also said to be ideal for use in sterile environments such as cleanrooms and hospital operating theatres.

Klony Lieberman, vice president of research and development, told Optics.org: "A red-emitting diode laser projects a keyboard onto the surface. The keyboard is full size and the letters are in a standard format."

The diode laser operates in continuous-wave mode. As a Class 1 laser, the output power is below the level at which eye injury can occur.

Optical infrared sensing is used to detect the users hand movements over the keyboard. Lieberman is reluctant to reveal how VKB achieved this result as the company has a patent pending on the technology, but he says "all we can say is that we know where your hands are".

Rechargeable batteries similar to those in cell phones power the compact unit.

In the short term, Lieberman says that the system will find application in keyboard data entry in combination with personal digital assistants and other mobile devices. In the longer term, he says that industrial environments such as cleanrooms and sterile medical environments will benefit from the technology.

At present, the device is not available commercially although VKB hopes to begin shipping the devices by the end of the year.

Author
Jacqueline Hewett is news reporter on Optics.org and Opto & Laser Europe magazine.