Bluetooth Virtual KeyboardBy i-techMGN Rating - Rating Legend
1 star: Find something else; save your money
2 star: Below average; not recommended
3 star: Average; performs as advertised but not inspiring
4 star: Good; worth the money
5 star: Great; best of its kind on the market
Review by Smeg36Review Date / May 7th, 2006IntroThe i-tech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard has been out for a little while now. Many comprehensive reviews have been written detailing every aspect of the "keyboard" (if you can call light being projected onto a surface a keyboard!). When it was first announced, prior to being released, it was widely thought of as vaporware. A product that would never reach the market. All naysayers were silenced when i-tech successfully released the virtual keyboard, revolutionizing the whole concept of PDA text input.
ConceptImagine the possibilities. Imagine the year 2020. PDAs with roll-out, 10" displays and built-in projecting keyboards. No need to fumble with a stylus on a screen or cramp your thumbs on a thumb board. Instead there's a little hole that a keyboard image is projected out of. That is the idea I always think of when I imagine the possibilities of the i-tech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard in the future. The concept of using light projected onto a surface to pickup finger movements and input them as text on a device in incredible. Truly genius. The product making it to market when so many thought it wouldn't is impressive. But is the technology ready? Can it perform?
PracticalitySo how does this amazing concept actually perform? Well, here's some text I input into my old Samsung i730 using the VKB in Pocket Word:
QUOTE
A note typed in Pcket Word to show the ccurzacy of the VKB. Haven't edited any of the content of gthis note so hyou can get an a curate representation of the accuracy of the keyb oard. It took me \about 1 minute to type this note. I am still gettimg the hang of the keyboard, a d I am getting faster and more accurate with use.
The fact of the matter is the concept seems to have preceded the technology. The VKB is perfect for amazing anyone and everyone. The WOW factor is off the charts; by far the most impressive piece of hardware I've ever laid eyes on. It does suffer from being a first generation product though. I can't think of a single product that didn't have problems with the first generation. Anyone tried an old, original Pocket PC? How about an Orange SPV Smartphone? Both very unstable. But look at the great products that were spawned from them. I hope the same holds true for the VKB. The potential of this product is astronomical.
ConclusionThe concept is unbelievable. Bringing it to market was impressive. It's perfect to impress your friends, family, mother-in-law, co-workers, and just about anybody else in the world. The actual functionality lacks somewhat from being a first generation product that was probably way beyond it's time, but nevertheless the VKB is one impressive piece of hardware. With persistence in working out the issues it has, the VKB could be a very useful addition to a PDA/Smartphone.