As a author for Hackster Information, I’m uncovered to all the newest know-how. Every thing from modern shopper devices to cutting-edge tutorial analysis in areas together with synthetic intelligence, consumer interfaces, and robotics crosses my desk every day. However now, it’s official — I’ve seen all of it.
Alright, so perhaps that can solely maintain true till tomorrow, however the AutoKeybo — which was simply demonstrated at this 12 months’s Shopper Electronics Present — got here at me proper out of left area and left me speechless (fortuitously, I can nonetheless kind). Simply whenever you thought the keyboard and mouse, which have been round primarily unchanged for many years, have been solved issues, the AutoKeybo appeared to problem that assumption. Whether or not it’ll show to be helpful, or go the best way of the Segway, stays to be seen, however after you have seen this uncommon keyboard, you’ll by no means be capable to take a look at your previous keyboard the identical approach once more.
Eek! A mouse! (📷: AutoKeybo)
The issue the builders wish to resolve with this gadget is context switching. Specifically, they imagine that we must always not have to repeatedly elevate up our arms to achieve for a mouse or numeric keypad as we shift from one activity to the subsequent. And though that is such a typical chore as to be automated for many of us, it does appear that there may very well be the potential to extend productiveness by eliminating this pointless exercise.
The best way that the workforce achieved this purpose is certainly eye-catching, if not a bit odd. AutoKeybo is provided with a Raspberry Pi 5 laptop and a digicam that watches the consumer’s arms. By operating a pc imaginative and prescient algorithm onboard the Raspberry Pi, the keyboard can perceive when the consumer is lifting one in all their arms. And when such an occasion is detected, trays slide in or out to reveal a unique perform.
The keyboard has a break up design, with a unique set of keys introduced to every hand. The highest trays prolong to disclose a full QWERTY keyboard. When both hand lifts, the trays slide in independently to disclose a numeric keypad on one facet, or a trackpad or mouse on the opposite, that are then positioned instantly beneath the arms with out having to achieve. Lifting the arms once more restores the QWERTY keyboard.
The AutoKeybo is meant to be related to a pc by way of USB, identical to every other keyboard. However because it comes with a Raspberry Pi inside, it may also be related on to a monitor by way of an HDMI cable to offer an all-in-one expertise. That may very well be helpful for some on the go hacking.
A draw back to the AutoKeybo is that it’s fairly massive — these sliding trays need to go someplace, in any case. The big case might make it tough to suit the keyboard in your normal keyboard tray, and may additionally mess along with your typing posture. And talking of posture, you will have to make use of near-perfect kind for the tray sliding mechanism to work properly. Early reviews counsel that should you don’t do every part good, the trays will open or shut unexpectedly at instances.
Given these points, and the fairly massive $699 price ticket that’s anticipated when the AutoKeybo is launched later this 12 months, these keyboards in all probability is not going to discover their approach onto too many desks. However maybe with some extra work, a future model could considerably change the best way we work together with computer systems.
