The Phantom Lapboard Is Finally Out

We weren't sure that this day would ever come. Even when we spoke with John Landino (Phantom Development Consultant) at CES, he wasn't sure the day would ever come. Today, I got an email from him.

That's right Mark; we have sold a product:) and booked a dollar...what is the world coming to?

It's good to see the $129 Phantom Lapboard finally released, a tale that started back in 2004 finally finished—expect the sky to fill with winged pigs shortly. [Phantom]

[ Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[ Tag: ]

The Phantom Lapboard Is Finally Out

We weren't sure that this day would ever come. Even when we spoke with John Landino (Phantom Development Consultant) at CES, he wasn't sure the day would ever come. Today, I got an email from him.

That's right Mark; we have sold a product:) and booked a dollar...what is the world coming to?

It's good to see the $129 Phantom Lapboard finally released, a tale that started back in 2004 finally finished—expect the sky to fill with winged pigs shortly. [Phantom]

[ Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[ Tag: ]

Oversized keyboard cranks up the font size on keys

If you're the type who just can't view a website without slamming the Control key and flinging that scroll wheel down (or up, we suppose) in order to gigantify the on-screen text, this here keyboard has your name written all over it. Offered up at Taylor Gifts, this unit actually doesn't seem much / any larger than your average KB, but each key sports a relatively prominent letter that aims to make typing much easier for the visually impaired. You can order yours now for $19.98.

[ Via: The Red Ferret Journal ]
[ Tag: elderly,gift,keyboard,oversized,Oversized keyboard,OversizedKeyboard,typing ]

Midify board adds MIDI port to Nintendo gaming handhelds

Not like you really need another excuse to use your DS as a MIDI controller, but the hacking fiends over at Division 6 have just made available the aptly-titled Midify board. The tiny creation enables users to add a MIDI port to just about anything, but it specializes in Midifying Nintendo handhelds. It can be installed directly into a GBA, GBA-SP, DS or DS Lite, though it'll play nice with other electronics should you procure a few extra parts. We won't even bother mentioning what all you can do with this, but those already salivating at the thought shouldn't have too much trouble parting with $34.99.

[ Via: Hack A Day ]
[ Tag: audio,Division 6,Division6,ds,ds lite,DsLite,gba,hack,midi,Midify,mod,music,nintendo,sound ]

LapWorks Gamers Desk enables couch-based PC gaming

Or you could say it enables you to keep your fundament firmly planted for, oh, ever. Yes friends, LapWorks' Gamers Desk essentially eliminates the need to get up and move over to the family PC where a mouse / keyboard combo can guide you to victory in yet another deathmatch. This lapboard (no, not that Lapboard) keeps a keyboard and mouse within reach of couch-based gamers, enabling them to fire up WoW on their HTPC and still maintain the edge afforded to them by using the aforementioned KB / critter tandem. The unit itself measures 11-inches wide by 26.75-inches across, is made from ABS plastic and includes non-skid rubber pads on the underside to keep it from slipping around in that pile of Doritos. It's available now in gun-metal gray for $39.95, but a few more hues should be ready to roll later this year for those patient enough to wait around.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: comedy,desk,Ergonomic,fps,Futura,gamers desk,GamersDesk,gaming,gaming desk,GamingDesk,LapWorks,MouzPads,weird,Zboard ]

Kazuharu Sakura's leather keyboard: only touch typists need apply

Alright, so we suppose a labeled version could be created upon request, but the beauty of Kazuharu Sakura's handmade leather keyboard is really in its simplicity. Just imagine: your delicate fingertips frolicking endlessly on the soft, supple skin covering the abnormally large Enter / atypically small Space bar, not to mention every key in between. Our knees get weak just thinking about it.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: art,design,japan,Kazuharu Sakura,KazuharuSakura,keyboard,leather,leather keyboard,LeatherKeyboard ]

Glass keyboard concept opts for cameras instead of keys

While we can't say it's our notion of an ideal keyboard, we've still got to admire designer Kong Fanwen's ability to throw any sense of practicality to the wind and ditch the whole idea of keys with his new "No-key Keyboard" concept. In the place of that tried and true typing mechanism, this keyboard would instead make use of a camera and the "latest motion capture technology" to watch your fingers' movement and capture all the right keystrokes (ideally). On the upside, that'd apparently make the keyboard fully waterproof, and it'd apparently come with some snazzy lighting options to help you find those non-existent keys in the dark.

[ Via: Pocket-lint ]
[ Tag: concept,glass keyboard,GlassKeyboard,keyboard,keyboard concept,KeyboardConcept,no-key keyboard,No-keyKeyboard ]

PC Keyboard Salt and Pepper Shakers don't support SureType

Just what you needed, right? After a hard day's night pounding away on keys for The Man, do you really want to season your grub with a little QWERTY? Amazingly, we bet the answer is still yes. Get your set now for $10.95.

[ Via: technabob ]
[ Tag: cooking,food,funny,keyboard,pepper,salt,shakers,weird ]

Researchers show off flexible, band-aid-sized tactile display

We've seen tactile displays of all shapes and sizes, but none quite like this latest creation from a group of researchers at Korea's Sungkyunkwan University and the University of Nevada, which promises to be at your disposal whenever you need it. That's possible thanks to the electroactive polymer material the display is based on, which consists of eight layers of tiny actuator films that have been sprayed with electrodes in a specific pattern, allowing the skin to be stimulated without any additional electromechanical transmission. In addition to making it possible to wrap the display around your finger like a band-aid, that also makes the system extremely power efficient and, apparently, cost effective and easy to manufacture. As with other tactile displays, the researchers say this one could be especially useful as a braille display for the blind, although they don't see any shortage of other potential applications, with them foreseeing it being used in everything from virtual keyboards to tele-surgical gloves.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: braille display,BrailleDisplay,Sungkyunkwan University,SungkyunkwanUniversity,tactile display,TactileDisplay,university of nevada,UniversityOfNevada ]

Niski-Ki's $155 handmade USB keyboard comes with extra "$" symbols

It only makes sense to go all expensive on the things you look at most often, like your TV, car, or -- in this case -- your keyboard. For only (!!) $155, you too can get a handmade Nishi-Ki USB keyboard. Yours is sure to be the object of typist envy cube farm-wide. Nishi-ki keyboards pack 86 keys and work via USB or PS/2 interfaces. Sorry, Mac users, no Command keys.

[ Via: BoingBoing ]
[ Tag: keyboard,nishi-ki,usb ]

Optimus Popularis prototype hits the web

Watch out, everybody, the Optimus Popularis has gone from foam mockup to proper-looking prototype. (We're really digging that full-length display in the space bar.) With any luck, we won't have to watch this one develop over the course of 2-3 years like we did the Maximus -- and with a little more luck, this one will be easier to type on, too.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: art lebedev,ArtLebedev,breaking news,BreakingNews,optimus popularis,OptimusPopularis ]

Carpet keyboard gives your feet a non-QWERTY workout

We'll spare you our feelings on non-QWERTY layouts, but one thing's for sure -- Maurin Donneaud's Carpet 'board would certainly stretch the mind and leg muscles if used for any length of time. It isn't the first fabric keyboard to grace the phalanges of eager typists, but this DIY concoction is definitely the largest we've seen. Peck the links below for more shots of the construction process.

[ Via: Hack-A-Day ]
[ Tag: carpet keyboard,CarpetKeyboard,diy,fabric,fabric keyboard,FabricKeyboard,hack,keybpard ]

I-O Data rolls out mobile Bluetooth keyboard

Think that keyboard on your subnote is cramped? Try blasting out 115 words-per-minute on this thing. I-O Data has just revealed an absurdly diminutive new keyboard with built-in Bluetooth that has a real thing for hooking up with handsets. Nah, it's not nearly as cool as having a 'board on your crotch, but it's a respectable (and way more modest) alternative.

[ Via: Pocket-lint ]
[ Tag: bluetooth,bluetooth keyboard,BluetoothKeyboard,I-O Data,I-oData,keyboard,mobile keyboard,MobileKeyboard ]

PEGA Look@Me emoticon keyboard and other ASUS-funded product concepts

Asus' R&D design studio, PEGA, looks to be coming up with some surprising product concepts as part of its Between On & Off exhibition. We're betting that none of these will ever see the light of day, but we're intrigued -- and prematurely annoyed -- by the Look@Me emoticon keyboard. Stocked with 40 emoticon bits (eyes, mouths, noses), the keyboard allows users to express their emotions on a more regular basis, if that's possible. Other concepts include Embrace, a night light that emits as much light as you have opened the book; JustDrawIt!, a power management device that visualizes on / off settings for appliances with a pen; and the On&On bench that doubles as a solar charger. Sadly, the exhibition is over, but check the gallery below for some of PEGA's other concepts.
[ Via: OhGizmo ]
[ Tag: asus,emoticon,emoticons,night light,night lights,NightLight,NightLights,pega,power management,PowerManagement,solar power,SolarPower ]

Wooden mousepad works great with wooden mice

What better to complement a wooden mouse (and wooden keyboard, for that matter) than a wooden mousepad? Nothing, that's what. This masterfully constructed jewel not only brings the tree to your workspace, but it's slightly angled for ergonomic pleasure and can likely be used upside-down in a pinch. Yeah, the $60.31 sticker makes this thing absurdly overpriced, but your wooden PC just wouldn't be complete without it.

[ Via: CrunchGear ]
[ Tag: mousepad,wood,wooden,wooden mousepad,WoodenMousepad ]

iKey's Membrane keyboard is built for the nastiest of environments

iKey's done this whole rugged keyboard thing a time or two before, so when it builds one meant to operate like a champ around environments laden with grease, you know it means business. The new line of Membrane keyboards -- which arrives in a trio of flavors -- boasts a stainless steel enclosure, or customers looking to integrate can snag the OEM edition and do as they please. The board possesses a "hard-coated, textured, polyester film that is more rugged than industrial silicone rubber keypads," and it's designed to withstand "directed hose water, disinfectants and environmental contaminants." Seems as though you'll have to phone up iKey to find out what this Apocalypse-approved device will run you, but it should get along quite well with that impenetrable Iron Drive of yours.

[ Via: Coolest-Gadgets ]
[ Tag: DT-5K-MEM-TP,ikey,industrial keyboard,IndustrialKeyboard,keyboard,membrane,rugged,tough ]

IOGEAR intros Dual-Link DVI KVMP switch alongside two others

Eager to get busy with multiple workstations on a single monitor, are you? If so, IOGEAR's providing three more ways to get you there, starting with the 2-port GCS1802 and 4-port GCS1804. The $199.95 / $299.95 KVMP (Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Peripheral) switches each enable USB 2.0 peripherals to be shared, and you'll also find support for 2.1 audio. The real winner, however, is the 4-port GCS1204, which handles dual-link DVI with nary a grumble. Granted, that one will set you back a stiff $449.95, but at least it -- along with those other two -- is available right now.
[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: accessory,GCS1204,GCS1802,GCS1804,iogear,KVM,kvm switch,KVMP,KvmSwitch,usb,usb 2.0,Usb2.0 ]