I want it: the keyboard of the future

What if we could invent the products of tomorrow in the way we want them? Me, I want a keyboard that would have a glass plate displaying a backlit keyboard that would transform itself into a giant pad when your fingers slide over its surface.

In reality, this glass plate wouldn't be a glass plate at all. "Just" a completely transparent LCD screen, with no surrounding casing. It would be powered cordlessly thanks to induction. No need for all that cabling over my desk!

My future peripheral has no mouse. Everything would be gathered together within a single object. A sort of natural descendant of the Logitech Illuminated keyboard, the Apple iPad (for its virtual onscreen keypad), the Magic Trackpad, HTC mobiles and the Logitech G500. As with my favourite mouse, a gradual vertical movement (on a separate area, to the right of the keyboard) gives the same effect as notches on the scroll, using a similar force return system to the one implemented on HTC phones (such as the Legend), while a long rapid stroke starts the free scroll system, allowing you to scroll down pages more rapidly.

The touch screen alone doesn't' seem realistic

The alternatives on offer in Minority Report and Avatar, are dematerialised (why not!) touch screens. During almost every touch screen test (eg: Iiyama T2250MTS) we've mentioned how it's tiring to keep your arm in the air. A touch screen, whether current or future, isn't enough in itself.

Which brings us to another product that would replace our keyboard / mouse ensemble that is surely coming to the end of its life.

A redesign for each application

On this keyboard of the future, each application would have its own optimal and free plug-in. Either you would be able to retain the basic configuration keyboard or go for the redesign, optimised, customizable, for each application. With pre-programmable features associated with different buttons for example. Gamers and all those who make repetitive movements would thus have these movements redesigned as macros. Very nice!

And while we're dreaming, the cost would be... £49? No doubt initial pricing would be more like £150 however. Even at that price, though, I'd go for it!

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