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Re: Optimus Tactus



 On 2/4/08, Samuel Baldwin <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> 
> http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus-tactus/
> 
> Star Trek anyone? I think it's very, very cool, and would be very, 
> very fun, but the lack of feedback (coupled with the price), would 
> probably keep me from buying this. I'm wondering what the common 
> consensus on keyboards is with BLU members. I personally like things 
> like the Model M, and Das Keyboard. 
> 

Interesting concept. I think some Star Trek set design guys have been quoted 
in the past saying essentially they don't think this is entirely practical; 
it just looks cool and spacey on TV. 

But could it be made practical if there was some kind of tactile 
feedback--any tactile feedback? Would it be possible to wear very thin 
gloves made of ferromagnetic material and have the keyboard switch a field 
on and off when you're anywhere near a "key"? Or could we sense a static 
electric charge? (Probably a bad idea given that you're controlling an 
electronic computer.) How about a low-frequency acoustic signal to tell your 
fingertips they're in the right place? 

Star Trek display/controllers probably use low energy "force fields" to 
replace physical key borders. We need those here. :^) 

Brendan Kidwell 

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