The Virtual Laser Keyboard (VKB) online worldwide shop

The Story
Smart phones and PDAs offer an impressive amount of computing power. But in practical terms, they are not always easy to use. Writing long emails or other documents can frankly be a pain.

The VKB could revolutionize the way that PDAs and Smart phones are used, exploiting much of the unused computing power of such mobile devices, thus helping users to work more effectively on the move.

The cigarette-lighter-sized VKB uses laser and infrared technology to project a full-size QWERTY keyboard onto any flat surface for almost any palmtop computer, PDA or mobile phone. It is also easily integrated into a mobile phone, with Siemens and Samsung having shown versions of the technology integrated into their phones at recent trade shows.

For the first time Users can then type as normal on this virtual keyboard (VKB), enabling them to work quickly and effectively, taking the pain and frustration out of minuscule keyboards and handwriting recognition software.

Roughly the size of a disposable lighter, (90 x 34 x 24 mm), the VKB enables users to type email or long text as easily as with a conventional keyboard. Imagine how much easier it would be if you had a proper mobile phone keyboard that fits in your pocket...

Using the VKB

The following settings can be controlled either via your laptop, your PC or your compatible Smartphone and PDA:

Sound: Users can control the virtual keyboard sound effects (keyclicks)
Intensity: Control the intensity of the projected virtual keyboard
Connection: Connection to the appropriate Laptop/PC port
Sensitivity: Users can adjust the sensitivity of the virtual keyboard
Timeouts: Adjustable timeouts to conserve the virtual keyboard's battery life
Auto-repeat: Allows the VKB to automatically repeat a key based on prescribed parameters

The Virtual Keyboard uses light to project a full-sized computer keyboard onto almost any surface. Used with Smart Phones and PDA's, the VKB provides a practical way to do email, word processing and spreadsheet tasks, allowing the user to leave the laptop computer at home. VKB observes the user's finger movements to interpret and record keystrokes. Since the virtual keyboard is an image projected in light, it completely disappears when not in use.

What are the main uses of the VKB?
- Personal digital assistants
- Cellular telephones
- Space saving computers
- Tablet PCs
- Laptops
- Industrial environments
- Clean rooms
- Sterile and medical environments
- Test Equipment
- Transport (Air, Rail, Automotive)

Virtual Keyboard (VKB) Settings The following settings on your infrared keyboard can be controlled either via your laptop/pc or your compatible Smartphone or PDA:
- Sound :
users can control the virtual keyboard sound effects (keyclicks) Intensity: control the intensity of the projected infrared keyboard
- Connection:
connection to the appropriate Laptop / PC port
- Sensitivity:
users can adjust the sensitivity of the virtual keyboard
- Timeouts:
adjustable timeouts to conserve the virtual keyboard's battery life
- Auto-repeat:
allows the VKB to automatically repeat a key based on prescribed parameters

Additional Technical Details:

Cost-effective - eliminates the cost of maintaining mechanical keyboards in volatile locations
Applications: home, office, clean rooms, medical & dental facilities, dirt-free environments, classrooms, etc
Features: Light-weight, small-size, LiOn rechargeable battery. Power-save mode, audible click feature
Power: lithium-ion rechargeable battery w/ac adapter
Compatibility List: Windows 98, 2000, NT, XP, Palm OS, PPC
Includes: vkb, cable, manual & software
Keyboard Projector: Light source - Red diode laser; Keyboard layout - 63 key / full sized QWERTY layout; Keyboard size - 275 x 90mm projected keyboard size; Keyboard position - 70mm from VKB unit; Projection surface - Non-reflective, opaque flat surface; Visibility - Good contrast up to 600 lux ambient illumination
Keystroke Sensor: Ambient illumination - Works under all standard indoor illuminations up to 1000 lux; Detection rate - Up to 400 characters per minute; Detection algorithm - Multiple keystroke support; Effective keystroke - Approximately 2mm; Operating surface - Any firm flat surface with no protrusions greater than 1mm
Electrical: Power source - Integrated, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (~450 mAH); Voltage - 3.6 Volts; Battery capacity - > 120 minutes continuous typing;Interface - RS232 serial interface; Connector - 4 pin for serial interface + battery charger
Mechanical & Environmental: Dimensions - Approximately 24 x 34 x 90 mm; Weight: 160-serial / 80 - BT gram; Temperature - operation 10 – 35 Deg. C; Temperature - storage -10 – 75 Deg. C
Certification & Safety: EMC per CE - EN 55024; 55022; EN 61000-3-2; -3-3; Laser safety - IEC 60825-1; Class 1 laser enclosure

Compatibility
Basic Compatibility Tips
Due to the various inquiries regarding the virtual keyboard's compatibility we tried to formulize a "rule of thumb" that each customer/user may use to check by him/herself.
Note: There are hundreds of devices in todays market, most of which are supposed to support our technology but we simply can't check them all, However the basic conditions are the detailed below:

The virtual keyboard supports the Bluetooth HID (Human Interface Device) and SPP (Serial Port Profile) services, or profiles. In order for a device (i.e. PC, PDA, phone) to be able to work with the virtual keyboard it must answer to one of the following:

A. Able to support the Bluetooth HID profile - Though quite common on USB dongles and/or built-in to laptops, this profile has not been found on PDAs and phones until recently and may now be found on devices running Windows Mobile 5. This service/profile may be referred to as "HID" or "Input Device" or "Keyboard/Mouse". When pairing and connecting the virtual keyboard with such a device, there is no need for any additional software.

B. Able to support the Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP) - This service/profile is quite common on all devices supporting Bluetooth, though many of the "not-so-smart" phones, may not have included this service in their product. To utilize this connection, the user needs a small software program called a VKB Driver. These drivers, supplied by i.Tech are platform dependent, so a user will need to know what Operating System is running on his device to know whether there is a matching driver.

The following drivers/platforms are supported:

*Blackberry
*PalmOS 5
*Pocket PC 2003 Family (using Microsoft, Widcom/Broadcom and Extended Systems Bluetooth Stacks)
*Smartphone 2003 (using Microsoft Bluetooth Stacks)
*Symbian OS 6.x - 8.x Series 60 User Interface
*Symbian OS 6.x - 8.x UIQ 2.x User Interface
*Windows Mobile 5
*Windows 2000/XP

The following charts include compatibility details and updated drivers for all VKB tested models. Many devices are compatible but have simply not been tested, if your device does not appear on the list below, you can always try the VKB out and return it within 30 days for a full refund.

(See Our Return Policy)

Virtual Keyboard Serial version Supported Models:

Model Name	Platform/OS	HID	VKB Driver (SPP)
O2 XDA I	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
O2 XDA II	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
Dell Axim 50/X50V	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
Orange SPV e200	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
Palm Tungsten T3	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
Palm m505	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
HP2210	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
HP3417	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
HP4510	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
HP5455	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
HP5550	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar
Laptops/Desktop PC	Serial VKB Driver		vkb-cd.rar

Virtual Keyboard BlueTooth version Supported Models:

Model Name

Platform/OS

HID

VKB Driver (SPP)

Acer N50

PocketPC2003 Widcom