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This lightweight full-sized computer keyboard would be made of semi-soft foam, except for the keys which would be normal hard keyboard keys. The wiring and internal structures inside the keyboard would also be flexible, enabling the keyboard to be squashed and put into your pocket, purse, etc.
Upon
taking it out of your pocket, the keyboard would unsquash perfectly back into its original shape, due to memory effect. You could then type on it normally. Can be optionally plugin or wireless.
Memory Foam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_foam Memory Foam [sanman, Apr 12 2013]
[link]
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Doesn't "memory foam" normally reffer to foam that remembers how it was squashed and takes a while to return to it's original shape? That's how the "memory foam" matress pad we bought works. For this, it seems like you would want normal foam that will spring back rapidly. |
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I'm also having a hard time picturing some way to construct the hard keys so they don't still take up a lot of space. If you could get them to stack nicely they might get pretty small, but if you just squash the keyboard it seems like they will be a jumbled mass. Did you have something in mind? |
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This is a viable kickstarter idea. The last keyboard I took
apart had no internal components that you couldn't roll up
into a ball (other than the plastic frame that the key
groups sit on). |
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I think I like this idea, but how is it better than or
different from the kind that simply rolls up? |
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Because this one would have full-sized keys with deep,
soft, springy actions. I type between two and seven
thousand words most days and I can't tell you how
important that is. Low-profile laptop keyboards and touch
pads are hell on your tendons if you type a lot. |
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The advantage to this would not be that its volume could
be reduced significantly (although it would obviously
compact some) but that its volume would conform into any
space you crammed it into. You could fold it in half and
stow it in your briefcase, pack it in a suitcase with your
shoes and clothes, or just roll it up and put a bungee
around it. |
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