I am looking down at my keyboard as I write this because I can't
touch type. If I make a mistake, I don't know about it until I look up
at
the screen - and in doing so I stop typing. What I need is to have
both
the keyboard and the screen in my field of vision at the same time.
Enter the
"easy-eye-type" monitor/keyboard array (EZ-iType). This
is a monitor and keyboard setup designed to
resolve this problem. The screen is transparent and hovers over the
top of your keyboard. Combining both Smart Glass technology
[link1]
to adjust the opacity of the screen and Transparent Projection
Screen
technology [link2] to cast the image, the monitor is given a dual-
funtion visual display.
When typing, the monitor lowers its opacity in order for the user to
see his/her keyboard, whilst simultaneously being able to see in
their
peripheral vision the letters being displayed on screen.
As soon as the mouse or keyboard direction buttons are used the
monitor automatically switches back to full opacity allowing you to
navigate your document accurately. To re-enter typing mode, a
button
on the left of the keyboard (on its own and textured in order for
simple
location) flips the screen back to semi-transparent.
A software design tweak will keep the on-screen text cursor
hovering
over the top of the keyboard, scrolling the page up as you complete
each line, a bit like the typewriters of old.
Hopefully, this should make for easier typing and also reduce strain
on the eye as it exercises by readjusting to focus both on the
screen
and the keyboard behind.
Further design tweaks include: illuminated keys for better visibility;
adjustable opacity levels via a dial on the side of the monitor; and
articulated stands for both monitor and keyboard for full ergonomic
adjustments.
My only concern is the slightly reduced distance to the screen and
the potential ergonomic drawbacks; these would need to be tested
once a prototype was built.
Illustration to follow. [link3]