An inflatable keyboard, manufactured from two layers of plastic, with the contacts on either side of small air-bladders.

When not required, the keyboard is deflated and folded into a storage compartment on the PDA. When needed the user inflates the keyboard and by 'squishing' the air from the bladders causes the key contacts to close registering a keypress.

Admittedly this wouldn't be suitable for a touch typist (or anyone for long periods) but it would be better than the current 3 letter per key arrangement used on phones.
-- witless, Feb 05 2003

not like this http://www.kelcom.i...latablekeyboard.htm
but why does this exist? [rbl, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Flexible keyboards http://www.backpack.../Keyboards_Keypads/
Half-way down the page. [8th of 7, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Lessons", Neela Daren plays a duet with Jean-Luc on a "roll-out" piano-like keyboard; which would be similar to this idea. Flexible keyboards are Baked (link).

Inflating the keyboard with positive pressure would give it more rigidity and might improve its feel and useability.
-- 8th of 7, Feb 05 2003


Imagine trying to do a CTRL-ALT-DEL though...
-- LittleMissLoopy, Feb 06 2003



random, halfbakery