AirType, the Keyless Keyboard, is Aiming to Make Invisible Strides in the Computer Tech Market
The evolution of the modern computer keyboard wasn’t an overnight feat. The first patented typing devices were designed in the 1700s and typewriters were not considered a relatively popular item until the early 1900s. The 1940s signaled development of the early, bulky computer keyboard, and computer and keyboard history continues to be made year after year. Today, we have a multitude of interchangeable keyboards at our disposal: Virtual Keyboards, Typewriter Stands, Roll-Up and Washable Keyboards, and even Alchemist Keyboards to name just a few. One thing that every single one of these keyboards has in common is this: the numbers and letters are visible. If you look down at your keyboard, you’re able to note where each key is placed and determine where your typing digits will land next. The downside? Even the “portable” keyboards aren’t that portable, and AirType is aiming to fix that.
AirType, the Bluetooth, keyless keyboard of tomorrow, is aiming to eliminate the current keyboard travel restrictions by eliminating the bulky plastic and buttons we’re currently accustomed to. So, how can you type when there isn’t even a laser keyboard drafted on the surface of a table space? AirType creates a seemingly virtual keypad that you can’t see, and if you move your fingers as if you’re typing on a standard keyboard, then words will form onto your computer screen. It’s really that simple! According to the developers, AirType will familiarize itself with your typing habits and adapt to your unique typing style. An added bonus is that you won’t have to type on a flat surface- you can literally type in the air.
The device is currently in its early stages of development, so hands-on testing is limited to the developers and team. The idea of typing without any physical guides may seem daunting, but the most efficient typing is completed when you are looking straight at your screen, not down at your fingers. The design and execution is different, but the end result is the same. Progress does not emerge from thinking inside of the box.
