the keyboards ~ asdfgf ;lkjhj to ............ MS folding keyboard

What was your first Mobile phone ?  Remember the rugged Nokia 5110  with excellent battery life; it  featured a 84 by 48 pixel monochrome LCD with four LED back lights.  It was discontinued  in 2001, replaced by other smaller and lighter devices. One of the models I bought was ‘Nokia 3310’ a GSM mobile launched in Sept. 2000.  The phone sold extremely well.  All these phones had only Num keypad- where  3 alphabets were assigned to a number  - for example a,b,c were assigned to no. 2.  Still people could type messages faster and compile longer messages too ! 

“asdfgf     ;lkjhj” – – nothing hard to decipher – every Typist started their first lesson in typing – it is primarily the middle row of the typewriter and typing this initiated the acclimatisation with the keyboard.  Later day mobiles too had keyboards in this pattern, enabling typists to type their messages faster.   Every  keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to produce some symbols requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence. While most keyboard keys produce letters, numbers or signs (characters), other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or execute computer commands.

In  typewriters, the pressing of keyboard was physical – every press corresponded with the movement of a rod that would move to etch an impression on the paper through a ribbon.  In normal usage, the keyboard is used as a text entry interface to type text and numbers into a word processor, text editor or other programs. In a modern computer, the interpretation of key presses is generally left to the software. A computer keyboard distinguishes each physical key from every other and reports all key presses to the controlling software.

A few years back, came the touch screens where users can manipulate by a touch on the icon rather than typing a key or giving a command.  Away, ‘Keys’  is a MIDI keyboard, built with aspiring piano students in mind. The company's first music tech creation was the gTar, a light-em-up, button-mashing "guitar" that was a hybrid between a Guitar Hero controller and a glorified iPhone dock. Three years later, the gTar's creators are applying the same philosophy to keyboards.

In the ever changing techno World, comes Microsoft’s $100 folding keyboard that can connect to any phone or tablet.  A team of designers has created a folding keyboard that fits easily in a pocket and contains eight so-called 'ultra smart' keys that cover all 26 letters of the alphabet. TextBlade uses software mapping to recognise and learn which keys the user is typing, and this is said to offer the same full spacing as on a standard desktop keyboard.   MailOnline in Barcelona reports that Microsoft’s universal foldable keyboard would go  on sale in July this year.  It was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  The wireless board connects via Bluetooth to any iOS, Android and Windows device to make typing easier than on a touchscreen. It has a full-size keyset but folds in half to make it easier to fit in a bag or pocket.

Because the board is designed to work with multiple devices, Microsoft has ditched the Windows key as well as function keys from its original Universal Keyboard.  The UFK was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and is follow up to the Washington-based company’s non-folding version announced last year. It is sold in addition to the keyboards specifically designed for the firm’s range of Surface tablets.

To use the keyboard, unfold it and it will search for Bluetooth-enabled devices. Select the keyboard from the Bluetooth list on a phone or tablet and pair the devices. Once connected, the board will link automatically when paired devices are in range. The wireless board  connects via Bluetooth to any iOS, Android and Windows device to make typing easier than on a touchscreen. The board will last for up to three months on a single charge 

The $99 (£65) TextBlade was designed by California-based WayTools. It consists of three pieces that are held together by magnets, either when folded together or assembled in front of a tablet or phone. This includes the two rows of keys, and a wrist rest. There are eight so-called ‘ultra smart’ keys that contain the 26 letters of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation marks.  When laid flat, the board is 0.1-inch (5mm) thick and when folded it stays together using magnets.  It is also water repellant and features a fabric that prevents it from slipping on a surface

Microsoft said the board will go on sale in July and costs $99.95 (Rs.6250 approx).

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

6^th Mar 2015.