Typing Device Designed for AR/VR
Hello! I am a hobbyist hardware developer who has been working on a project to create a typing device for augmented/virtual reality applications. Smart Glasses users are my primary market, but I imagine it would be useful for VR headsets as well, and maybe even smart watches (which is good, seeing as the Smart Glasses market is probably like 3 1/2 people total right now)I'm just here to ask y'all's opinions: Would you be interested in a device that allows the user to type unobtrusively in a VR environment? Enabling texting, note taking, easy web browsing, and generally making all apps easier for the user to interact with--without taking away freedom of movement like a regular keyboard does.
Think something that accomplishes the same thing as this one company's product, Tap, but with some major differences (like not needing any surface and not costing a gross amount).
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Product - Tap
Better explanation of my device (let's call it Digit for now)
Similarities to Tap:
Enables typing at reasonable speeds (still figuring out how fast, hoping ~40wpm, so not replacing a keyboard in every situation, but quite manageable)
One handed
Steep learning curve for learning the method of typing (roughly equal to when you learned how to touch type on a standard keyboard)
Wireless and mobile
Can't type and use that hand at the same time
Differences from Tap:
Don't have to take it off to use your hand--more importantly, don't have to put it ON to type, so typing can be at any moment's notice as long as you aren't actively holding something in that one hand
Doesn't require a surface, less impact on the fingers than a keyboard
More comfortable, less noticeable
Doesn't require accelerometers or gyros (YET, I may add mouse-like navigation using a single 3-axis gyro/accelerometer eventually)
Cheap. My prototype cost me ~$14 in supplies off amazon (many hours to build it by hand though). Mass production would make that a few bucks.
Also has the potential to add flex sensors, but it's not coming anytime soon on my prototypes.
SO. Would this be useful for VR? I'm not very experienced with VR tbh, but I know that I use the keyboard for both game inputs and typing constantly in PC games, so I expect it's annoying that it isn't available in VR.
Questions and/or comments of ANY kind would be greatly appreciated!
(... Anybody interested in a free one for beta testing it?)
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