ZoomBoard, a tiny touchscreen QWERTY keyboard, has been developed by a group of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University
The ZoomBoard, a penny-sized touchscreen keyboard has been created by a group of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, to solve the issue of text input on the tiny screens that come with smart watches.
An upsurge in smart watch development started earlier this year with Pebble's Kickstarter campaign, followed by Samsung confirming its development of a model and word of Apple and Microsoft creating their own versions hit the rumour mill.
A paper published online explains the ZoomBoard aims to fill the gap where the Sony SmartWatch and Apple iPod Nano lack in terms of text entry.
It explains that text entry experiments have taken place on the soft 16 x 6mm keyboard and that, "After eight practice trials, users achieved an average of 9.3 words per minute, with accuracy comparable to a full-sized physical keyboard."
The ZoomBoard allows "iterative zooming until keys are sufficiently enlarged that they can be comfortably and accurately pressed." The keyboard also has a built-in space boar, the ability to swipe right to insert a space or left to delete. Swiping upward reveals symbols.
According to MIT Technology Review, Chris Harrison co-author of the paper says, "the group doesn't plan to commercialize Zoomboard, but he says the source code - which is only about 100 lines - is available online for anyone to use."
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
The ZoomBoard will be presented at the Computer Human Interaction conference in Paris next weeek.
A demo is available online to trial for iPod Nano, Smartphone or full size, to try it out click here.
Watch the video below to find out more about ZoomBoard.
Source: MIT Technology Review and Chrisharrison.net
T3.com is one of the UK's leading consumer lifestyle websites, visited by over 10 million people every month. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We present products in helpful buying guides and carefully curated deals posts across style, living, auto, smart home, watches, travel, fitness and more. We also have a monthly magazine which you can buy in newsagents or subscribe to online – print and digital versions available.
-
20 of the coolest gadgets and tech ever funded on Kickstarter and Indiegogo
Crowdfunding has given us some awesome stuff. Here are 20 of the best
By T3 Online Published
-
Pebble Smartwatch gets handy Phone Ringer Switcher app
This simple but useful app is now available on the Play Store
By T3 Online Published
-
Pebble Smartwatch gets golf app, two-way interaction on the way
The popular Kickstarter project announces a selection of new updates on the device
By T3 Online Published
-
Under Armour’s running shoes are super cheap for Cyber Monday
Bag up to 50% off some of its best-sellers
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
Apple Intelligence's new features are imminent and actually really useful
Hey Siri, write a news story for T3 about Apple Intelligence... erm
By Britta O'Boyle Published