Your keyboard is a waste of space. That’s what Moky is telling you with its prototype keyboard that turns the entire surface of the device into a functioning trackpad.
The Moky Keyboard, which recently launched on IndieGogo, looks like your standard, run-of-the-mill portable keyboard. It’s made for mobile devices, to which it connects via Bluetooth low energy, and and it’s powered by a long-lasting rechargeable battery that promises up to 3 months of usage on a single charge (assuming 4 hours of use per day).
What makes Moky stand out is what it can do when you aren’t typing on it. Embedded just under the surface of the keys are infrared laser sensors. These sensors, when activated by pressing the lower area of the keyboard, create a virtual touchpad that can sense the movements of your fingers.
The result is a keyboard capable of recognizing gesture controls.
In bringing the keyboard from prototype to finished product, the team behind the device hopes to get it down to just 8mm thick. The keyboard-touchpad hybrid will be compatible with Mac, Windows, and Android devices, but it won’t work with iOS, as Apple doesn’t currently support mouse input on its mobile operating system.
The keyboard’s IndieGogo campaign has already nearly doubled its initial goal of $30,000, so Moky should be well on its way to creating a retail-ready device.
H/T TechCrunch | Screengrab via moky/YouTube
