Text inputting thought

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Well perhaps this is in the dream on section, but I had an idea the other day.

A smartphone can be hampered by it's small screen and inability to have any touchscreen/handwritting recognition functions. So I got to thinking, why not have a bluetooth optical mouse pen? I know the current OS wouldn't work with this, but the Pocket PC OS might be able to be ported with the input device changed from touchscreen to pen.

Would anyone but me like this kind of functionality?

Second thought, a built in lazer "virtual" keyboard.

I know someone will say that voice recognition is just round the corner, but for either noisy environments, or where you don't want everyone listening in (or they don't want to hear you talking away) I can see handwriting recognition, and a "mouse pen" would work well.

[Guest Frizzante]

Great idea,

as being a user I would gladly appreciate having sort of an input device at hand!

But a pen needs space to be kept, which will cause a bigger casing (a pen too small will be rather useless).

The laser keyboard sounds very interesting, since development seems to be quite advanced..

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Great idea,

as being a user I would gladly appreciate having sort of an input device at hand!

But a pen needs space to be kept, which will cause a bigger casing (a pen too small will be rather useless).

The laser keyboard sounds very interesting, since development seems to be quite advanced..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah you're right about the pen size, although if it also worked as a pen, you'd have soemthing that was dual use. Maybe bung a tiny speaker and mic on it too, tuck it behind your ear and be a wireless builder?

Apologies to builders btw

[Guest Disco Stu]

Handwriting recognition on Pocket PCs is no fun, at least if my Jam is anything to go by.

Since I hardly ever use a 'real' pen these days the guality of my handwriting is deteriorating badly and it can take several goes to get the right word.

[Guest pisquee]

Does the handwriting recognition on pocket pcs work in the same way as my old palm did, i.e. on an individual character basis, or by actual written words basis?

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Handwriting recognition on Pocket PCs is no fun, at least if my Jam is anything to go by.

Since I hardly ever use a 'real' pen these days the guality of my handwriting is deteriorating badly and it can take several goes to get the right word.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's true, but handwriting for many of us is still the fastest, most accurate way of text entry and still beats thunbing around on a numeric keypad.

[Guest nowimboard]

I read in T3 that there are lazer keyboards available but the problem with this is that is has to be on a compelte flat clean surface.. there were some other problems but is was months ago i read to review so i cant remeber all of it. All i remember is that they gave it a very VERY poor review.

This might have to be considered with "virtual keyboards" Who actually puts their phone down to text? there would never be a surface availbe!

Personally, I look forward to an SPV with a touch screen and stylus with a keyboard dispalyed on screen

Edited May 6, 2005 by nowimboard

[Guest pisquee]

"Personally, I look forward to an SPV with a touch screen and stylus with a keyboard dispalyed on screen"

... sound like the HTC Magician amongst its AKAs is the SPV M500

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

"Personally, I look forward to an SPV with a touch screen and stylus with a keyboard dispalyed on screen"

... sound like the HTC Magician amongst its AKAs is the SPV M500

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah that's what we have now, I'm thinking about what we could have in the "near" future.

[Guest mike-oh]

Does the handwriting recognition on pocket pcs work in the same way as my old palm did, i.e. on an individual character basis, or by actual written words basis?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can do it either way on the Jam!

[Guest extravagant]

well lets not over do it boys! ;)

[Guest shanedean]

Didn't Nokia do an electronic pen thingy a while back?

[Guest TigerNet]

...this one??

http://www.blueunplugged.com/products/Orig...-SU-1B-3146.asp

Cheers

Nick