Adaptable Virtual Keyboard

Adaptable Virtual Keyboard could be called next generation keyboard. Ordinary keyboards have keys with specific size and specific imprints on them. The interactivity and usability of keyboards would surely increase if it could display a symbol for the current function associated with the key or if the language of the keyboard could be changed.

Existing System and their Drawbacks:

Microsoft aimed at making the virtual keyboard but the layout and functions of the keyboard cannot be changed. The system uses 3D modelling to detect a keystroke and is processor intensive. Special hardware to project the “qwerty” layout and infrared light which is required in detection undermines the sole objective of reducing hardware components and cost reduction.

Another hardware based keyboard named “Optimus Prime” has inbuilt LCD display on each key and the function of each key can be changed. This is done to increase interactivity but again, having a LCD display in every key makes is costly. The same functionality can be implemented using the Adaptable Virtual Keyboard and macros.

Design:

Consider a system which would have an application frontend which would help initialise the keyboard to the new environment. Any image projected/surface can be a reference and a photo of the same is stored in memory as a reference image. This reference image would be segmented. On running the program we would be able to detect any change in this image by comparing it with the original image stored. After detection of the segment where the change occurs, a virtual key press would be initiated by calling a macro or a function using visual basic. The current function of each key would be displayed for user convenience and can be changed according to user preference. The macro associated with each key can be varied easily from the frontend. This would make the keyboard truly adaptable.

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