WOW-Keys is a full-sized desktop keyboard that can serve as an input device for an iPhone, or that can use an iPhone as a multi-touch input device for an attached computer

An iPhone has various input features that a standard desktop keyboard doesn’t, such as a reconfigurable touchscreen display. A full-sized keyboard, however, is much easier to type on than an iPhone. Perhaps it only makes sense, therefore, that Korea’s Omnio Technologies decided to combine the strengths of the two devices, in the form of its WOW-Keys keyboard with built-in iPhone dock.

WOW-Keys is capable of serving two main purposes.

If you want to work more easily with your phone, without transferring files to and from a computer, you put the keyboard in iPhone mode. In this configuration, the keyboard serves the phone – you use its keys in place of the phone’s tiny virtual keyboard, to input and manipulate text on the phone itself. Twelve dedicated hotkeys offer shortcuts for functions such as volume control, previous/next, and home.

With the flip of a button, however, you can switch WOW-Keys over to PC mode (although it also works with Macs). Now, the phone serves the keyboard. Its touchscreen display allows it to work as a multi-touch input device for the computer – among other things, it can function as a touchscreen track pad or numeric keypad.

Additionally, like other docking devices, the keyboard charges the phone’s battery and allows for syncing with the computer. It also works with the iPod touch.

The Typescreen is a separate keyboard for the iPad, that looks and works like an old-fashioned manual typewriter

One of the criticisms of iPads is that they’re not easy enough to type on. Yes, the virtual keyboard is there, but it’s a little on the small side, and lacks any kind of tactile feedback to let users know that their finger tappings have registered. While there are Bluetooth keyboards that iPadders can purchase, there’s now something else that offers what must certainly be the ultimate in tactile feedback – the manual typewriter-inspired Typescreen.

Users just slip their iPad or iPad 2 into the Typescreen’s carriage, then start hammering away on its old school keys. As with a manual typewriter, an individual arm will fly up with every keystroke. Whereas those arms would strike an ink-containing ribbon on a typewriter, on the Typescreen they actually press the individual keys on the iPad’s virtual keyboard – it would be interesting to know if the arms always connect with the right keys.

It’s definitely reminiscent of a little something we featured last June, called the USB Typewriter. The device can be ordered or made at home from plans, and is essentially a Frankensteined-up existing manual typewriter that is wired into the USB port of an iPad, smartphone or device of your choice. From there, it simply acts as a clickity-clackity retro keyboard.

The Typescreen is made by Britain’s Spinning Hat, and the company is only making a limited number of the devices. It’s priced at GBP 35, or about US$57.

Logitech has entered the seemingly insatiable iPad accessory market with a case that should appeal to those looking to use their new iPad 2 for something a bit more productive than playing Fruit Ninja. The Logitech Keyboard Case for the iPad 2 is made from aircraft-grade aluminum to match Apple’s tablet, features a built-in wireless keyboard and is lined with high-density padding to keep the tablet safe and secure and prevent the keyboard from touching the screen, even if dropped.

The physical keyboard, which is charged via USB, connects to the iPad 2 via Bluetooth and comprises a full QWERTY keypad with special function keys for music, volume, slideshow, home and search controls. The case’s flexible hinge makes it easy to switch from touchscreen to keyboard input and can support the iPad in either portrait or landscape mode.

The case, which protects the screen and sides of the iPad, only adds about a quarter of an inch (6 mm) to the thickness of the slimmed down iPad 2 and could be a more convenient solution than carrying around a separate keyboard – even if it’s a folding Bluetooth keyboard.

Anyone familiar with the ZAGGmate with keyboard case from ZAGG will recognize that it is identical to the Logitech offering, with a partnership between the two companies giving Logitech worldwide distribution rights to the ZAGGmate case. The Logitech Keyboard case is expected to be available in the U.S. this month and will retail for US$99.99. If you can’t wait or are after a case for the original iPad, they are still available from ZAGG for the same price.

The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard claims to offer typists a more natural, less painful way to tap away for extended periods

There are a number of keyboards that claim to be ergonomic, but only one claims to be "truly ergonomic." Many input devices available today stagger the keys across the available keying area, resulting in even the most proficient touch typist having to move around more than is desirable. The makers of the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard claim that their redesign brings all keys within easy reach, which should lead to decreased discomfort in a world where most of us spend much of our lives tapping away in front of one computer screen or another.

Here at Gizmag we’ve seen numerous funky keyboards and many have offered some unique ease-of-use or comfort property to help them stand out from competitors. Some have been specifically aimed at a certain type of users, such as gamers, others have offered fold-away portability and others still have promised to help keep repetitive upper arm strain to a healthy minimum.

Whereas many ergonomic keyboards make various health claims, the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard purports to be the healthiest. Ditching the staggered key layout on which many keyboards are based in favor of a design that is said to follow "the symmetric shape and neutral position of the human body," the manufacturer says that when using its product, typists need only stretch or curl fingers without the need for any awkward hand movement. This in turn "promotes a healthier posture helping reduce wrist, shoulder, neck, and lower back pain and strains, and still remains very practical and familiar."

Despite being a good size narrower than many other keyboards on the market, the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard sports a full spread of full-size keys and also allows users to keep a computer mouse closer to the keying area. The input device is built using Cherry MX Mechanical Keyswitches. The gold-plated keyswitches are mounted on metal plates and benefit from an independent mechanism for soft-touch keying comfort. Various pre-installed keyboard layouts are available, but custom key re-allocation gives the user more freedom. Keying configuration options include silent, light-click or linear feedback.

When typing, most people will place their hands in a neutral position, probably above the middles row of letter keys. Hands tend to move around to reach regularly used but sometimes oddly positioned keys. The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard reduces this movement by reducing the distance needed to travel to reach such keys.

For example, the distance from the letter J key to the left arrow key on the keyboard I am using to type at the moment measures 5.31 inches (135mm). This is a bit of a stretch without moving my hand. On the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard that distance is reduced to 4 inches (102mm), which is said to minimize the need for hand movement when keying and thus help reduce associated pains in the wrist and shoulder.

Like portable computers, the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard features an embedded numeric keypad that’s activated by tapping the NumLock key on or off. Due to the design, the activated keypad resembles the familiar block found on bigger keyboards and not the staggered, offset kind found elsewhere.

The Truly Ergonomic Keyboard is manufactured using recycled and recyclable materials which are expected to last up to ten times longer than conventional keyboard materials and can be integrated with a removable, cushioned palm rest. It’s available now for pre-order and carries a list price of US$199.

Some people complain about the direction of touch panels. Complaints about losing a physical keyboard are some of the biggest. Certainly typing anything larger than a page can begin to feel numb on a touch device.

Microsoft, never afraid to innovate (well, sometimes), has come up with the RearType research project. What it is exactly is a rear keyboard that users will blindly strike to cross the T’s and dot the I’s. While Microsoft isn’t the first to place input behind the screen, it is first to have a keyboard. Microsoft’s researchers do recognize that the idea is a little nuts, but can show that the speed of typing is similar to that of a touch screen device like the iPad.

After extensive discussion and pilot explorations, we felt that the crucial question to ask at this stage is whether the basic idea of putting keys on the back of the device is even reasonable. After all, at first glance, this might well appear to be a crazy idea with little practical appeal. We therefore conducted a user study to determine if, upon initial exposure to the device, users find such a novel keyboard at all usable or simply frustrating. To obtain some comparative empirical data, we also contrasted the use of RearType with a touchscreen soft keyboard and a regular physical keyboard. Initial results are very promising; we show that after only an hour with the device, participants could type 15 WPM using RearType and that their performance was not statistically different to text entry using the touchscreen keyboard.

Each of the eight Infrared proximity sensors across the surface of the Airpiano can register and play three notes depending on the user’s vertical hand position

Seeing the Airpiano being played, one can’t help but be reminded of a graceful martial artist, musical conductor or mysterious magician. The innovative interface is activated and controlled by moving a hand in mid-air above the flat display surface and within range of a sensor array matrix. Driven by custom software, the device can put a huge library of tones and sounds at a player’s disposal.

Each of the eight Infrared proximity sensors spread horizontally across the surface of the Airpiano can play three notes depending on the user’s vertical hand position. The sensors can also be programmed to provide up to eight control faders for altering volume, pitch, filters and so on. Custom software facilitates MIDI mapping and Open Sound Control message assignment which puts a vast soundscape at the spatial command of the player. Confirmation of user action is provided by LED lights at the surface of the instrument.

Of course, the interface has been likened to a Theremin but it has so much more to offer players. Creator Omer Yosha told: "What makes it so different from a Theremin, besides the technology, is the concept of interaction. Playing a Theremin is hard to learn since every slight movement of the hand changes the pitch/volume of the generated sound. It also lacks visual feedback. The idea of the Airpiano is to keep things as simple as possible in order to achieve full control over the instrument."

Yosha has been working on the polyphonic Airpiano for a couple of years now and it is currently in its third prototype. It’s connected to a computer or laptop via USB and also has an expression pedal connector and a programmable button that can, for example, be used to toggle between different setups. Award-winning musician Jo Hamilton is currently using a prototype in her live performances (as shown in the following video) and is helping with development by providing feedback, suggestions and details of her experiences.

A limited run of production devices will be available around September/October and interested readers are encouraged to register for updates on the Airpiano website. I don’t know why but for some reason I imagine Jean-Michel Jarre being one of those signing up.

The last time most of us heard of Roger Linn, it was when he put his name to the revolutionary Linn LM1 drum machine that became such an integral part of the sound of 1980s pop music – it was used on so many #1 hits that you’ll recognize its signature sound straight away. Now, Linn has come up with a new and equally novel tool for musicians – a digital music interface that uses a pressure-sensitive multitouch pad and a layout that combines a piano keyboard with a guitar fretboard. The LinnStrument is one of the most expressive, evocative and enticing new musical instruments we’ve seen, and its potential is enormous – but it seems this innovative device might be prevented from coming to the market due to unfortunate IP squabbling in the multitouch sector.

Back in the 1980s, the Linn drum machine reigned supreme – the first drum sequencing machine to use real, digitally sampled drum sounds not analogue synthesis. You’d recognize its unique sound instantly – remember the frenetic drum groove behind Michael Jackson’s Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, or Prince’s 1999, or WHAM!’s Wake Me Up, Before You Go, Go? In fact, for a time there, it seemed like every second #1 hit song on the charts was using Roger Linn’s clever sequencing machine – this one invention is inextricably linked with the music of that era.

Compared to the sterile-sounding analogue drum machines of the time, the Linn LM-1 was light years ahead. Certainly, it never felt like a real drummer, but it had a far more natural and human feel to it than anything that had come before it.

And it’s this concept of "humanizing" a sound produced by machines that makes Roger Linn’s most recent project, the LinnStrument, so fascinating.

The Linnstrument digital music interface

The LinnStrument is more or less just a digital music interface to replace the keyboard – but it makes use of some pretty advanced multitouch technology to make it one of the most interesting and expressive devices we’ve seen.

Linn’s prototype touchpad is divided into squares, with each vertical row featuring a stack of 4th intervals, and each vertical stack separated by a semitone, similar to the layout of frets on a guitar. Once one or more notes are pressed, the benefits of the TouchCo multitouch surface come into play to make the LinnStrument one of the most expressive and easy to use digital instrument interfaces going around.

The TouchCo control surface is pressure sensitive, which lets you vary the volume of each note, both as it’s initially played and afterwards for some very nice dynamic control.

Moving notes horizontally allows you to vary the pitch between semitones, for a natural sounding slide or vibrato effect.

And Linn has used the vertical access to control the tone of whatever sound you’re playing with, a kind of frequency sweep effect.

The resulting music interface allows an amazing amount of expression and feeling – you can see a hint of what might be possible in Linn’s demo video below – but be careful, the example bit of music he plays at the end is the first few bars of the notorious Hungarian suicide song, so if you’re feeling a bit depressed afterwards, call a hotline.

Not shown in the video are a couple of extra control strips that you can use either like a sustain pedal, or to effect a strumming, blowing, picking or re-striking of the notes – dependent on the instrument sound you’re using.

Naturally, being a digital interface, the sky’s the limit when it comes to what you use the pressure and slide parameters for, and indeed what kinds of instrument sounds you’re controlling. You can configure the keyboard in an instant to re-wire where each note is placed or effect different tunings. For a digital instrument, you have to admit this sounds amazingly organic, expressive and evocative -so you can bet that musicians will be very keen to get their hands on one.

But don’t hold your breath

Sadly, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon – because the TouchCo multitouch pad that Linn used in the production of his prototype has been withdrawn from production. Apparently Amazon bought up the technology earlier this year with a view to using it in the Kindle eBook reader, but has completely shelved it and shut down the TouchCo operation, presumably due to the ongoing Intellectual Property chest-beating, suing and counter-suing going on in the multitouch arena right now.

So the TouchCo website has nothing but a sad placeholder to offer, and Linn has nothing but his pre-production prototype to work with, ruling out the possibility of a LinnStrument hitting the market in the immediate future.

While there are potential alternatives, there’s nothing out there that’s commercially available that offers the right mix of multitouch, pressure sensitivity and high input resolution that combine to give the LinnStrument prototype its sensitive and beautiful sound. It’s a great pity when legal and commercial posturing block the way forward for a creative tool with such amazing potential. Here’s hoping Mr. Linn finds a solution and gets this thing into the hands of the right musicians as soon as possible!