Most modern computer keyboards are still patterned after the old style manual and electric typewriters of decades past. Over those thirty years not much changed in terms of layout even though technology and the uses of the computer evolved immensely during the same period. Finally, after all this time, keyboard manufacturers such as Logitech and Belkin are breaking the mold of the old style QWERTY keyboard to provide users with easier functionality and use of very specialized software programs.
The Lighted Computer Keyboard:
Many manufacturers now produce keyboards with back lit keys that can be seen in the dark. Power for the LED lighting system comes through the same USB cable that is used to connect to the computer. Much different than simply using glow in the dark paint, these illuminated computer keyboards are most often seen in the public safety arena being used in police cars as a way for the officer to communicate and receive information wirelessly while on duty. They have also become quite popular with home users, in that they are great for playing games or working in the dark while the rest of the family is sleeping.
Gaming Keyboards Go Mainstream:
Until recently most computer games have attempted to use a standard QWERTY keyboard to allow the user to control the on screen action of the characters. In an industry where realism is the most important thing, manufacturers such as Ideazon have seen a need for customized input devices for such applications as flight simulators and live multiplayer gaming. Currently you can purchase special game specific keyboards without the standard letter keys and instead have dedicated buttons for whatever function the game or simulator calls for. Some of these keyboards come with interchangeable keyboard covers that instantly let the user move from one game or activity to the next without having to unplug or change any settings.
Virtual PC Keyboards (Where No Laser Has Gone Before!):
One of the strangest and most intriguing new computer keyboards has no keys at all (in the traditional sense). New virtual keyboards shine a red image of a keyboard onto a flat surface and the user taps the table as if it was a real keyboard. A sensor in the emitter recognizes where your fingers are touching and sends that information back to the computer as if a real, physical, key had been pressed. The applications for such keyboarding technology is almost endless, and the idea is sure to catch on in the coming years as computers become even more integrated into almost everything that we do in society.
