The touch keyboards we use today have improved significantly over what we had to deal with on first generation smartphones. Having larger displays also helps a great deal as the keyboards can be larger. But even so, touchscreen typing can be a chore, especially for those of us with big fingers.

Elecom has decided to offer up a solution to the problem by offering a new laser projection keyboard for both Android and iOS devices.

Laser projection keyboards aren’t a new idea, and offer users access to a full-sized QWERTY keyboard on any flat surface. But Elecom improves on the idea by placing the projection and sensor system in a rechargeable, wireless unit that connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. What you have is a device that will easily fit in a bag and can be used with the flick of a switch.

Elecom’s projection type keyboard (named TK-PBL042BK) projects a red keyboard on to a surface with a key pitch of 19mm. It has 3 sensitivity settings and the ability to adjust brightness in order to save power. There’s also a mouse mode allowing you to use the system just like a mouse and move a cursor around the screen.

As for how fast you can type, it’s pretty impressive at 350 characters per minute. Range is also good with the unit still functioning several meters away from your smartphone or tablet. That could come in handy if your device is plugged in for presentations, but you want to type as you talk from distance.

The Elecom TK-PBL042BK is listed as just “Shipping soon” at the moment and will cost around $348. Clearly laser projection keyboard tech isn’t cheap, but if it works well and you do a lot of typing then it might be a worthwhile investment.

Read more at Elecom (translated), via Akihabaranews

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