The future of typing may no
longer include a keyboard. Recently, Microsoft’s newly granted patent, titled 'Holographic
keyboard display', describes what the future of text input could look like.
Using a virtual keyboard plane to sense a user’s inputs, the AR/VR system will
function like a normal keyboard and read users’ gestures to simulate typing. The
grant mentions gaming as a first application, but Microsoft’s entrenched
interest in enterprise IT makes the workplace another obvious application.
Combined with its headset AR/VR
technology, future knowledge workers may not need desks, or even centralized
workplaces. Instead, smartglasses could virtualize the desktop PC as we know
it, allowing workers to type from any position and from any part of the world
using hand gestures. The patent description notes an HMD (head-mounted display)
device that would contribute to the tracking system. But the patent describes
the virtual keyboard as being applicable for both virtual and mixed reality
headset applications.
More information: