This startup wants to kill off the qwerty keyboard with the keyless Tap Strap and just the movement of your fingers
The poor old keyboard has barely changed in more than a century.
Despite the move from typewriter to computer and more recently screen, the qwerty keyboard still reigns supreme.
Now, one startup wants to disrupt everything we think we know about typing – and it will liberate you from your keyboard.
In fact, Tap has no keys at all, and can be used with just one hand, turning the concept of the keyboard completely on its head.
The wearable hand strap slips onto one hand, and lets users tap out words with a series of specific gestures which means it can be done on any surface.
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Made of smart fabric, it connects to devices via bluetooth, and without the familiar qwerty set up, users are taught how to tap out words using an app which teaches using mnemonics. Its makers say anyone can pick this up in around an hour and that it has an accuracy rate of 99 per cent.
“Tap brings an entirely new dimension to how we can interface with the digital world,” said its co-founder Ran Poliakine, who founded the wireless charging company Powermat, the firm behind the wireless charging devices which can be found in Starbucks that is valued at $500m and run by a former Blackberry chief executive.
Tap’s fundamental technology is applicable not only to language, but also to music, gaming and control. It is a new modality that opens up a world of creative possibilities. We are partnering with creative developers and select manufacturers to help us unlock its full potential. Our goal is to create an ecosystem in which our partners utilise Tap to deliver new and exciting experiences for our users.
Poliakine isn't the only one with an impressive pedigree. His co-founders include Sabrina Kemeny, a former engineer at Nasa and the co-creator of image sensor technology which is now used by chip maker Micron, and entrepreneur David Schick, who sold his previous company for nearly $1bn.
The firm believes the keyless keyboard will be of particular use with the growth of virtual reality and a developer kit will allow Tap to be incorporated into VR games, entertainment and other experiences, as well as other devices such as smartwatches.
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The device goes on sale at the end of the year after initial availability with beta users in San Francisco, where the firm is based.
See how it works in the video below.