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Levitatr iPad keyboard would offer keys on demand

by Dave Caolo Sep 15th 2011 at 4:00PM

Here's a compelling Kickstarter project that iPad keyboard jockeys will like. The Levitatr keyboard is ready for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. It's a thin aluminum thing at 12.5mm thick and features Bluetooth connectivity and keys that pop up when you need them, and recede when you don't.

When you're ready to type, press a small button on the left-hand side, causing the keys to rise into view, ready for use. When you're done, press it again and they sink back into the device.

The Levitatr also offers a built-in stand for your device and LED backlit keys. Inventor James Stumpf says his ultimate goal is to get the retractable Levitatr keyboard built into the tablet of a major manufacturer.

His immediate goal, however, is to produce a batch of Levitatrs to sell. As of this writing, his project has accumulated US$15,598; short of his $60,000 goal. With over 30 days to go, there's hope.

Good luck, James!



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Here's a compelling Kickstarter project that iPad keyboard jockeys will like. The Levitatr keyboard is ready for the iPad, iPhone and...
 

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31 Comments

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tigerianwinter

Not really all that impressive from a functional standpoint. Apple's low profile keyboards work the same way and they are lighter and just as mobile. No value added her except for the cool button raising feature. If they want to implement this into a tablet, then the tablet would just become a laptop or a really large smartphone with a qwerty keyboard. Both of these defeat the fundamental design intent of a tablet. So this is nothing but gimicky technology.

October 10 2011 at 1:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
weatheredwatcher

Wow. 27 comments and no one seems to have watched the entire video? That keyboard is not the point. Investors will each get one...and it will be cool, if somewhat worthless keyboard. His point is to pitch this to tablet manufacturers and essentially install this in the tablet itself....so you can use it as a screen, but when you need that virtual keyboard, a real one pops up instead.

September 18 2011 at 11:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SmallDot Design

who the heck did that crappy promo video? oh my gosh I think I'm going to be sick... so freaking tacky! this product deserves more than some 12 year olds Garageband loops! *barf*

September 17 2011 at 6:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Zabba McLean

it looks amazing, but with that being said, it really doesn't have much mobility, I think the led backlighting can be better, it can obviously be thinner, and i think the keyboard shouldn't be wider than the ipad in landscape mode. iT would be perfect were it half the ipads landscape height, and just as thin.

September 17 2011 at 3:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew S

Anyone else notice that the music is Garageband samples???

September 16 2011 at 9:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Matthew S's comment
devon

or that when the keys raise, the arm jumps 2 inches? I imagine they paid the girl in the video a lot more than the editor.

September 20 2011 at 4:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Navatard

I can't imagine carrying that thick thing with my iPad. It needs to be as thin as an iPad or what's the point? Look at my elegant slim iPad and this shoebox of a keyboard. The ergonomics suck.

Also.... why? There are plenty of slim travel bluetooth keyboards out there (as well as the Zagg iPad case that has a keyboard in the lid).

September 16 2011 at 3:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
daewootech

wow, buy a better mic, sounds like your in the bathroom next door.

also that thing looks like it would be a nightmare to my wrists.

neat concept though.

September 16 2011 at 12:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike M.

I really like innovation, but there is not enough innovation here. It's a good start but it's back to the drawing board time for this product.

September 16 2011 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gary Merinstein

the goal is less moving parts, not more. a keyboard that is constantly hopping up and down flies in the face of everything Apple stands for so far (unless Apple can get 30% of the gross, in which case its fantastic).

September 16 2011 at 9:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aargh-a-Knot

I can only imagine how gross this thing would get after a couple months, with hair and what not getting caught in the space around the keys.

September 16 2011 at 7:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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