Still in prototype stage, it could be used on Surface

Aug 25, 2015 05:55 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has been looking to come up with a revolutionary keyboard ever since it released the very first Surface RT tablet in October 2012, so it shouldn't be a really big surprise that the company has now found a way to mix keyboards and touchscreens in a single device that makes for a terrific input method.

Microsoft Applied Sciences developed what they call a DisplayCover, which is in essence exactly what its name suggests: a keyboard that integrates a display to make it easier for everyone to type and perform a number of gestures by simply touching the cover.

As Engadget reports, touch gestures and stylus support is also being offered, which clearly makes working with Photoshop, for example, a lot easier simply because a number of features, such as the tool settings, don't need to be displayed on the screen. Users could be able to change these settings straight from the keyboard, which is not only easier, but also faster when it comes to productivity.

Better battery life

Microsoft used an e-ink touchscreen for this device simply because this way, it can achieve better battery life. A full color touchscreen would have a big impact on battery life, Redmond says, so going for e-ink is pretty much the best option right now until they find a better way to power managing mode.

“DisplayCover is a peripheral cover designed for compact touch-enabled laptops. A tactile keyboard affords users with the comfort and ease of use provided by physical keys,” Microsoft explained.

“A thinfilm e-ink display with a resolution of 1280 x 305 pixels extends the available screen real estate of the slate device by up to 8% (based on a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 with a 10.6”, 1080p, 208ppi screen). We chose this display due to the bistable nature of electrophoretic ink, reducing the secondary screen’s impact on battery life.”

Needless to say, this project is still in prototype stage, but don't be too surprised if it makes it to production at some point in the future on the always-expanding Surface lineup.

DisplayCover design (3 Images)

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