The idea of projecting a keyboard is nothing new. Several products with that feature have hit the market, but what seemed like a good plan at the time offered limited experiences at a high price. Still, a group of Chinese entrepreneurs believe it's possible to apply a similar concept on mice, and the result is ODiN, a new device that turns almost any surface into a touchpad.
Why does it feel so bad to type on a screen or another hard surface? Simple: there is no tactile response. Eliminating keys and buttons gave rise to much thinner and more compact formats, but nobody denies that some quality was lost along the way. The first time we talked about projected keyboards was in January 2008, and they were shaping up as a definitive solution for electronic organizers and mobile phones. The advance of touchscreens made the role of projected keyboards insignificant, and today they are just isolated rarities in a market full of cheaper alternatives. Now, is that technology so deficient, or what failed was simply its application?
Introducing ODiN
The folks at Serafim came to a very interesting conclusion: create a mouse with projection. After all, one thing is to “type” on a certain surface, and another is sliding your fingers. With that in mind, ODiN was born, the first projection-based mouse on the planet. The overall design reminds us of the head of a Transformer, but despite that detail, the final result appears to be quite effective. ODiN projects a virtual touchpad onto the surface, compatible with multiple gestures, including pinch & zoom and scrolling. With just 40 grams of weight, its portability is guaranteed, and its creators highlight that it does not use any camera as a tracking system, which in theory provides an additional layer of privacy.
Kickstarter Campaign
With almost two months remaining, ODiN is making its rounds on Kickstarter. The project has already received the $50,000 it needed to start its production phase, and from this point on, all additional funds will go toward developing extra rewards. Available in black, green, and silver, each ODiN costs $49, with shipping worldwide. Unless something goes wrong, the first deliveries are expected in June.
