Flexible rubber keypad, programmable keypad

There are no buttons, not many complicated details, but this is a soft, flexible, stretchable keyboard made from a special type of rubber called elastic dielectric with 9 touch zones on it. , allowing users to program up to 9 different function keys.

Manufacturing rubber keypad can program key press

The operation of this keyboard is similar to that of a programmable keypad, which is often found on touchscreens, but because it is made of rubber material, it can be stretched, flexible and durable. Many, less affected by the impact of water damage.

"The advantage of the keyboard we developed was that it was simple, just a thin rubber sheet," says Daniel Xu of the University of Auckland, New Zealand . Any object and turn into a real keyboard. It can also be manipulated into the skin sensor to track movement, very useful for athletes, doctors and even creating gesture control systems. "

On the other hand, the team said the number and layout of keys on the keyboard or touch area could be simply tuned by programming it without using any new wires or refining. Hardware. Scientists also use keyboard materials to create a gaming glove, which can sense elasticity to play shooters.

Now, the research team has split up to form a company called StretchSense to develop wear technology and other products based on the benefits of the rubber .