Smartype keyboard keeps your eyes on your work
Aug. 30, 2012 at 4:22 PM ET
ISRAEL - Here in Israel, Dov Moran is considered a genius. If you look at you keychain and havea USB hard disk hanging from it, Moran is the one who invented it. He wasthe founder of M-systems that invented the USB flash drive. His company wassold to SanDisk at the end of 2006 for $1.6 billion.
On Wednesday, Moran introduced his latest gadget, the Smartype, a new computerkeyboard that he hopes will change our life in a simple but clever way.
One hundred and fifty years have passed since the first keyboard was introduced, and not much haschanged since. "I invented Smartype since I had my own problem typing," Moran told reporters. "When I typed, I found myself looking constantly back and forthfrom the keyboard to the computer screen, checking the spelling and typinglanguage".
So Moran invented a keyboard that has a built in screen thatdisplays and represents the last line typed, making it possible to keep youreyes looking only at the keyboard. Simple and one of those "why didn’t Ithink of that?" ideas.
Moran represents a lot of why Israel is called “the start-up nation." Hefaced huge success, as well as a close encounter with failure. In 2007, Moran invented Modu, the first Israeli mobile phone company. The concept was to builda tiny and simple phone but at the age of the iPhone no one bothered with smalland simple and in 2011 the company ceased to exist. “I failed with Modu” Moransaid. "But you need to fall and bounce back and continue on."
About 100 million keyboards are sold each year worldwide, and Moran toldreporters he "will be happy with 10 percent of that." Later this year, U.S. consumers will have the choice to purchase Moran’s new Smartype keyboard for $99. Not only does it have a nice sleekdesign, but it also comes with a set of applications that can display theweather, time and last email.
