This document discusses the development of a low-cost virtual keyboard that uses an infrared camera and laser projection. It aims to address limitations of existing laser-based virtual keyboards by making the keyboard pattern visible in daylight and allowing use across different devices like computers, phones, and tablets. The proposed design would use an infrared camera to track finger movements over the projected keyboard pattern. Programming would be done in Python using libraries like OpenCV. Components would include an Arduino board, infrared camera, laser projector, and frame. The goal is to create a portable, affordable virtual keyboard with language selection that works across operating systems.

1. Virtual Keyboard
-Aniket Maithani
-Arpit Gupta
Minor Project Topic

2. What is a Virtual Keyboard?
A virtual keyboard is a hardware design which
generate a keyboard pattern over a surface.
Img src :
http://www.webopedia.com/FIG/
virtual_keyboard.jpg

3. The next question…. WHY VIRTUAL
KEYBOARD??
Portability
Appearance
Allows user to control their own keyboard layout
[multiple language support]
Unlike conventional hardware keyboards, virtual laser
keyboards have no moving parts, and the bulk of their
functionality requires no actual contact with the
device. Whereas conventional hardware is prone to
damage by spills, drops and other malfunctions
Key logging isn’t easy on hardware hence you are
safe from key logger and other such malicious
software that read your key strokes.

4. Since it’s there in the market….
WHAT IS YOUR USP????
Few problems we found with the laser based virtual
keyboard : -
Did not work in daylight [pattern not visible]
Costly [a basic model cost around Rs. 10000]
Some of the Virtual Keyboard are platform based
E.g : Celluon EPIC Ultra-Portable Full-Size Virtual Keyboard [
Basic Keyboard] costs about Rs 9377 [as found on amazon.in]
Img src : amazon.in

5. Our Goal
To make a good and cost effective virtual
keyboard.
The keyboard pattern should be visible in the
daylight also.
Different keyboard language option
Localisation!
Works on different machines/platform MAC,
WINDOWS and LINUX/Android.
Can also be used to draw images, and with a
single key it can be used as a mouse space.

6. Main Component(s)
The basic layout of the Laser Based Virtual
Keyboard will be similar to this

7. What will each component do…?
Infrared Camera :- This will keep track of the heat
map of the entire keyboard.
Laser :- Mainly used for linear arrangement and
for calibration.
Keyboard Pattern Projector :- Will project out
keyboard pattern.

8. Programming Part
Will be testing under different environments.
Development will be done primarily on Linux
based distro [Ubuntu 14.x LTS] .
Programming language to be used :- PYTHON
and other subsequent library Cython etc.
OpenGL and OpenCV [if required, under
research]

9. Hardware to be used
Arduino based power board mounting base
Camera
IR Class 1M laser module
Frame [basic for outer covering]
-- Other hardware piece under consideration also

10. QUESTIONS??

12. About this presentation
This presentation is a cumulative effort of the
research work.
All the picture(s) used and information used in the
presentation has been duly cited
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.