MessagEase based USB keyboard in development

Exideas is working to bring a fully functional compact touchpad inspired by its tap based system. Exideas is a California software company specializing in Computer-Human Interface. Together with Victoria based Mercurial Innovations Group Ltd. announced their strategic partnership for developing a compact touchpad USB keyboard for PCs using Exideas' MessagEase technology. This keyboard will provide full functionality using an area much smaller than a regular computer keyboard, making it an ideal tool for various consumer, industrial, and military applications.

Gil Namur, President and CEO of Mercurial Innovations Group says that a touchpad keyboard brings "...wide varieties of applications ranging from enablers for the handicapped, wearable computers, industrial and military control surfaces require a small yet fully functional keyboard. Exideas' MessagEase supports all such applications and we look forward to working closely with them."

MessagEase Keyboard uses a system of taps and slides with fewer keys requiring a smaller area. The taps enter frequent letters while slides enter the rest of the characters. MessagEase keyboard is currently available for use with PDA and Tablet PC. A touchpad implementation of MessagEase can also function as a mouse input.