Gesture sensing split keyboard and approach for capturing keystrokes

Abstract

A gesture sensing split keyboard can couple the hand and keyboard rotations, can sense hand rotation and one or more keystrokes of each hand, can produce symbolic, control, command, and other types of information based upon all the sensed inputs, and can present the produced information to a computing, communications, or control device through electrical conductors, infrared transceivers, or other communications technologies. The various embodiments can be mounted on the operator's hands, arms, or belt, on a desktop or other stable surface, or may be embedded in the target device, such as a laptop computer. The ability of certain embodiments to fold into a compact size for storage while providing ease-of-use of a full-sized keyboard when unfolded for typing makes them well suited for laptop computers. The ability of certain other embodiments to be mounted on the body of the user and to enable a wide range of user motion makes them well suited for mobile and pervasive computing applications and for potentially reducing repetitive stress injuries.