The “DisplayCover” is a peripheral keyboard cover that works perfectly well with compact touchscreen PCs. In 2009, Microsoft unveiled the Adaptive Keyboard which followed a similar design: a touch-sensitive display atop a more traditional keyboard layout, albeit one which borrowed the Optimus trick of placing an OLED display beneath each key in order to provide full customisation.
Advertisement
Microsoft is working on a unique type of device that promises to revolutionize the way people use their keyboards and touchscreens.
Called the ‘DisplayCover.’ it sports a physical keyboard and a ultra-thin e-ink display with 1280 x 305 pixels used to display live tiles below the screen without draining battery life. The keyboard itself is pretty standard, so in reality its the e-ink display that’s really the main feature. That being said, it looks like Microsoft might have something new up their sleeves.
When applications are opened, the DisplayCover hosts shortcuts or menu items for that specific application.
In other words, the “DisplayCover” is basically a keyboard cover that is designed with a small built-in e-ink display.
Some of the tasks that users can accomplish easily include signing documents, navigating websites, AutoCAD, video editing, music creating and accessing tools such as those that are found in Photoshop.
Microsoft’s ASG demonstrated the e-ink display being used as an image thumbnail selector and slider where the selected image is put onto the big colour display.
For instance, as well as being used as an app launcher, the strip could track multitouch finger gestures to manipulate on-screen graphics like 3D models or maps, without your hands getting in the way of the display.
Advertisement
Microsoft touts the display as high resolution and says it extends the usable screen real estate by up to 8%.
