SmartDust are tiny electronic particles which are connected together electronically using those nodes or motes. There should be away to sprinkle the use tiny SmartDust onto a surface and use the SmartDust as a virtual keyboard for data input into a computer.

But how can this be done? I propose that the SmartDust be sprinkled onto the surface the you intend to use for the virtual keyboard to put the data into the device. Then the device can be positioned over the SmartDust to activate, each piece of SmartDust. In doing this be virtual picture will be taken of the SmartDust on the surface and that SmartDust units will be relegated into a virtual grid, representing a particular key on the keyboard. An infrared scanner will identify each piece of SmartDust, wake them up and assign them each a particular character.

Next, you will be able to see a virtual keyboard on a quarter of the screen of the device you are in putting the data into, next to and along side of the data you are inputing. In this way you can type the data into the device without looking at the surface where the smart to dust is located, but rather at the input device.

The SmartDust will also need to have a certain Ionic bonding electronic charges with the surface you are using and repel itself from any attempt to stick to your fingers. This will allow you to type continuously without interruption or possible miss interpreted data being entered into the device. Such a system would allow you to input data into a very tiny device such as something the size of an iPod Nano with a one and one half inch LED screen, a wristwatch computer or PDA.

The SmartDust Research and Development scientists need to consider this option when designing my virtual keyboard concepts. This particular concept lends itself well to space exploration, military applications and field research, as well as disaster response in major catastrophes. Such applications will indeed also promote the future of SmartDust technologies. Consider this year 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/