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Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

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September 18, 2002

Posted by Tom Farley & Mark van der Hoek at 11:28 PM

Keypad on my mobile is too small

I've often heard, "The keypad on my mobile is too small to do anything! How will anyone make it a useful product without a full size keyboard?" Well, that indeed is a challenging problem. Here's a fascinating solution, a virtual keyboard, projected by a laser so that you can type on almost any flat surface. Now all we need is a virtual screen, a laser projecter that would simulate. possibly with a hologram, a 17" monitor. Wouldn't that be cool?

From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/tw/2002/may08keyboard.shtml (external link) Link now dead, thanks, BBC!

"Introducing a keyboard that literally lets you type on your desktop. It uses a small diode laser and some special optics to project a keyboard onto any surface that's reasonably flat. In the same box is a special infrared system that detects the movements of the user's fingers across the projected keyboard and links it back to the computer. It can be linked to conventional PCs or hand-held computers and the manufacturers plan to connect it to mobile phones. They say that the virtual keyboard would be particularly useful in hospitals and other environments where conventional keyboards could collect dust. . . . (continues at the BBC link above)

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