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From: c60a-2di@e260-2d.berkeley.edu (The Cybermat Rider)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor
Summary: My own follow-up
Keywords: desktop metaphor, graphical interfaces, computing environments
Message-ID: <18655@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 31 Dec 88 08:31:48 GMT
References: <4362@pitt.UUCP> <257@gloom.UUCP> <82702@sun.uucp> <8939@ut-emx.UUCP> <3504@geaclib.UUCP> <18640@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
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Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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I just thought of another (possibly) restrictive factor with respect to
RF-transmitting keyboards: power requirements.  I assume that the keyboard
would have an on-board power source (probably a battery pack), as I don't
know of any power transmission systems whose receivers are small enough to
fit in a keyboard.  Therefore, power drain would become an important
consideration.

I know from personal experience (with IR remote controls, no less) that IR
LEDs draw just a little power, and even considering the number of characters
transmitted during an average session, I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult
to develop a battery pack that would allow activation of an IR LED at least
10 billion times (rechargable battery packs would be even better - just set
it down in a special charging tray when you've finished).

However, I'm not so sure about power requirements of RF transmitters.  Can
anyone with practical experience make an educated guess as to the power
drain of a miniature transmitter (in the context of a wireless keyboard)?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adrian Ho a.k.a. The Cybermat Rider	  University of California, Berkeley
c60a-2di@web.berkeley.edu
Disclaimer:  Nobody takes me seriously, so is it really necessary?