Video: Check out the world’s thinnest keyboard

Last year, the team over at CSR unveiled what they dubbed the world’s thinnest wireless keyboard to demonstrate the future of computing. Measuring at less than a half of a millimeter thick and equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology, the pad was able to transform essentially any area into a touch surface. Combining the company’s low-power wireless technology with the latest in flexible electronics and touchscreen sensing, the keyboard connected to and extended the touch interfaces of devices, such as tablets and smartphones.

In order to bring this idea to life, CSR — now part of Qualcomm — utilized Atmel’s touch silicon to sense multiple contact points on a surface, offer a full touch interface and power optimized key detection.

See it in action below!

A paper-thin wireless touch surface with Atmel

Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) has developed an uber-thin wireless touch interface. The flexible interface, measuring less than 0.5 mm thick, turns any area into a touch surface for mobile devices and even desktops.

“Lightweight and flexible, the device can be integrated into a protective cover or used to create large touch zones on a desktop,” a CSR rep explained. “With minimal weight and bulk, a full keyboard experience can be added to a tablet without taking up valuable screen area. Thin enough to slip behind the pages of a notebook, it can be used to pick up handwriting and sketches from the nib of a modified pen.”

So how does it work? Well, the paper-thin surface is wirelessly connected using the CSR1010 chip which is optimized for Bluetooth smart, allowing it to link to the latest iOS7 mobile devices and Windows 8 PCs. Meanwhile, touch latency is minimized to less than 12mS, ensuring near instant visual feedback and enabling a seamless user experience.

To create the ultra-thin wireless touch surface, CSR partnered with Atmel and Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT). More specifically, the device uses Atmel’s touch silicon tech to sense multiple contact points on a surface – and is therefore capable of offering a full touch surface or power optimized key detection.

CSR will be showcasing its ultra-thin touch surface at IFA Berlin (Hall 1.2 Stand 104) from September 6-11, 2013.