Matias,
Code Mercenaries, and DS International will produce Half Keyboard
for Palm, Handspring, Windows, Macintosh, and Linux
September
11, 2000
TORONTO,
Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Matias Corporation today announced its
development and manufacturing partners for its new Half Keyboard
product for Palm™ (Nasdaq: PALM)
and Handspring™ (Nasdaq: HAND)
handheld computers: Code Mercenaries
and DS International,
Inc.
Based
in Berlin, Germany, Code Mercenaries specialize in the development
of cross-platform controllers for keyboards and mice.
“We've
worked with Matias before and are very excited to be working on this
product. The Half Keyboard is great technology. I can't wait to try
the cellphone version,” said Guido Koerber, President of Code
Mercenaries.
Arizona-based
DS International designs, develops, and manufactures standard and
custom input devices for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Major clients include Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony. It has also released
several products for the PalmOS and Microsoft Pocket PC platforms.
“We've
done many different products for many large companies, and this is
by far the most interesting one we've been involved with. I think
the Half Keyboard has a big future ahead of it,” said George
Tsai, President of DS International, Inc.
“I'm
really pleased to have these two companies involved. I think their
respective areas of expertise complement each other very well. In
particular, DS International's involvement gives us the manufacturing
muscle we'll need to keep up with market demand for the product,”
said Edgar Matias, President of Toronto-based Matias Corporation.
The
Half Keyboard's Palm-sized dimensions make it ideal for use on
an airplane or other cramped quarters, without sacrificing comfort
or typing speed.
Its
patented skill transfer design allows users to touch type with one
hand, using their existing skills, at speeds almost as fast as with
both hands (up to 88% of normal typing rates). It is a major advance
in keyboard design, and supports the trend toward smaller computing
devices, as well as offering other benefits.
Typing
with one hand leaves the other hand free for a pen or mouse, allowing
the user to easily enter both text and graphics. This makes note taking
on a Palm much faster and more flexible than using a regular keyboard,
which is restricted to text only. Now you can draw diagrams too.
Slated
for shipment in November, the Half Keyboard for Palm and Handspring
will retail for US$99. Models for computers running Microsoft's Windows
or Linux, and for Apple's Macintosh will also be available.
The
Half Keyboard will be on display at Macworld Conference & Expo/San
Francisco 2001, from January 9-12, in Booth#1748.
A FREE
software prototype is available for download at:
www.halfkeyboard.com
Matias
is a startup company whose patented Half Keyboard technology
allows fast text entry on cellphone-sized devices, using peoples’
existing touch-typing skills. It is enabling technology for handheld
word processing, cellphone e-mail, and wearable computing. The financing
to launch Half Keyboard production was supplied by Transpacific
Resources Inc. (CDNX: YTQ).
Press
Contact:
Edgar Matias
Matias Corporation
+1-905-265-8844
pr@halfkeyboard.com
NOTE
TO EDITORS: For electronic artwork, please visit: www.halfkeyboard.com/pr.
Matias,
the Matias logo, and Half Keyboard are trademarks of Matias Corporation.
Other names may be trademarks and their owners are respectfully acknowledged.
SOURCE:
Matias Corporation
