Good-bye carpel tunnel syndrome? That's the idea with Keybowl's orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard, designed to eliminate finger movement and minimize wrist movement while typing and navigating -- a boon for anyone with repetitive strain injuries or upper extremity disabilities. The "keyboard" consists of two domes, each of which can slide into eight different positions. Combining particular positions on both domes creates a keystroke. Sound complicated? Not so, says Keybowl, but we'd want to try before we buy. The orbiTouch comes with different dome sizes to accommodate different hand sizes. It's IBM PS2 and IBM USB compatible; a Mac version is currently under development.   Handwriting goes digital with new technology from a Swedish firm, Anoto. The key is digital paper that looks like an ordinary page but is covered with an almost imperceptible pattern of tiny dots. A special pen creates a digital trace of whatever's written or drawn on the paper and stores it until you're ready to transfer it to your PC, PDA, or mobile phone. The pen, which looks like a sleek, fat fountain pen, includes a Bluetooth wireless transmitter, a camera, an image processor, and -- yes -- some old-fashioned ink. Just upgraded to a late-model Palm? Turn your old one into a freewheeling, road-hugging little robot using a design from the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute. The Palm, CM roboticists point out, makes a handy robot controller: It packs a lot of computational power in a small size, runs on batteries, and can display graphics on an interactive user interface. CM provides software that can be compiled on a Windows PC and downloaded to the Palm. The robot can drive itself around on flat surfaces, using optical range sensors to sense nearby obstacles and walls. Build it with stuff you find around the classroom, or buy a kit. Then find your own road. Copyright © 2001, National School Boards Association. Electronic School is an editorially independent publication of the National School Boards Association. Opinions expressed by this magazine or any of its authors do not necessarily reflect positions of the National School Boards Association. Within the parameters of fair use, this article may be printed out and photocopied for individual or educational use, provided this copyright notice appears on each copy. This article may not be otherwise linked, transmitted, or reproduced in print or electronic form without the consent of the Publisher. For more information, call (703) 838-6739. Got a comment about this article? Voice your opinion on our message board! Want to stay in touch? Sign up for our e-mail newsletter! Letters to the Editor: letters@electronic-school.com Free trial subscription: subscriptions@electronic-school.com Article submissions: editor@electronic-school.com Reprint requests: reprints@electronic-school.com Advertising inquiries: advertising@electronic-school.com Webmaster: webmaster@electronic-school.com