Clicks Communicator Working Prototype Showcases Physical QWERTY Keyboard Layout with Android 16 Software Integration and Minimalist Interface
Clicks has posted a full online video demonstration of its working version of the Clicks Communicator prototype. The clip showcases not only the physical configuration of the QWERTY keyboard device that first appeared in concept at this year's Consumer Electronics Show but how the physical interaction of the interface works with current mobile applications.
Android 16 is used as the base operating system with a highly minimalized Launcher. As each phone is unlocked the user is shown a list of applications along with an alphabetical index allowing quick access through a flick of the finger on the list and a flick there on the index. A user can use the actual QWERTY keyboard to type in quick system wide searches to jump straight to the item.
The physical form factor of the Clicks Communicator includes front facing speaker grills at the bottom of the front panel. Biometric security is built into the typing interface with a fingerprint reader within the spacebar. The top edge of the chassis conceals a barometric sensor and a 3.5 mm audio jack for wired headphones and two built in microphones.
The audio capture system has five microphones in total on the device. Two are on the top edge two on the rear panel of the chassis and one on the bottom edge of the device. The division is intended to improve voice clarity and remove environmental noise during calls and recordings.
The prototype has a removable back cover which shields the internal slots. Under this the device contains a physical SIM card slot and a microSD expansion slot supporting cards up to 2TB. The producer has stated that there may be small changes to the internal positioning of the components before the device is mass produced for final retail sale.
The company plans to ship this hardware to end users before the year's end. The retail price of this product is $499 with the Clicks Communicator providing a physical keyboard to traditional users of modern mobile systems.
