Relief for sufferers of wrist and back pain was what Manoj Sinha was looking for when he came up with the idea for the LapKeyBoard. Exactly what it sounds like, the LapKeyBoard is an ergonomic lap desk with a built-in wireless keyboard and space for use of the accompanying mouse.
With twenty years of experience in research and development, Sinha, a native of India, has worked for the National Institute of Health as well as a pharmaceutical research and development company. He discovered that the relief many people sought could be found in a simple solution.
“I was thinking about it, and I thought, ‘Why don’t I provide a platform where they can sit comfortably and they can utilize an ergonomic chair, so the back is supported, as well the wrists,’” said Sinha.
Sinha said the original LapKeyBoard design was 36 inches, but he has reduced the size to be more comfortable and lightweight.
LapKeyBoard has been in development for more than three years, but has only been available to the public for approximately a year. The first generation of LapKeyBoard has seen much success.
Tim Joyce, of SimplyLaunch, said he loves the ease of use the LapKeyBoard offers. “It’s great to be able to sit back in my office chair while I type and use the mouse,” said Joyce. “Spending most of the day hunched over a standard keyboard starts to take its toll on your back.”
Additionally, Sinha noted, the LapKeyBoard doesn’t get hot against a person’s lap the way a laptop often does. He explained that the keyboard sits on a cushion, to avoid slipping and maintain comfort for the user.
Sinha said that he originally contacted Braintree Business Development Center before a Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Vegas, for advice on his presentation. Afterward, he pursued the Braintree relationship and is currently a Braintree tenant.
“When I came back from CES, I applied for the Tech Sprout Grant,” said Sinha, who received Tech Sprout grant funding for the first round of LapKeyBoard production.
Tech Sprout is a grant program available to companies in the Braintree Incubation Program. The grant is designed to help technology based ideas navigate commercialization. Awards may be used for various purposes, including prototypes, patents, and testing.
Future generations of LapKeyBoard are currently in the works, a process that Sinha feels will be easier after having learned from the first round of production. “I know what makes a difference now because I have gone through concept to prototype, prototype to production. Every single step has its own challenge, though,” added Sinha.
Sinha described the process of concept to production as very time consuming. “Patience is needed,” said Sinha, “a lot of patience and belief in yourself.”
LapKeyBoard is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
“I was thinking about it, and I thought, ‘Why don’t I provide a platform where they can sit comfortably and they can utilize an ergonomic chair, so the back is supported, as well the wrists,’” said Sinha.
