keyboardnearby

Keyboardnearby is a term used in human–computer interaction to describe systems and practices that recognize keyboards in proximity to a user or device and enable seamless input handoff across devices. It encompasses both physical wireless keyboards and virtual keyboards on nearby devices, with the goal of reducing distance and latency between intention and action.

Implementation relies on proximity signaling and device discovery. Technologies include Bluetooth Low Energy beacons and standard Bluetooth pairing, NFC taps, and OS-level APIs for keyboard discovery and handoff. User consent and explicit selection are commonly required to mitigate misuse.

Applications include cross-device typing when moving between a laptop, tablet, or smart display; shared workspaces with multiple keyboards; and kiosk environments where staff can pick up a nearby keyboard to begin typing.

Benefits include reduced setup friction, smoother workflows, and faster resumption of input; challenges include privacy and security risks from unintended connections, potential interference when several keyboards are present, and increased battery and hardware management overhead.

See also: Bluetooth keyboard, device proximity sensing, seamless input, multi-device ecosystems.