RAST Associates

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RAST Business Overview

History

RAST Associates, LLC (RAST) was formed several years ago to develop industry enabling proprietary intellectual property to make it possible to embed expandable keyboards and keypads, including full size QWERTY touch typing keyboards and thumb keyboards, into every kind of handheld computing and communications device using elasticized material to support molded or membrane key assembliies. This provides design freedoms which offer the benefits of much greater user convenience and performance in sustained operation of keyed data input, while providing device manufacturers with product differentiation and aesthetic options to compress the necessary space for housing all forms of QWERTY and phone keyboards.

Once patent applications were filed, RAST disclosed these developments to a very limited number of significant companies in the industry to solicit their preliminary reaction. The feedback was uniformly and enthusiastically favorable. These companies strongly urged RAST to assume responsibility for the design and development necessary to demonstrate the engineering feasibility of applying the technology at acceptable unit costs in high volume production.

During the last two years, RAST built a professional engineering design team which developed manufacturable product concepts for low cost, high volume production of VARIO™ expandable QWERTY full size keyboards, thumboards and smaller size expandable cell phone keypads. This team creates reference designs for volume manufacturing and provides supporting consulting services to OEM licensees.

The RAST engineering design team includes professional industry expertise in the disciplines of keyswtich and keyboard design, mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering, fiber and yarn formulation, fabric manufacturing and finishing processes, and has immediate access to weaving looms and testing facilities to provide the elasticized fabric characteristics required by particular host product designs. In addition, the mechanical engineering team has already developed a local network of customized machine shop, contract manufacturing and prototyping facilities for working in different plastics and metals for quick prototyping of integrated designs for specialized configurations of fabrics and keyboards and keypads. A ccompanying RAST website material and downloadable PowerPoint presentation (with animated video illustrations) detail the specific developments achieved.

Click PLAY to watch
Vario Demonstration Video.

"RAST has the proprietary technology that enables true application mobility for smart handheld devices by embedding an expandable keyboard providing the same proven functionality and convenience of desktops and laptops "

-Alan Liker-

Summary of RAST Business Activities and Accomplishments

Intellectual Property

RAST's primary business objective is to license its broad and comprehensive patented technologies and thereby enable its customers to profit from the important and significant benefits described on this web site.

The foundation of RAST’s IP Protection is the one hundred and three claim Patent No. 6,739,774 dated May 25, 2004 for "EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE KEYBOARD WITH ADJUSTABLE KEY SIZES" granted by the U.S. Patent Office, and international protection of this application which has been granted or pending, legally protecting virtually all variations of expandable elasticized keyboard designs. Also granted by the U.S. Patent Office is the sixteen claim Patent No. 6,830,397, dated December 14, 2004, for "EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE KEYBOARD WITH ADJUSTABLE KEY SIZES" covering “Force Vector Systems” for controlling the means of directing the switch closing force behavior of adjustable keytop sizes. U.S. Patent No. 6,810,119for "EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE KEYBOARD WITH ADJUSTABLE KEY SIZES" was issued to RAST on October 26, 2004, and contains 5 claims protecting variations in keytop designs in multiple configurations of expandable keyboard systems.

The U.S. Patent Office has also notified RAST of two new allowances for patent applications which are in the process of being issued. Several additional U.S. and foreign applications have been filed and are still pending. This patent protection is augmented by trade secret IP Protection for design engineering and proprietary material know-how developed .

VARIO Benefits for Target Product Segments

In the fast moving market segments of Pocket PC’s, intelligent Smartphones, PDAPhones and handheld PC’s which run full versions of PC operating systems or function-rich business applications, large numbers of these devices are incorporating alphanumeric QWERTY thumb keyboards to meet customer demands for broader mobile functionality and the increasing usage of advanced messaging services, (i.e., SMS, MMS). The current introduction of new generation products fuels greater needs for extensive, user-friendly data input operations, to facilitate the execution of a richer range of business and information management and messaging applications and true application mobility.

These applications are currently being implemented with thumb keyboards which limit and impair continuous comfortable usage. VARIO technology can embed an expandable (up to full size QWERTY keyboard with tactile touch keys) keyboard into a handheld device. VARIO replaces the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of two finger thumboard data input with the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard in mini-notebook and handheld PC’s. This capability enables rapid and accurate input of the extensive alphanumeric information necessary for business office information management and messaging applications, and personal applications. Such VARIO keyboard-enabled products can become handheld platforms of choice to supplement laptops and desktops with the advantages of full mobile applications compatibility, and reduced business operating costs through constant personal availability and possession.

For any required configuration of QWERTY full size or thumb keyboard design, user-controlled expansion of the device’s VARIO keyboard area sustains comfortable, fast, and extensive low error rate data input operations to enable increased productivity over the full range of mobile applications. VARIO expandable technology enables more compact and innovative adaptable configurations of product style and design for PDAPhones and Smartphones, where a QWERTY thumb keyboard is adequate, but current fixed sizes reflect the conflict and compromise between ease of customer single hand use as a phone, and effectiveness for keyed input as a data communications device. Handheld mobile computing products devices hosting such applications are exemplified by PocketPC’s such as the HP iPaq, and in Smartphone and PDAPhone devices by the Nokia Communicator, the palmOne Treo 600, and the Motorola A630.

The VARIO design team has also developed an expandable keypad design model for a wearable, detachable micro-size cell phone, with a form factor compatible with MSN enabled wrist watches or pendants, yet providing an easy to use keypad for phone call dialing or SMS/MMS services. This form factor and expanded keypad would permit the creation of a new fashion style product segment providing user friendly keyed input for commonly used network and browser services, such as MSN or Internet Explorer.

Examples of Current Target Product Models and Manufacturers

A current sampling of potential target products are presented here in summary tabular form to illustrate the variety of form factors and product segments to which VARIO technology can add significant customer benefits and manufacturer differentiation.

Handheld PCs

MODEL	VARIO FIT TO CURRENT DESIGN	BENEFITS OF VARIO TO CURRENT DESIGN
Vulcan FlipStart™ 4.0" x 5.8" x 1.0" Weighs under 1.0 lb (450g)	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits an almost exact replacement of the current thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO touch-typing keyboard within the same form factor, integrating moveable frame sides with the current FlipStart housing.	VARIO expandable keyboard replaces the inherent size, performance and functional constraints of the Flipstart thumb keyboard data input with the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by a larger VARIO keyboard improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. thumb keyboard handheld PCs and can make FlipStart PC's the perfect mobile application platform of choice to augment laptops and desktops with the advantages of familiar, comfortable and user-friendly data input operations.
Tiqit ™ 4.0” x 5.9” x 1.2” 20 ounces (including battery)	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits an almost exact replacement of the current thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO touch-typing keyboard within the same form factor, integrating moveable frame sides with the current Tiqit housing.	VARIO expandable keyboard replaces the inherent size, performance and constraints of the Tiqit thumb keyboard data input with the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by a larger VARIO keyboard improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. thumb keyboard handheld PCs and can make Tiqit PC's the perfect mobile application platform of choice to augment laptops and desktops with the advantages of familiar, comfortable and user-friendly data input operations.
Sony Clie ™ PEG-UX50 3 ½ x 4 1/8 x 23/32 6.2 oz.	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits an almost exact replacement of the current thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO touch-typing keyboard within the same form factor, integrating moveable frame sides with the current Sony housing.	VARIO expandable keyboard replaces the inherent size, performance and functional constraints of the SONY thumb keyboard data input with the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by a larger VARIO keyboard improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. thumb keyboard handheld PCs and can make Sony PC's the perfect mobile application platform of choice to augment laptops and desktops with the advantages of familiar, comfortable and user-friendly data input operations.
OQO ™ 3.4” x 4.9” x 0.9” 14 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits an almost exact replacement of the current thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO touch-typing keyboard within the same form factor, integrating moveable frame sides with the current OQO housing.	VARIO expandable keyboard replaces the inherent size, performance and functional constraints of the OQO thumb keyboard data input with the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by a larger VARIO keyboard improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. thumb keyboard handheld PCs and can make OQO PC's the perfect mobile application platform of choice to augment laptops and desktops with the advantages of familiar, comfortable and user-friendly data input operations.

Smart Phones

MODEL	VARIO FIT TO CURRENT DESIGN	BENEFITS OF VARIO TO CURRENT DESIGN
Hewlett Packard HP 6315 4.68” x 2.95” x .73” 6.7 oz.	The snap-on HP thumb keyboard can be directly replaced by an equivalent form factor housing an expandable VARIO keyboard, providing greater keyboard area for either a thumb keyboard or full QWERTY keyboard mode of operation for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb Hewlett Packard keyboard and enables either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for business and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Motorola A630 3.74" x 1.91" x 0.93" 4.34 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current Motorola thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same or smaller form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current Motorola housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb Motorola keyboard and enables either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for business and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
palmOne Treo™ 650 4.4" x 2.3" x 0.9" 6.3 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current palmOne thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current palmOne housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb palmOne keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
palmOne Treo™ 600 4.41" x 2.36" x 0.87" 6.2 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current palmOne thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current palmOne housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the palmOne two thumb keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Nokia 9300 Communicator ™ 132mm x 51mm x 21mm 167 grams	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current Nokia thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same or smaller form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current Nokia housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the Nokia two thumb keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation or, particularly for business and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Nokia 9500 Communicator ™ 148mm x 57mm x 24 mm 230 grams	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current Nokia thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current Nokia housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the Nokia two thumb keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation or, particularly for business and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Sierra Wireless Voq ™ Smartphone 5.2" x 2.1" x 0.9" 5.1 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current Sierra Wireless thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current Sierra Wireless housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb Sierra Wireless keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Research in Motion Blackberry™ 7100t 4.7" x 2.3" x 0.8" 4.3 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current RIM thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current RIM housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb RIM keyboard. VARIO can provide an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Kyocera 7135 3.97" x 2.43" x 1.17" 6.6 ounces	The integral Kyocera thumb keyboard can be directly replaced by an equivalent form factor housing an embedded expandable VARIO thumb keyboard, providing greater keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb Kyocera keyboard and enables an expandable thumb keyboard for easier operation. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Danger Sidekick™ PV-100 5.1" x 2.6" x 0.9" 6.6 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current Danger thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same, or smaller form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current Danger housing to provide greater VARIO keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation. .	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb Danger keyboard and enables either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for business and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.

Pocket PCs

MODEL	VARIO FIT TO CURRENT DESIGN	BENEFITS OF VARIO TO CURRENT DESIGN
Toshiba e800 5.3” x 3.0” x 0.6” 6.8 ounces	An add-on "backpack" VARIO expandable keyboard, capable of sliding and rotating into a user-comfortable position for data input, can be affixed to the Toshiba product to add keyboard capabilities for either a thumb keyboard or full QWERTY keyboard mode of operation for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of stylus or touch screen input methods. VARIO provides either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for Toshiba PocketPC and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
HP h4350 iPAQ™ Pocket PC 5.4” x 2.9” x 0.6” 5.8 ounces	VARIO embedded keyboard design permits a replacement of the current HP thumb keyboard by an expandable VARIO thumb keyboard within the same form factor when contracted, integrating moveable frame sides with current HP housing to provide greater keyboard area for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of the two thumb HP keyboard and enables either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for HP PocketPC and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Dell Axim™ x50v 4.7” x 2.9” x 0.7” 6.2 ounces	An add-on "backpack" VARIO expandable keyboard, capable of sliding and rotating into a user-comfortable position for data input, can be affixed to the Dell product to add keyboard capabilities for either a thumb keyboard or full QWERTY keyboard mode of operation for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of stylus or touch screen input methods. VARIO provides either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for Dell PocketPC and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Dell Axim ™ x30 4.6” x 3.0” x 0.6” 4.9 ounces	An add-on "backpack" VARIO expandable keyboard, capable of sliding and rotating into a user-comfortable position for data input, can be affixed to the Dell product to add keyboard capabilities for either a thumb keyboard or full QWERTY keyboard mode of operation for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of stylus or touch screen input methods. VARIO provides either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for Dell PocketPC and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.
Samsung i700 5.2” x 2.8” x 0.8” 6.9 ounces	An add-on "backpack" VARIO expandable keyboard, capable of sliding and rotating into a user-comfortable position for data input, can be affixed to the Samsung product to add keyboard capabilities for either a thumb keyboard or full QWERTY keyboard mode of operation for greatly improved performance and customer ease of operation.	VARIO expandable keyboard technology is not subject to the inherent size, performance and functional limitations of stylus or touch screen input methods. VARIO provides either an expandable thumb keyboard or, for easier operation---particularly for Samsung PocketPC and PDA applications---the natural use of all ten fingers on a full size tactile feedback QWERTY keyboard. The fast and extensive low error rate data input operations sustainable by an expanded VARIO keyboard area improves customer operational productivity and is a powerful differentiator vs. small thumb keyboards.

Small Cell Phones

MODEL	VARIO FIT TO CURRENT DESIGN	BENEFITS OF VARIO TO CURRENT DESIGN
Motorola V710 3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9" 4.4 ounces	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Motorola keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Motorola with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Motorola V810 3.3" x 1.69" x 0.93" 2.9 ounces	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Motorola keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Motorola with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Kyocera Slider™ SE44 & SE77 3.9" x 1.9" x 0.9" 4.0 ounces	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Kyocera keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Kyocera with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Kyocera Koi™ / KX2 3.48" x 1.89" x 0.90" 3.39 ounces	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Kyocera keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Motorola with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Kyocera SoHo™ / KX1 3.46" x 0.73" x 0.94" 3.4 ounces	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Kyocera keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Kyocera with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Samsung SGH E310 83.7mm x 46.3mm x 23.4mm 90g	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Motorola keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Samsung with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Motorola RAZR™ V3 98mm x 53mm x 14mm 95g	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Motorola keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Motorola with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.
Sanyo PM-8200 3.34" x 1.85" x 1.02" 3.64 oz.	VARIO expandable keypad technology can provide a micro-size phone keypad that, in its contracted position, can be mechanically hidden under the display screen area or can directly replace the current Sanyo keypad within a smaller housing and greatly reduce the size of the current product.	A VARIO “micro-size” cell phone keypad will expand to approximately twice the area size of its contracted position, and will enable larger numeric and character sizes to provide user friendly visibility and convenient use for dialing and Internet browsing functions, and less fatiguing SMS and MMS messaging. It will also provide Sanyo with additional product differentiation and competitive advantages through style flexibility to design a cell phone form factor capable of being worn as a watch or pendant.

Hence, the fundamental value of the VARIO expandable keyboard is to offer mobile handheld device companies a powerful way to differentiate their next-generation, increasingly robust and compact business and information management devices. VARIO improves ease of operation, comfort, and data input accuracy of keyboards and keypads, thereby increasing the business value, user satisfaction, market reach and profitability of licensees’ products. Used with any mobile device operating system platform, VARIO creates unique competitive and comparative advantages for application to hundreds of millions of mobile handheld products to be deployed in the next several years.

An additional variation of the VARIO expandable keyboard product will be licensed to those OEM accessory product manufacturers who offer wireless and wire attachable keyboards as part of the cell phone and handheld device aftermarket business. RAST’s proposed VARIO attachable keyboard design offers the ability to expand from a compact pocket-sized form to the proven form factor of a full size keyboard.

VARIO Expandable Elasticized Keyboard Breadboard
(Attachable Aftermarket Configuration)
in Compact and Extended Modes

The engineering and mechanical design of a VARIO expandable keyboard has 98% commonality of parts for an attachable wired or wireless product, or as a keyboard assembly which is physically embedded and electrically integrated within a host platform handheld device. The basic design of both clases of product configurations is manufacturable with common tooling and fabrication processes.

RAST Product Development Strategies

The RAST engineering design team now includes professional industry expertise in the disciplines of fiber and yarn formulation, fabric manufacturing and finish processes and has immediate access to customized commercial weaving looms and testing facilities to obtain the elasticized fabric characteristics required by particular host product designs. In addition, our mechanical engineering team has already developed a local network of customized machine and prototyping facilities for working in different plastics and metals for quick prototyping of integrated designs for specialized configurations of fabrics and keyboards and keypads.

With these capabilities and resources in place, the RAST team is prepared to adapt VARIO technology to the particular customization requirements of our customers’ product configurations and produce suitable reference designs and prototype models for evaluation that are responsive to the needs and desires of interested prospective licensees. RAST's development team is available, under a wide range of flexible business arrangements and scenarios, to participate with and support client specified customized product configuration utilizingour VARIO expansion technology.

More specifically, RAST offers seriously interested prospective licensees the opportunity to enter into an initial stage development contract to design, engineer, and produce a prototype based on co- developed specifications as a forerunner to an integrally related long term licensing arrangement with continuing development support. Alternatively, RAST is receptive to any preliminary stage joint development and licensing arrangement sufficient to allow our clients to have confirmation that the end product can be successfully engineered and costeffectively produced.

Next Steps

In conclusion, as illustrated by the associated RAST website content, RAST's proprietary intellectual property offers the potential to create new generations of increasingly robust pocket sized products ranging from wearable messaging cell phones to handheld computing devices in different form factors with the rich application functionality that previously could only be implemented on a desktop or laptop computer. The application of VARIO technology to all handheld devices should induce the presence of a VARIO device in every pocket, purse, or briefcase.