In fact, IEEE Spectrum senior editor David Schneider was so intrigued by the idea, that he put together his own version to serve as a haptic touch-typing tutor for his 11-year-old son.

Do you know how to type? Not hunting and pecking your way around a keyboard, but actual touch typing — you know, 10 fingers on the keyboard moving in perfect, clackity-clack synchrony? Considering the ...