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I want something like this, except I want the Pi to be able to directly interface with the laptop keyboard and display in a way that the laptop's internal compu

I want something like this, except I want the Pi to be able to directly interface with the laptop keyboard and display in a way that the laptop's internal computer can't snoop or otherwise access. That way the Pi can serve as a secure computing environment sharing the display and keyboard of my insecure laptop. On top of that a bunch of neat integration can be added like the insecure laptop submitting ciphertext to the attached Pi with a seamless switch of keyboard and display over to the Pi where I can view the plaintext or do other operations on it, and have new ciphertext sent back to the insecure laptop with a seamless switch back of keyboard and display. I'm imagining integration with tools like mail reading software etc. for doing the switching. Unfortunately USB-C alone isn't going to enable this level of integration, but I'm optimistic projects like the mntmn reform can facilitate this area of innovation in the future.

andai 7y ago
Is there something like a KVM switch for laptop keyboards? I think on some models they are attached by USB so it should be possible, if there’s room in the case (and you poke a hole for a cable to the external device :)
- cylinder714 7y ago
  This almost certainly isn’t what you had in mind, but the NexDock is a kind of “dumb notebook” that integrates a keyboard and display for smartphones and single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi: https://nexdock.com/ https://nexdock.com/
  - viraptor 7y ago
    That looks amazing. A comeback of terminals.
  - andai 7y ago
    > nexdock + raspberry pi: world’s most affordable laptop! > $229 (excluding the pi) > Laughs in $100 ThinkPad. Seriously though this looks great. And from what I gather it works with lots of newer phones, and can even be used as a second laptop display.
- newnewpdro 7y ago
  I don't know, but I imagine a KVM circuit isn't too complicated to make in a small enough form factor that'd fit under a palm rest. The first time I wanted this was when someone gave me a usbarmory [0]. It easily fit under my thinkpad's palmrest, but was of limited value for secure computing as the only way I could interact with it was via things like ssh / X over ssh, and I was still displaying/handling all of the unencrypted information on my relatively insecure network-connected host that runs web browsers and accesses all sorts of untrusted input like porn sites and message forums and what have you. I was able to leave my private keys on the usbarmory which is a marginal improvement, at least nobody could easily sign things as me for instance. But for reading/replying to encrypted emails, I couldn't make the usbarmory connect to my keyboard and display directly, it doesn't have pins for such things nor do I have a micro KVM switch as you mentioned. [0] https://inversepath.com/usbarmory https://inversepath.com/usbarmory

andai 7y ago

Is there something like a KVM switch for laptop keyboards? I think on some models they are attached by USB so it should be possible, if there’s room in the case (and you poke a hole for a cable to the external device :)

cylinder714 7y ago
This almost certainly isn’t what you had in mind, but the NexDock is a kind of “dumb notebook” that integrates a keyboard and display for smartphones and single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi: https://nexdock.com/ https://nexdock.com/
- viraptor 7y ago
  That looks amazing. A comeback of terminals.
- andai 7y ago
  > nexdock + raspberry pi: world’s most affordable laptop! > $229 (excluding the pi) > Laughs in $100 ThinkPad. Seriously though this looks great. And from what I gather it works with lots of newer phones, and can even be used as a second laptop display.
newnewpdro 7y ago
I don't know, but I imagine a KVM circuit isn't too complicated to make in a small enough form factor that'd fit under a palm rest. The first time I wanted this was when someone gave me a usbarmory [0]. It easily fit under my thinkpad's palmrest, but was of limited value for secure computing as the only way I could interact with it was via things like ssh / X over ssh, and I was still displaying/handling all of the unencrypted information on my relatively insecure network-connected host that runs web browsers and accesses all sorts of untrusted input like porn sites and message forums and what have you. I was able to leave my private keys on the usbarmory which is a marginal improvement, at least nobody could easily sign things as me for instance. But for reading/replying to encrypted emails, I couldn't make the usbarmory connect to my keyboard and display directly, it doesn't have pins for such things nor do I have a micro KVM switch as you mentioned. [0] https://inversepath.com/usbarmory https://inversepath.com/usbarmory