Product Introduction

1. Klic is a macOS application designed to visualize keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and mouse inputs through an elegant, non-intrusive overlay interface. It operates in real time to display user interactions with animations and contextual feedback, optimized for streaming, presentations, and educational use cases. The app integrates directly with macOS accessibility frameworks to securely monitor input events without compromising system performance.
2. The core value of Klic lies in enhancing audience engagement by transparently showcasing complex input interactions during live demonstrations or recordings. It eliminates the need for manual annotation or post-production editing by dynamically rendering inputs as they occur. The tool prioritizes minimalism and performance to ensure seamless integration into professional workflows.

Main Features

1. Klic provides real-time keyboard visualization with modifier-aware animations, displaying combinations like ⌘+C or ⇧+⌥+R with dynamic scaling and gradient effects. The system detects key press duration and sequence logic to differentiate between shortcuts and standalone inputs. It supports custom styling for key labels and background effects to match branding or streaming themes.
2. Trackpad gesture recognition (in development) renders multi-touch interactions such as three-finger swipes, pinch-to-zoom, and force-click operations using pressure-sensitive visual overlays. The engine interprets Apple Trackpad API data to map finger positions and gesture velocity onto animated UI elements. Users can toggle gesture sensitivity thresholds to avoid false positives during rapid inputs.
3. Mouse movement visualization includes cursor trails with adjustable opacity/duration, click-effect rings, and scroll-wheel activity indicators. The system tracks acceleration curves and momentum scrolling to replicate natural input behavior in the overlay. All mouse events are processed through a low-latency Metal rendering pipeline to minimize GPU utilization.

Problems Solved

1. Klic addresses the challenge of demonstrating software workflows where keyboard/mouse actions remain invisible to audiences during screen sharing or recording. Traditional methods like manual annotation or camera-based input capture lack precision and professionalism. The app automates input visualization with pixel-perfect accuracy synchronized to the user’s actual interactions.
2. The primary target users include live streamers creating coding tutorials, educators delivering software training, and presenters showcasing productivity tools. Secondary audiences encompass accessibility advocates demonstrating adaptive input methods and UX researchers analyzing user interaction patterns.
3. Typical scenarios involve live coding sessions where modifier-heavy shortcuts require explanation, Figma/Photoshop tutorials showcasing gesture-based workflows, and remote presentations requiring clear input documentation. The app also serves as a rehearsal tool for refining presentation timing relative to input sequences.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike OBS plugins or screen-recording overlays, Klic operates at the macOS accessibility layer for frame-perfect synchronization with actual input events. Competitors like KeyCastr lack integrated gesture/mouse tracking and advanced animation systems. The app combines three input modalities into a unified visualization engine with contextual awareness.
2. Innovations include momentum-scroll visualization using Apple’s inertial scrolling APIs and adaptive overlay positioning that avoids critical UI elements in active applications. The glass-morphism design system employs Metal shaders for real-time blur effects matching macOS system aesthetics. Batch input grouping prevents visual clutter during rapid shortcut sequences.
3. Competitive strengths include Apple Silicon optimization for <2% CPU usage during 4K streaming and sandboxed security compliance for enterprise deployment. The app’s event-filtering algorithm reduces false triggers from non-interactive keystrokes (e.g., password inputs) while maintaining sub-10ms response times.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What macOS versions and hardware does Klic support? Klic requires macOS 12 Monterey or later due to dependencies on SwiftUI 3 and Metal 3 APIs. It runs natively on both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon devices, with optimized rendering for M1/M2/M3 processors. Rosetta 2 translation is unsupported due to Metal performance constraints.
2. Why does Klic require accessibility permissions? macOS mandates accessibility API access to monitor global keyboard/trackpad events securely. Permissions ensure Klic cannot log sensitive input data—all processing occurs locally without network access. Users configure permissions via System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility.
3. Can I customize the overlay’s position and appearance? Yes, the menu bar utility provides controls for overlay positioning (corner offsets), animation durations, and color schemes. Advanced users can edit JSON theme files to modify gradient stops, keycap bezels, and gesture trail widths. Dark/light mode synchronization uses NSAppearance APIs for automatic adaptation.