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Cool Customized Keyboard

July 22, 2005 › Sandy McMurray | comment

A Russian design studio has come up with a clever design for computer keyboards. The Optimus keyboard from Art. Lebedev Studio has tiny digital displays that change the printing on each key, depending on which computer program you're using.

Imagine the possibilities! Not only could the keyboard instantly adapt to different language settings, but it could also change to highlight specific keyboard commands used in programs like Photoshop, or when playing computer games like Quake.

The Optimus keyboard is just a design so far, but the company says it will be a real product, possibly by next year. We'll see. Given that the projected cost of each keyboard will be high ("less than a good mobile phone") I'm not sure how many customers they'll have.

Still, it's a cool idea.

Here are the "Frequently Answered Answers" about the Optimus keyboard (from the Art. Lebedev Studio site)

It�s in the initial stage of production.

We hope it will be released in 2006.

It will cost less than a good mobile phone.

It will be real.

It will be OS-independent (at least it�s going to be able to work in some default state with any OS).

It will support any language or layout.

Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Each key could be programmed to produce any sequence.

It will be an open-source keyboard, SDK will be available.

Some day it will be split (and made �ergonomic�).

It will most likely use the OLED technology (e-paper is sooo slow).

Our studio is located two blocks from the Kremlin.

It will feature a key-saver.

Keys could be animated when needed.

It has a numeric keypad because we love it.

There�s no snow in Moscow in summer.

It will be available worldwide (why not?)

OEM is possible (why not?)