Optimus wireless keyboard wears its functions on its keys
By Barb Dybwad 
posted July 14th 2005 3:30AM
posted July 14th 2005 3:30AM
Yeah, and it's about time someone shook up this stagnant keyboard market, already. Good old QWERTY day in, day out —
we love ya — but this wireless offering from Optimus gets a little funky on us. Designed by Art Lebedev Studio in
Moscow, the device's keys light up to indicate each associated function. There's a dedicated bank of keys on the left
for switching applications and modes, and the keys in the regular QWERTY bank can change to display any number of
languages as well as numbers, symbols HTML codes and mathematical functions. Unfortunately, this doesn't look like
actualware quite yet as they're still waiting on a patent. Ain't it always the way?
[Thanks, Andrew and pseudo]
i've been thinking of something like this for a long time; it just always seemed like something that would end up being incredibly expensive.
(i need to start seeking patents for my so-called hairbrained ideas.)
:P
United Keys is working on a display-key keyboard for the PC gaming market, expected to be ready in the fall. It uses LCD displays and will be affordable for general PC power users. www.unitedkeys.com
United Keys is working on a display-key keyboard for the PC gaming market, expected to be ready in the fall. It uses LCD displays and will be affordable for general PC power users. www.unitedkeys.com
Waiting on a patent? Damn, I came up with this idea at least a year ago. Not an actual design mind you, but the concept of putting little screens in the keys. I'm sure hundreds of other people have had the idea.
I should have got a patent...
#44, you know there's a solution to that. You put the computer and keyboard on a desk. You don't put the liquids on the desk. You keep the liquids away from the desk. Problem solved, no more spillage.
Honestly... I would think that after killing 4 keyboards you could have figured this one out yourself. What's cheaper? Waterproofing a keyboard, or not drinking while you use it? I'll give you a clue, one requires you to spend extra money...
The keys use OLEDs which are SELF ILLUMINATING Organic LED's when given power. They also use just a fraction of the energy. It's a very inexpensive technology compared to flat panel. It can litterally be made with an ink-jet type technology to spray on mylar.
Will probably have virtually no heat, and may be able to live off the power from the computer alone. Hell, this kind of technology can be used to make clothing that changes color, or has it's own screen!
I want one, the only thing that can stop me is it being too wide for my keyboard tray, or the keys feeling like such crap it takes the enjoyment out of it.
I can see it now, "Hey, how come your keyboard has no letters, or anything?" "Because the computer is OFF - Duuuh." {;-D
I would pay $400 for one of these things in a heartbeat when it ever finally comes out (and it might be a while)...
BUT there's no way i would buy it with that layout. what was the guy thinking with that freakin enter key? enter key goes ABOVE the shift key, not next to it!!!! GAH!!!
seriously... stick with a STANDARD layout that everyone already has memorized... i just finished spending 45 minutes at my local computer store looking for a new keyboard because every that made a decent looking/typing keyboard *cough*logitech*microsoft*cough* has suddenly decided that they should put out their own layout versions - rendering it utterly useless to people who have spent their entire life programming on a classic layout.
ok, so i digress on that a little... yes there's a market for new office layout.. or whatever other hair brained new layout comes out.. but dont forget us classic users... it works the way it is.. dont start rearranging shift, control, alt, insert/delete/home/end keys just cause you think it looks better elseware.
sorry, kinda rambled ont hat a bit... but i would really hate to have that totally awesome kickass keyboard come to market only to find that they went with a totally non-standard layout for the right shift and enter keys... what a waste......
Contrary to what Engadget is saying, this will NOT be a wireless device. There's an interview with Art Lebedev here:
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/beta/home.php?x=articles&id=10
He specifically states it won;t be wireless and it is not meant to be portable. They are waiting for a patent and hope it will be available in 2006. Not that far away anymore.
Has anyone designed a qwerty keyboard using programmable LCD keyswitches with LED backlighting such as these? http://www.screenkeys.com/screenkeys/s1.html.
Sorry, typo in the above URL... It should be: http://www.screenkeys.com/screenkeys/s1.html
This is from the website so it might be released.
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?)
come get some demo's of this I want one now!!
Number 49. Yes, I agree. It is funny when people correct others spelling mistakes.
What is even more funny, is when the person making the correction makes a spelling mistake or even unknowingly omits letters themselves. The 'corrector' becomes the 'correctee'.
Therefore, I laugh in your face Mike.
Haahhh.
Thanks.
Price? shipping at all countries?
Actually it IS real and it IS being made... there's plenty of information about it and the designer's website has a launch date of Feb 1, 2006. Also here's an interview with him...
http://www.primotechnology.com/index.php?art=articles/0705/optimus/index.htm