The United Keys key-displays keyboard

Speaking of in-key keyboard displays, a company by the name of United Keys is also working on development of an interactive key display system, and expects to have a product on the market later this year. They expect theirs to have a completely customizeable interface for the icons that show up on-key, animated displays, and an open API. But how Elkin Acevedo's patents will affect the Optimus and their own patents for the device is yet to be seen, same as exactly what products United Keys has got cookin' over there.

[err0neous @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

What does the bomb key do?

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

If this guy puts one out with monochrome keys, I'll be pissed. The optimus is really cool because it uses OLEDs, which are not only color, but look great.

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Yeah what kind of wacky icons are those? When was the last time you preformed an action on your computer that could be represented by a bomb, coffee, and flying machines?

[TheCheeks @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Optimus better release their keyboard, this one looks HORRIBLE.

[nemi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

The Bomb key could be asigned to compile and run the Kenel Serivece Software you are working on that alawys seems to result in a BSOD.

The flying machien coudl call up the local aiurports web page with the current average number of hours delay on your domestic america carrier flights.

The coffee key could call up Oxford univeristy coffee room web cam for a bit of nostalga?

[Jay G. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Optimus Prime OWNS YOU

[jv @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Hot coffee! *ducks*

[SASniper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Looks like they're testing out the terrorist key options! Bastards!

[scott Dodson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

This may not look as good..but it's a start. I'm looking at my boring keyboard right now....and I want that one.

[nemi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Hey, you could build your own:

1) Pain all your keys with "projector screen paint" (matt white)

2) Hook up a projector display unit to the second monitor port on your fancy grpahcis card.

3) Mount the projector above your desk so it projects onto your keybaord.

4) Write a full screen VB window program that is "awlays on top" and fixed on the second "monitor" desktop workspace and maps graphics where your keys are depending on what window/app has the input focus.

Pricing starting at $800....

... ok maybe I'll wait for one of these.

[sketchguy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Is that hot coffee icon to unleash the hidden sex scenes in GTA? ;)

[Shooby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

FUGLY!!! I'm in for the optimus keyboard and will import it from another country if necessary

[Isaiah @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

First one to come out with a decent ergo keyboard get's my cash. And preferably one that does not come with a mouse bundled. I like my damned trackball!

Oops. Forgot to indicate rant...

[woopadeedoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

yeesh, those look like icons for the NEWTON. Bad photoshop, Bad.

[Vexorg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Obviously the bomb key is the one you use to crash your Mac.

[dthree @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Icons? Bah:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/7727/

[Samual J Jackson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

ATLAST! now I can blow up helicopters while I drink coffee in my fighter plane

[DanAmpX @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Damn ugly... ugh! Monochrome? anyone backing this design has GOT to be kidding, up against the Optimus keyboard, its not only ugly.... ok that's all it is, is ugly... and beige.

The Optimus Keyboard is just classy. Imagine a screensaver wooshing across your keys in all the OLED glory... aaah *wants*

[aprodite @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#10 nemi

Unless you have transparent fingers that idea of yours won't work well.

[John Laur @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I did a patent search a few years ago when I had this idea myself; it's not a particularly revolutionary one and there are many companies with various similar products either in development or currently on the market that use various display-in-key technology or transparent-tactile-overlay-over-touchscreen, but had concluded that the cost for an end product would be absolutely astronomical.

And it will be. That optimus keyboard is going to cost a fortune if it ever sees the light of day which it most likely won't. Someone is smoking some serious dope if they think they can produce a unit with 110+ seperate 32x32 (roughly) pixel displays and sell it for a reasonable price. Of course when I was looking at it, OLED's weren't around, so trying to jam a backlight and LCD into each key was going to be a real headache. I had ended up concluding that the best approach was to build some sort of plastic key with embedded fiber optics so that the display could be shared between keys and be mounted below the keyboard entirely.

So we'll see what happens. If the optimus comes out for anything less than $500, I'm going to order a case!

[dDub @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Even if one of these types of keyboards makes it to the market, i still think the ZBoard is a better option. Not only can the keys icons change, but you can also have modified key position layouts... *shrug*

[Jason Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

@ #15 "Obviously the bomb key is the one you use to crash your Mac."

If you weren't so ignorant, you'd know that the Bomb App was used to show ho the Mac COULDN'T be crashed by a single application. Duh.

[adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

http://www.presence-pc.com/actualite/clavier-optimus-10745/

its beautiful!!!

[Jazzay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

ironic, my first 20 seconds on a Mac and i manage to crash it simply by trying to open Photoshop CS

[tk noodle @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I guess this discussion is like comparing a sexy light saber with a plasma arc cutting torch. The torch may not look very sexy, but it sure slices through sheet steel just fine.

That Optimus sure is inspirational, but without the aid of digitally enhanced science fiction, its all smoke no fire. This keyboard looks like it would actually work.

Truly new technology never looks very sexy. Remember Doug Englebart's first computer mice? Your first camcorder? The first telephone? I got high hopes for the convergence of the light saber vision with the plasma torch reality.
Zap.

[Fry's @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

This might sound like I am the inventor or share holder of the company, but I heard that these guys actually have not only the patent but also a placed order of 450,000(!) keyboards with all keys having an lcd (not only the F-keys as shown on the pic).

I have no idea what optimus has or if it is just a photoshop image they are showing. Btw, oled is much more expensive so the price will hardly be as low as this one.

[hall @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

it looks pretty cool