Art Lebedev kills us with Optimus Tactus keyboard concept

Yeah, you thought the Optimus Maximus was the holy grail of keyboarding -- then you saw the Optimus Tactus, a giant touch sensor display tablet keyboard that could do all the sorts of crazy stuff the Maximus can't even touch, like playing movies and being a gigantic color swatch. That is, if it weren't a concept. (Then again, the Maximus started out as a concept as well just a couple of years back, so who knows.) The only thing we don't get: the name. Tactus? Touch-sensitive doesn't exactly shout tactility to us, but since it's all just theoretical at this point, maybe by the time keyboards like this exist we'll all be typing on shape-shifting tactile membranes overlaid on touchscreens. That is, if Apple's patents haven't already blocked everyone else off from going there.

Gallery: Optimus Tactus

• 
• 
• 
• 

[ealott @ Mar 12th 2008 12:30PM]

I'm thinking...Ultimate Star Trek control panel.

Ever seen Data typing on such a display?

If a cyborg can do it...

[Phil @ Dec 28th 2007 11:17AM]

A touch sensitive input device/display device? How about Optimus Trekus?

[bl0nde @ Dec 28th 2007 12:23PM]

Optimus Primus
...
...
...
sorry.

[Chuckles McGee @ Dec 28th 2007 3:14PM]

I believe that technically, every keyboard is "touch-sensitive"

[BigDaddyM @ Dec 28th 2007 11:17AM]

Why have a screen then, so unless the whole computer is intergrated (AKA Amiga 500 style), i do not like it.
M

[fontendet24 @ Dec 28th 2007 6:40PM]

That's just design, so the first company that will made this - can patent it and sell hundreds of them without paying to Lebedev's co. anything.


At first sight - typing on this keyboard is painful, because it have hard flat surface, but i think that Apple already know - how to manage this problem.
Idea, that costs million $$$:
The answer is simple - you must make two layers - first (at the bottom) is the display itself, second (at the top) is some sort of touch-sensitive soft silicone layer - so any typing will be even better than on the original keyboard and you this layer can even have ability to light your pressing.

[Johnny @ Dec 29th 2007 2:05AM]

Unless this thing has haptic feedback, this thing will really be "Optimus TactLESS"

[hal9K @ Dec 31st 2007 12:13PM]

Whoo Hoo!

Star Trek Next Generation keyboards!!

meh

[MosquitoControl @ Dec 28th 2007 11:19AM]

Just think of how painful and slow typing on this would likely be.

[ethana2 @ Dec 28th 2007 3:03PM]

I prefer laptop keyboards to desktop keyboards, so it could just be that I find this to be a good idea...
~colemak typist

[Chuckles McGee @ Dec 29th 2007 6:21PM]

@ethana2

For a laptop-like keyboard that's actually here and available, you can try the wireless Logitech Dinovo.

[Forrest @ Dec 28th 2007 11:20AM]

No kidding...this thing is straight off the Enterprise.

I'm not sure I could ever get used to typing without tactile feedback, but there are some awfully neat things you could do with a device like this.

[James @ Dec 28th 2007 12:05PM]

i thought about somthing similar to this about a month ago, i had a design that made the keys give a tactile feel though.

[jd @ Dec 28th 2007 11:28AM]

try think outside the box. all our microwaves use this kind of keyboard. all the keyboard manufacturers have to do is adjust the sensitive level just enough.

[ekwmin @ Dec 28th 2007 11:29AM]

Yeah, I was thinking that too. LCARS! from Star Trek, but i seriously think this is what the next generation keyboard should be. At least not for the everyday consumer or office personel, but this is perfect for other types of workflow. From a graphic designer's POV this would be an awesome input device, but it would wreak havoc on editors, lol.

[Forrest @ Dec 28th 2007 11:34AM]

We're also not writing novels on our microwaves :) Well, I'm not at least - most of the stuff I cook is done in a couple minutes.

I already prefer the feel of my desktop keyboard over my laptop keyboard - this kind of input device would take that to the extreme.

I wonder if some sort of force feedback could be incorporated though, so you could get some of the tactility of a 'traditional' keyboard with the incredible customization this would offer.

And yeah, for certain workflows and tasks, this device would be amazing.

[Jason Cox @ Dec 28th 2007 12:38PM]

What button fires Phasers?

[ekwmin @ Dec 28th 2007 12:37PM]

LOL, howbout being beamed back and forth from work? NO TRAFFIC!!! That'll be awesome as long as I don't get fused with a fly or something. And provided that work doesn't have the authority to beam me back to work whenever they feel like it. That would not be cool.

[Ethan @ Dec 28th 2007 2:35PM]

@jd: But you look at your microwave when you type on it.

[Alpha-Toxic @ Dec 29th 2007 3:04PM]

http://www.betanews.com/article/Nokia_Touchscreen_Tactile_Response_Interface_Coming_to_Symbian_S60/1192568431
just a concept, of course, but may turn out to be the turning point in my relations with touchscreens :)

[jd @ Dec 28th 2007 11:26AM]

OH MY GOD!
I bet this is what's page 47 about. The holy grail!

Star Trek is real, only 100 years away..

[cortes.john @ Dec 28th 2007 4:44PM]

lol i saw that yesterday

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 28th 2007 11:27AM]

Set faces to stunned.

[Talsiar @ Dec 28th 2007 11:29AM]

It looks cool, but useless

[mike @ Dec 28th 2007 11:30AM]

Looks good, but not practical. It has no chance, except in star war movies, where rocks can talk.

[Paul @ Dec 28th 2007 11:32AM]

Wasnt there another patent filed by someone to use vibrating motors to simulate tactile feedback for touch screens? Heck, for the amount he is going to charge for this keyboard, I bet they could liscence that technology.

Put little electro-magnetic operated motors under the board in a grid pattern to simulate a "click" feeling when you press down on some part of the board.

[DonatoM3 @ Dec 28th 2007 11:53AM]

That would be Alpine. They've had it for a while in their car touch screens. In fact if Art could licence a technology like that and integrate it well into this keyboard it might just actually work.

[Ethan Rom @ Dec 28th 2007 11:33AM]

Looks cool.
I just said the other day how I wish I could watch Tatu making out on my keyboard.

[Joe @ Dec 28th 2007 11:34AM]

Did you photoshop the Engadget icon in on the left or is that legit?

[Michael LaFramboise @ Dec 28th 2007 11:39AM]

Its legit, thats their way of "asking" to be on engadget :)

[Gar @ Dec 28th 2007 11:58AM]

It will probably have some sort of tactile response when you press a key. I have already used some products which feel exactly like you are pressing a traditional button when it is on, but it is a flat piece of non-moving plastic. There are no moving parts and it's solid as a rock. Very freaky. The technology is called haptiks (sp?).

[NxP3 @ Dec 28th 2007 11:37AM]

This is ridiculous. The keyboard would really suck because there's no tactile feefback. The name is so misleading. Might as well be a screen with virtual keyboard. Next keyboard is going to be optimus prime. You have a little robot sitting on your desk and tell it what to do. No need to type.

[cynyc @ Dec 28th 2007 11:38AM]

The form factor is pure Apple.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 28th 2007 11:47AM]

i love my logitech keyboard.

[BananaBoat @ Dec 28th 2007 11:39AM]

Oh god... just like with the Maximus, we will probably be hearing about this stupid keyboard for the next couple of years.


Gahhhhh

[jamma @ Dec 28th 2007 2:12PM]

I know, I can't wait till the box opening, it will be amazing!






[Sarcasm]

[James Yopp @ Dec 28th 2007 11:27PM]

Wait. Someone opened a box with a keyboard in it? I thought they had only downloaded, printed, and assembled the box themselves, then opened it up to find (surprise!) nothing inside.

[pooptypeuptypants @ Dec 28th 2007 11:45AM]

keyboard? whatever. what i want to know is what this avatar is supposed to be. a phone? a nintendo controller? a deck of cards? and what is it looking at? can it think? is it silently sitting there reading our posts determining what the best strategy will be for killing all of us? i can't stand it....we must stop it before the rampage begins!

[Shane @ Dec 29th 2007 1:09AM]

The default avatar? That's Gadgie the Engadget Mascot!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/20/engadget-comments-new-design-now-with-avatars/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/winners-of-the-engadget-mascot-contest/

[kevjohn @ Dec 28th 2007 11:46AM]

Art Lebedev? I'll be looking forward to this, in 2014.

[Organic_Shadow @ Dec 28th 2007 11:47AM]

Making the entire surface a waterproof(or water resistant) touch screen LCD, with some sort of raised surface to indicate where keys are(because it would be annoying to have to keep looking down- as im not a 'proper' typist), and have it plug in with USB.

The software on the PC would control your themes, key layouts, etc. that would all be toggle-able via the keyboard itself. I think the individual LCD thing with the current Optimus is a little over-engineered.

Doing it this way would most likely be cheaper.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 28th 2007 11:47AM]

i love my logitech keyboard.

[Jeff Lewis @ Dec 28th 2007 11:49AM]

tactile



Main Entry: tac·tile
Pronunciation: \ˈtak-təl, -ˌtī(-ə)l\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French, from Latin tactilis, from tangere to touch — more at tangent
Date: 1615
1 : perceptible by touch : tangible
2 : of, relating to, or being the sense of touch

Since you touch it, and I think the idea here is that you're touching the image, and that Tactus isn't really a word...

[Salsa Shark @ Dec 29th 2007 9:42AM]

"Tactus" is Latin for "touch". Why Ryan is trying to equate that with "tactile", a completely different word, escapes me.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 28th 2007 11:53AM]

totally not tactile, unless you use the dictionary definition.

Also, why does Apple's patents have to block them from making this. Have you not heard the phrase, "There's more than one way to skin a cat". Patents protect the exact process not the theory of it.

[Jeebus @ Dec 28th 2007 12:15PM]

Maybe not patents, but how about trademark violation?

http://www.tactuskeyboard.com/consumers/index.htm

[John P @ Dec 28th 2007 11:54AM]

Year 1 of development: Name, concept art
Year 2 - 5: Creation
Year 6: Default Font
Year 7: Box design

Yeah, perhaps some day. It is a cool concept, for sure. But they take forever to get these things out. And we thought the Maximus was expensive..

[SubGenius @ Dec 28th 2007 1:21PM]

You would think they would have the decency to wait until they at least got the Optimus Maximus out the door before pimping the next big thing.

[ck @ Dec 28th 2007 5:15PM]

I'd imagine that a keyboard with one big screen and some touch sensitivity would be a lot less expensive to produce than a keyboard with 100 tiny, moveable screens attached to it.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 28th 2007 11:55AM]

i think engadget is a sucker for everything optimus