crave it

July 14, 2005 2:16 PM

LCD computer keyboard
posted by Pretty_Generic (56 comments total)

um, via /. ??
posted by JeffK at 2:21 PM on July 14, 2005

It's not even a model, it's a photoshop.
posted by plexiwatt at 2:21 PM on July 14, 2005

tight
posted by nervousfritz at 2:22 PM on July 14, 2005

plexiwatt - how do you know?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2005

In english.
posted by signal at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2005

But I still want to know what the donkey key does.
posted by 6060842 at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2005

And they list a "modeller".
posted by signal at 2:26 PM on July 14, 2005

And a "laying on of hands" person.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:28 PM on July 14, 2005

That's no donkey, it's a mule.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:29 PM on July 14, 2005

Nice idea.

It's not even a model, it's a photoshop.

No, it's a quake!

If it was a model, would that be any different? It would be a mock-up, so you wouldn't be able to buy it anyway. I can see the practicality of it, especially if you use a lot of diacritics, although it would be even more expensive that the keyboard I type this on.
posted by kika at 2:31 PM on July 14, 2005

Does this mean I can finally have my OMG, STFU and ROFL keys, or do I still need to wait for the ROFL 3000?
posted by FuturisticDragon at 2:35 PM on July 14, 2005

I can see the practicality of it, especially if you use a lot of diacritics, although it would be even more expensive that the keyboard I type this on.

I would love the ability to show the commands for applications/games. Same thing for switching between Dvorak and QWERTY keys.
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 2:39 PM on July 14, 2005

Monty Python's Quest for the Unholy Keyboard

"It's only a model."
posted by mystyk at 2:40 PM on July 14, 2005

You could use the keyboard instead of an OSD for Half-Life 2.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 2:42 PM on July 14, 2005

That's awesome. Wonder how durable it would be.
posted by fungible at 2:45 PM on July 14, 2005

LCD computer keyboard

I'm thinking this would actually be easier to implement with OLEDs.
posted by mr_roboto at 2:48 PM on July 14, 2005

WEE TODD DID
posted by jonson at 2:49 PM on July 14, 2005

Hope it comes to be . . .
posted by hackly_fracture at 2:51 PM on July 14, 2005

and still no cure for cancer..

I agree with plexiwatt, it looks fake. If it's not, it's just an incredible waste of resources.
posted by doctor_negative at 2:52 PM on July 14, 2005

mr_roboto, according to the /. article, the keys are actually supposed to be OLED, not LCD [though I'm not sure where they got this info.]
posted by ijoshua at 2:56 PM on July 14, 2005

I'd love it if each key lit up a la "Billie Jean" as I typed.
posted by plexiwatt at 2:58 PM on July 14, 2005

Perhaps an incredible waste of resources, but wouldn't it be cool? How 'bout best of both worlds -- a touchscreen keyboard? OK, it wouldn't give you the nice, satisfying "click" that keys do, with the nice type-type-type sound that impresses the slow typist next door... but you could choose keysets and flip back and forth without having to muck about and lose screen space.
posted by bloomicy at 3:00 PM on July 14, 2005

"Incredible waste of resources" or not, I'd buy one for any semi-reasonable price.
posted by mosch at 3:04 PM on July 14, 2005

This is cool, especially because it would get hacked in about five minutes and people would have scrolling pron on their keyboards.

Or you could have a movie playing on the keyboard while you work. And locking the computer could make the board turn into all mini locks.

I want one. I like my bioluminescent keyboard just fine but this would be substantially cooler.
posted by fenriq at 3:10 PM on July 14, 2005

Damn, I wish that were real. I would totally buy one, at a price reasonable or unreasonable.
posted by mboszko at 3:14 PM on July 14, 2005

You know, a *link* to your bioluminescent keyboard would be nice, fenriq...
posted by Snowflake at 3:15 PM on July 14, 2005

Bioluminescent??? I'm stuck in the dark ages (pun intended)... got a link?
posted by bloomicy at 3:16 PM on July 14, 2005

If it ain't one of these it ain't a good keyboard.

Those LEDs/LCDs/OLEDs wouldn't last two minutes in nomal typing, no matter what they are. OLED still hasn't lived up to the hyper after all these years, and I'm willing to bet power consumption would be pretty steep.

Probably good for management types that still touch type after all these years.
posted by inthe80s at 3:16 PM on July 14, 2005

Electroluminescence, maybe?
posted by NinjaPirate at 3:19 PM on July 14, 2005

Probably good for management types that still touch type after all these years

Touch typing means you don't look at the keys. How would this keyboard be good for that?
posted by joaquim at 3:27 PM on July 14, 2005

Keyboards were never meant to exist, and here's proof:

What's the longest word you can make using only the top row of keys on a keyboard?

Typewriter.
posted by jeremy b at 3:28 PM on July 14, 2005

I always prefered "we type quieter, yop."
Though it's not so much a word.
posted by metaculpa at 3:34 PM on July 14, 2005

mr_roboto:
The main site never mentions LCD as the display type. T3 quotes it as being OLED (although I'm not sure where they got that info either).

Personally, I would pay good money for a keyboard of this type. I'm constantly jumping between 3DS Max, Photoshop, and After Effects, so having illustrated quick-keys move along with me for reference would be just brilliant.

BTW: If it is a 3D model (which I also suspect), it is a very nice render. Nice texturing, and proper use of depth-of-field.
posted by numlok at 3:37 PM on July 14, 2005

Stunning. I want one. I really, really do.
posted by zardoz at 3:38 PM on July 14, 2005

Sorry about that folks, here's a shot (from here) of nearly the same keyboard as what I've got.
posted by fenriq at 3:40 PM on July 14, 2005

Those pictures turned my brain into mush over how wonderful it would be. I would also spend many a pretty penny on it.
posted by Lizc at 4:06 PM on July 14, 2005

Why wait for this photoshop to become reality when you can build it yourself today, sourced from a variety of manufacturers?
posted by felix at 4:11 PM on July 14, 2005

If you could make the OLED thin enough you could make a custom set of key caps for the M and have the coolest of both worlds.
posted by Mitheral at 4:15 PM on July 14, 2005

Ooh! As you change fonts the keys on the keyboard change to match. I want one of these very much.
Scratch that, I want the cheap Korean knock-off that will come out 6 months later.
posted by Eddie Mars at 4:43 PM on July 14, 2005

fenriq: is it really BIOluminescent? Looks like standard blue led backlighting to me. If it is bio, that's bloody awesome.

It goes with my dream of having a high-pressure saltwater aquarium which houses bioluminescent jellyfish.
posted by plexiwatt at 4:58 PM on July 14, 2005

Point: Mitheral.
posted by cortex at 5:01 PM on July 14, 2005

It doesn't glow, which is a shame, but being the gamewhore I am I'm very much liking my ZBoard. Some of the key layouts take a bit of getting used to, as does the split spacebar, but the butterfly controls are nice, as is the key response.
(man i wish it glowed though!)
posted by Zack_Replica at 5:01 PM on July 14, 2005

Wouldn't it be hard to type on a keyboard where every key is flat, and so is the keyboard? I like my natural keyboard. The split layout and angling makes typing easier.
posted by Vulpyne at 5:03 PM on July 14, 2005

Simply beam the keyboard onto a table top.
posted by squalor at 5:09 PM on July 14, 2005

plexiwatt, I had to check because I could have sworn (and often do!) that it was a bio luminescent board but it appears not. I'm pretty sure its a Zippy 620 like the 34 for sale in this auction.

** Hangs head in geek shame. **

But it is very cool looking and makes for a neat gaming experience in the dark with the glow from the board.
posted by fenriq at 5:15 PM on July 14, 2005

Man, I still have an IBM Model M keyboard from 1984, and it's probably the best keyboard I've ever used. Stolen directly from the surplus pile of my highschool circa 1998, where it came from a keybaording lab.

Damn this mofo is durable. it also weighs a ton. I've always thought that it'd be pretty good impromptu melee weapon since the cord unplugs from the back and it weighs a solid 10 lbs. It'd probably still work after thrashing someone soundly too.


I have lost the keycaps for u, :, left ctrl, left alt, and the decimal point on the number pad though.


uh.


That is all.
posted by stenseng at 5:38 PM on July 14, 2005

"As a matter of principle, we do not work with political entities, religious organizations and private individuals."
posted by Grod at 5:57 PM on July 14, 2005

stenseng writes "I have lost the keycaps for u, :, left ctrl, left alt, and the decimal point on the number pad though."

Left and right caps are the same. If your like me and use the left 90/95% of the time you can swap the right side to the left hand side.
posted by Mitheral at 6:18 PM on July 14, 2005

Looks nice for playing games, but truely 1337 people don't even need markings on their keypads. Besides, in the future screen and interface will be the same, as we'll all be using LCARS.
posted by Citizen Premier at 6:39 PM on July 14, 2005

I'd love this not so much for the shifting lettering but the integrated display you could build. How cool would it be to have an animation of a fireplace crackling away on your keyboard? Or a big old super cell thunderstorm?
posted by Mitheral at 7:30 PM on July 14, 2005

That is so cool. It it isn't real, it should be. Who gives a rat's arse about the cost or the power consumption? I want one.

Looks nice for playing games, but truely 1337 people don't even need markings on their keypads.
You mean like this? (via the-fix.org)
posted by dg at 8:19 PM on July 14, 2005

"As a matter of principle, we do not work with political entities, religious organizations and private individuals."

Down with individuals!
posted by delmoi at 9:37 PM on July 14, 2005

I've lost my keycaps for f, t, and w.
posted by tommyc at 12:54 AM on July 15, 2005

I have all my key caps. Model Mmmmmmm.
posted by 31d1 at 6:07 AM on July 15, 2005

I don't ever even really look at my keyboard.
posted by glenwood at 6:46 AM on July 15, 2005

What's the longest word you can make using only the top row of keys on a keyboard?

Typewriter.

Tied with perpetuity, proprietor, and repertoire. Thanks, grep!
posted by bachelor#3 at 7:28 AM on July 15, 2005