There’s only so much you can improve on a keyboard. You can upgrade the keys with tech like Hall Effect, but the layout is pretty much set. At most, you split it à la Microsoft Natural Keyboard or literally split it into two. That’s pretty much it. Or so we thought.
But the Gboard team over at Google Japan didn’t think so. The latest entry in their tradition of satirical hardware concepts released annually around October 1st (October 1 = 10/1, which is a wordplay on “101-key keyboard,” btw) is probably as unconventional as it is unuseful. Folks, meet the Gboard Conveyor Belt Version [JP].
Instead of a traditional stationary grid, the key switches of this vertically standing keyboard are mounted onto a rotating continuous belt loop. The team took inspiration from various sources, including the conveyor system of a factory and a band stamp. The result is a keyboard with keys that come to you rather than you reaching out to them with your digits.
The keyboard is also designed with one-handed or single-finger typing in mind, without having to move your arm or palm across the keyboard. The downside is, of course, you have to wait for the desired key to appear on the front. Anyhoo, each belt has 29 keys, allowing direct input of both uppercase and lowercase letters. I believe this means no Shift key or Caps Lock is required. The keyboard comes with a stand, and the mechanism is, of course, powered.
Obviously, it is a satirical product and not practical at all, but Google will not stop at just a concept or prototype. The 3D models, hardware schematics, and firmware are made available on GitHub if you want to build one yourself.
This is not the first hardware joke Google Japan has dished out. They have previously released the Gboard Stick Version, Gboard CAPS keycap hat, and the Möbius-strip Double-Sided Gboard.
Images: Google Japan [JP].
