Another Strange Keyboard

[JingleBells]

http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/ - I like the idea of modes which change depending on your program, but what if you are doing two things at once, will be rather confusing

 

[xane]

You can only focus on one program at a time, I assume the keyboard can remap quickly as you change between them.

Looks cool !

 

[wyrd_fish]

that's about a giazillion times cooler than das keyboard or the happy hacker keyboard*

*the same as das, but white

 

[TdC]

that is one of the coolest ideas I've seen yet. I want one!

 

[Mazling]

It looks cool... it looks one step closer to what you get in Star Trek (TNG, not TOS! )

 

[TdC]

I've sent them an email asking if they have a production deal. I want one that badly

 

[Jonty]

Ooo, shiny Sounds like a Good Idea™ but there are a few potential stumbling blocks. Firstly, OLEDs are designed to be lovely and bright, draw little power and be cheaper to produce than LCDs. However, some reports suggest that at present the power consumption is higher than it ought to be (whether this would tip it over what USB can supply I don't know), that they potentially last only around 10,000 hours and that they're quite expensive to produce. Now imagine a keyboard has around 105 keys that 105 individual OLEDs, which may make this rather expensive. There's also the question of whether the keys could withstand the strains put on keyboards in everyday life (dust, grime, spilt drinks, hammering away during frantic games etc.).

That said, it does look really quite lovely and I hope they do pull it off. Far better than the cardboard help sheets you can get for games/applications.

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. Being OLEDs you could also play games etc. in the dark without fumbling around for keys

 

[Ukle]

I thought they had severe longevity issues as well but according to this Wiki article the Cambridge guys have fixed the problem and now have ones lasting 100,000 hours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED

Press release outlining it here -

http://www.cdtltd.co.uk/press/current_press_releases/383.asp

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Out of interest what would people be willing to pay for something like this. Assuming the longevity issue was sorted that is; 100,000 hours is over 11 years of continuous use, more than enough I would say. And if it was capable of handling the type of frenetic gameplay that Jonty dishes out.

The most expensive keyboard I would consider at the moment is the Microsoft Elite Bluetooth at around £100. This one is way cooler, and I would probably consider paying around £200. I have no idea if this is realistic, but if it was much over that it would simply become an object of desire rather than an actual possession.

What would other people be willing to hand over? (other than grandmothers and assorted family members.)

RB

 

[Crossfire]

This keyboard seems to be making its way around every community. I suggest you look into this aswell. It's a bit weird but I think it has loads of potential.

http://www.ergodex.com/mainpage.htm

 

[Penguin]

That last one looks nice, but i can't see myself buying one, how would you decide where to put the keys?! And i probably wouldn't be bothered to move them around that much.

Penguin.

 

[TdC]

This keyboard seems to be making its way around every community. I suggest you look into this aswell. It's a bit weird but I think it has loads of potential.

http://www.ergodex.com/mainpage.htm

I know about these. they're almost like a wacom tablet. still, for sheer bling I prefer the optimus. I wonder what the rez on the keys will be eventually?

as to the price question, I think I'd be willing to pay 150eur for one. at home perhaps less, as I'd only be using it for games, but at work....woo that'd be ace