New keyboard design

[Tigershark_BAS 0]

Yes I know what you're thinking. How exciting can this be?

Well, this keyboard which seems to be a prototype for the moment has some far reaching implications for all sims. I encourage you to visit the link below and see for yourself.

Basically each key is embedded with colour OLED screens (OLED is brighter and thinner than an LCD screen). Each key works as a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling and can store images and configurations. This lets you customise the keyboard to software such as Photoshop or a PC game, such as OFP.

Check out how this is configured for Quake. Say goodbye to keyboard overlays or searching for that elusive keyboard shortcut.

I must say this is one of the more exciting pieces of hardware I've seen in quite some time.

Answers to FAQs from the website (some of them are just weird):

Quote[/b] ]It’s in the initial stage of production.

We hope it will be released in 2006.

It will cost less than a good mobile phone.

It will be real.

It will be OS-independent (at least it’s going to be able to work in some default state with any OS).

It will support any language or layout.

Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Each key could be programmed to produce any sequence.

It will be an open-source keyboard, SDK will be available.

Some day it will be split (and made “ergonomicâ€).

It will most likely use the OLED technology (e-paper is sooo slow).

Our studio is located two blocks from the Kremlin.

It will feature a key-saver.

Keys could be animated when needed.

It has a numeric keypad because we love it.

There’s no snow in Moscow in summer.

It will be available worldwide (why not?)

OEM is possible (why not?)

More info here:

Optimus Keyboard

[Tigershark_BAS 0]

PS. Sorry if this has been discussed before. I did search all forums for "optimus" before posting.

[ade_mcc 0]

That has some far reaching implications for everything! No longer have to scour the manual for that obscure key short-cut. Plus it looks wicked.

[Placebo 29]

PS. Sorry if this has been discussed before.

New one on me, although the IE logo would have to go, much better would be a nice

[Balschoiw 0]

Are there any technical details about the method the signals are transported to the keys ?

If they use flex-cable the keyboard could malfunction pretty fast.

Aside this, it looks pretty neat

[EiZei 0]

Read about this a month ago. Heard there was a patent covering this owned by someone else so there could be difficulties regarding the US market at least.

[hellfish6 7]

Very cool!

[gandalf the white 0]

Already read about this, sounds awesome! .

However, will the keyboard's drivers contain the images for the keyboads? or will the future games hold the images?

[DBR_ONIX 0]

Yeh, saw that before

Chances are the icons will be transferd to the keyboard via USB. So you plug in the keyboard to keyboard slot, and PS-2 plug (The keyboard plug, not the console )

And you'd get a program to send icons/layouts to the keyboard, and I guess it'd take its power from there too

Just a guess, seems about right, but we'll see

Wonder how much it'd cost though

- Ben

[Colossus 2]

Old news to me, but I still want one!

It would be great to have this for Photoshop or FinalCut

And there is alot more opportunities for this keyboard then the Zboard has.

Think of how many languages you can have on ONE keyboard, it would be great for internet cafes around the world.

For example: You are in Russia, on a internet cafe, and all the keyboards are with cyrillic letters. With this keyboard you can easly change the letters on the keyboard from cyrillic to latin letters with a small program. How great isn't that?

More pics (NB! Russian text)

Primotechnology.com's Interview

[Gadger 0]

What about us lefties?

[Guest Ti0n3r]

What about us lefties?

They dont want us...

[DBR_ONIX 0]

Eh? You can get left-handed keyboards?

But yeh, for video editing, 3D programs etc, it's veery usefull

When are they releeasing these anyway?

- Ben

Read the interview

Quote[/b] ]AL: I can hardly imagine it to be less than $200 to $300 (USD). Sounds like a lot for a keyboard, but most modern mobile phones cost about that.

PT: And a release date?

AL: Hopefully our keyboard will show the light in a year or so.

Not too bad

[Gadger 0]

Eh? You can get left-handed keyboards?

Second picture is based on awsd. Very hard to use if you use your left hand to control the mouse, so we tend to stick to arrow keys or num pad.

[DBR_ONIX 0]

Ah!

Well, you can move the keys about manualy (Theres a program included), so it's prob better for left-handed use once you fiddle a bit

- Ben

[EiZei 0]

Isn't the whole point of this keyboard being able to map whatever graphic we want on keys we want?

[DBR_ONIX 0]

Yep

And theres a SDK, so people can design custom programs if the suplied ones aren't good

So someone could write a program to load preset keysets, thus someone could make a custom OFP keylayout

- Ben

[Gadger 0]

Yep

And theres a SDK, so people can design custom programs if the suplied ones aren't good

So someone could write a program to load preset keysets, thus someone could make a custom OFP keylayout

- Ben

Ahhh, I thought it was all pre-programmed. Damn thats excellent.

[berghoff 11]

=) This is actually very nice. I really like the Quake layout only thing is looks a bit squarish? Or isn't it the final design?

Btw what if a button is broken? O_o

[ralphwiggum 6]

I can already envision applications to moderating here

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

what about puting the pictures of your ex girlfriends? E for Emanuela, F for Florina, L for Laetitia...

[Tigershark_BAS 0]

I can already envision applications to moderating here

BWahahahahaha....good one Ralph :-)

[Heatseeker 0]

Nope, 200/300 is the price of a decent mid range graphics card, too expensive for what it is imo.

I stick with cheap keyboards because...

a) I'm used to them.

b) I dont care about their condition when i use them.

c) I can smash, drop coffee or icecream on them and not worry about it.

d) their cheap .

Maybe if the price drops, maybe...

[sanctuary 19]

For some reason, it reminds me this

[DBR_ONIX 0]

Nope, 200/300 is the price of a decent mid range graphics card, too expensive for what it is imo.

I stick with cheap keyboards because...

a) I'm used to them.

b) I dont care about their condition when i use them.

c) I can smash, drop coffee or icecream on them and not worry about it.

d) their cheap .

Maybe if the price drops, maybe...

Mmmh, wonder how easy/not cleaning the thing will be..

Hopefully either the keys will not allow stuff to slide down the sides, you can remove the key, or remove the back of the thing to get crumbs etc out

If not, it'll be hideous after a while

- Ben