Google Unveils 116-Key Conveyor Belt Keyboard
The experimental DIY keyboard, featuring four looping belts, is designed for one-handed typing and available on GitHub under an Apache 2.0 license
Google Japan's Gboard team has unveiled a unique DIY conveyor-belt keyboard featuring 116 keys on four looping belts. The keyboard is designed for one-handed typing, with each of the four belts carrying 29 keys. The design files are available on GitHub under an Apache 2.0 license, allowing anyone with a 3D printer and patience to build and run it as a DIY project.
The keyboard is intended as a humorous and experimental project, not a serious product. It is the 15th entry in a series of new keyboard proposals, which began on April 1, 2010, as an April Fools' gag. The Japanese name of the keyboard is 'Gboard kurukuru version', which means 'round and round'.
The keyboard is designed to flip the script on conventional keyboards, which assume two hands. By bringing the keys to the user's finger, it aims to reduce fatigue and make typing easier for one-handed users. Uppercase and lowercase letters have their own keys, eliminating the need for a Shift key.
## What it means The conveyor-belt keyboard may not be intended for market or sale, but it showcases Google's creative approach to innovation. The project highlights the company's willingness to experiment and push boundaries, even if it's just for humor or entertainment. As a DIY project, it also encourages users to get creative and build their own unique keyboards.
The keyboard's design and functionality may not be practical for everyday use, but it sparks interesting discussions about the future of typing and input methods. With the rise of alternative input methods, such as voice assistants and gesture recognition, the conveyor-belt keyboard represents a quirky and innovative approach to text input.
## Why it matters The conveyor-belt keyboard may be an experimental project, but it has already generated significant interest and attention. As a symbol of Google's creative and innovative spirit, it demonstrates the company's commitment to exploring new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. While it may not be a practical solution for everyday typing, it inspires users to think outside the box and imagine new possibilities for input methods.
