Optimus keyboard

[KSoD]

I like it. Cant wait till it is not a prototype and into production so i can get one (if it isnt $300)

 

[ShoobieRat]

Originally posted by TheMajor
Pretty cool. Consumes some power tho.

Eh, no biggie. It can't consume more power than your monitor already does.

Originally posted by TheMajor
I wonder how it works.

I would assume that, at the most expensive end, it works the same way cell-phone lcd's work. At a cheaper end, just a bunch of multi-color LED's. Those aren't really high-resolution images.

Originally posted by TheMajor
...how does it know what kind of picture to show, and where does it get those picture/key descriptions from? And how does it detect the assignment of a key?

I would assume this is done much the same way your static keys already are mapped. They probably have a little software utility that lets you set up the arrays and link up the images.

 

[Qiranworms]

According to the website 'answers' section, they intend to use OLEDs. These should consume less power than LCDs would.

Regarding key mapping, it's opensource, so if whatever utilities they package don't do what you want this to do, you can bet other people will make programs that will.

Quoting the 'answers' page (which definitely seems to answer many of the questions people posted at the /. article):

ItÂ’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 itÂ’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 “ergonomic”).

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.

ThereÂ’s no snow in Moscow in summer.

It will be available worldwide (why not?)

OEM is possible (why not?)