Gadgetopia

I want one. damn creative art guys and their getting my hopes up.

A company out of Saarbrücken, Germany, sold such keyboards already back in the late Eighties. It had monochrome LCD's which glowed orange, and only a tiny matrix (like 16x16 pixels). This was pre-WWW-era, so I can't show you a picture or website.

As a teenager back then I would have KILLED for a keyboard like that. I think it cost something in the range of 500 DM, which was (back then) something like 200 US$.

This is fantastic. All keyboards should be like that, it would have nullified the pain of switching from my usual QWERTY layout to the abominable AZERTY french layout (undoubtedly very good for writing prose but nearly unusable for programming IMNVHO).

I figure its just a matter of time until pc giants move to more 'interactive' peripherals...The printer seems to be the first thing they've been attacking (adding flash slots, LCD preview screens and editing abilities directly on the printer) but I wouldn't be surprised to see this same type of ingenuity in things like mice and even monitors.

this is freaking awesome. I cnat wait till it comes out!!!! I need one now!!

The video switcher I use at work has buttons like these. I remember the sales guy telling us they were originally designed for US tanks. I'm not saying I belived him, but, that's what he kept saying. http://www.echolab.com/id4/

This is the best keyboard, i've ever seen or think of, this is a must for everyone loves computers

Send me any information as where and how to get one, as soon as possible. I could sell these all day for $300.00 each! (Visit my site and post a comment!)

I found it! It was 1993 and it used a 16x32 dot matrix display. And there is even an image of it!

TheBoard is a keyboard which has LCD displays in the tops of the keys. Each can display a variety of different characters, alphabets and symbols at the touch of a key. For example, pressing the shift-key automatically displays upper case characters in the tops of each key. The keyboard has 117 keys in total, of which 24 use a 20x8 pixel display for use as function keys, and 47 use a 8x12 display for the alphabetical keys. A version is available with LCD keys for the numeric keypad. TheBoard includes software to enable the creation of new alphabets or symbols. Pricing: $1500

United Keys is coming out with an LCD "key-display" keyboard later this year. I'm not sure of the price, but I'm sure it will be affordable for power users or gamers. www.unitedkeys.com

My name is Elkin Acevedo and I am the inventor and I hold the patent for the Display Keyboard. U.S. Patent # 5,818,361. It does exactly the same things as the the Optimus Keyboard and I am working on it to make it possible.

does anyone realize how much system resources will the driver take up?

Elkin Acevedo:

You may have successfully applied for this patent, but I would not rely on it for profit, since there is prior art from 1988, 1993 (see TheBoard above) and various other Keyboard Makers.

The first dynamic LCD-Keyboard i remember was produced, marketed and sold to public 10 YEARS BEFORE your patent was issued by the US Patent Office (and 8 Years before you filed your patent).

Before Court, your patent is apparently worthless.

Jor: On the other hand, maybe we let unused prior art block new profit from a new producer and end up not getting the product. Gosh, thanks.

Luckily, the Russians appear to be committed to making it so hopefully we'll have the Optimus next year, and Taiwan knockoffs by late 2006 / early 2007.

If we're REALLY lucky, Mr, Avecedo can get Taiwan/Korea/China etc. to make the thing on his patent before the end of the year. We'll probably still get the Optimus, but then, competition is good.

I just hope we get one in Old Convention IBM-type 101 layout. I hate small backspaces and kidney Enters, and that there are two accepted but slightly different standard layouts. If you're gonna be different, be real different!

The Optimus Keyboard is a great idea in theory you would never need to buy a new keyboard again. You could program the keys to do volume, mute, suspend, calculator, anything. You could use this keyboard on any OS. I really hope to see this become reality. Especially those of use that do alot of Arch. work and use Photoshop and CAD alot this would be great.

Not sure if any of you have seen this but here is an interview between Primo Technology and Art Lebedev (The creators of the Optimus) stating that the product is in fact being developed and should be out by next year. The creator also stated (estimated) that the keyboard will cost between $200 - $300 US. Below is the link to the interview: http://primotechnology.com/index.php?art=articles/0705/optimus/index.htm

It states "no less than $200-$300"

I am pretty sure it uses oled screens and not leds

yes oled's are what they use. and whoever said that this is some art piece is ignorant. industrial designers have no use for stuff that doesnt work.

Looks like it will be available beginning February 1, 2006. See their FAQ for more info.