Filed under: Accessories, Peripherals
iKeyTypePro LCD-based multi-language keyboard
Remember just a few short weeks ago when the Optimus keyboard was all the rage? Bruce Grant had let us know then that while the Optimus was just a concept, his company, iKeyInfinity had a fully working product about to go into production. Naturally, this caught my attention, so I emailed Bruce to find out more.I had initially questioned Bruce about the name of the keyboard, as he said in his comment that it was to be called the iKeyPro. But MacAlly has a keyboard called iKey (iKeyPro in Japan), which would surely cause a problem down the line. He responded that when they started this project they chose iKeyPro because no one else was using the name at that time. Now that the product is closer to release, they have changed the name to iKeyTypePro, with another product called iKeyGrafPro in the pipeline.
Why all the fuss about a keyboard, you ask? Here's why: Each key has a display to show characters according to the specifically selected keyboard map. When a layout map is changed, the images displayed on each of the keys also change according to the new map layout, thus allowing the user to see all the desired characters/symbols during data input. If you're having trouble visualizing that, have a look at the short Quicktime demo [640x480 Cable/DSL | 320x240 Dialup] and read more after the jump...
As of today, the iKeyInfinity website
is live (mostly) and Bruce tells me they hope to start mass production
in the first quarter of 2006. In the coming weeks, we can also expect a
few more additions to the website. For instance, Bruce explained, "you
might notice the green LCDs in the pictures, but we are expecting to
involve a very new technology offering an almost silver background with
black characters. After the first year we expect to have full colour
with full animation capabilities. It depends mainly on the support
from software companies who would write in the instruction sets to take
advantage of our technology."
Another interesting tidbit for you... According to Bruce, who is based in Moscow, the iKeyTypePro came before Lebedev's Optimus and amole
mutual friend may have been responsible for (inadvertently?) "leaking"
the plans to Lebedev... I've been told that it's very difficult to keep
a secret in Russia, no matter how long your patent's been pending for! The way I see it, though - the more amazingly cool
keyboards, the merrier. I am definitely keeping a close eye on this one, though.
Another interesting tidbit for you... According to Bruce, who is based in Moscow, the iKeyTypePro came before Lebedev's Optimus and a
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike said 11:35PM on 8-02-2005
Wow. As we say in my house, that is completely trek.
Or maybe that's what they say at Tim's house. Feel better soon Tim!
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justin said 12:05AM on 8-03-2005
Leaked or not, man, the Optimus simply pwn3s this keyboard. Hell, even if the Optimus NEVER sees production (hoping it WILL of course), talk about living in the shadows of something great. Sure, same concept, but the Optimus has OLED going for it (even if they end up using LCD, still cool), color, animations, a way better industrial design for the keyboard itself, the fonts, and the hotkeys...
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Brian W said 1:07AM on 8-03-2005
The Optimus also doesn't exist. Maybe it will come out in time for me to play Duke Nukem Forever on it. When they have a prototype, then we can talk about the Optimus and how much it might cost.
And according to an interview with Lebedev, he thought of the idea 15 years ago. Since Mr. Grant seems to be well ahead in actual production, I'm leaning towards his version.
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mardoen said 12:16PM on 8-03-2005
Yeah, well the idea itself is not that original; it's just that the technology is getting to a point where this is feasible.
Pity that the iKeyInfinity video is pure animation; the photos of the keyboard look kinda cheap, even if you tolerate the green background; those are really low-res displays.
I guess it'll be a while until this market really becomes interesting, and until then there will be a lot of disappointed early adopters and usability problems (I guess that the typing experience on these keys won't be that great for the first generations, so you will get a sub-par keyboard for a lot of money.)
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Geoff said 2:12PM on 8-03-2005
The idea for this sort of keyboard is definitely nothing special. Heck, when I was putting cardboard overlays on my C64 keyboard in high school so many years ago I was thinking it would be neat to have the keys change to display function. But thinking about it and doing it... two very different things. I'm just glad the tech is now not only possible but hopefully soon, affordable.
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Mike Beard said 12:03PM on 8-03-2005
Optimus WILL see the light of day. It'll be Open Source and OS independent too ;)
full color OLED kicks the crap out of monochrome LCD.
http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/answers/
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Bruce Grant said 3:38PM on 8-03-2005
mardoen - I do not understand why you seem to think quote:
(I guess that the typing experience on these keys won't be that great for the first generations, so you will get a sub-par keyboard for a lot of money.) end quote.
This technology will incorpoated into a professional keyboard, the only difference is that you will SEE all characters instead of trying to hunt for them or using templates, so how could it be a SUB-PAR keyboard?
I do not know of anyone claiming it to be their original idea, but costs have prohibited the production of such a keyboard until now. We have bult working prototypes and have demo'd them almost a year ago.
Color is simply a matter of cost and availability, too. It takes a long while for a plant to gear up to provide a run of LCDs, whatever they might be.
As you, yourself, seem not to have built anything like this, I suggest you stop scorning others who have!
Pricing is dependent upon market cost of available components (plus a wee bit of profit!!!) ;)))
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mardoen said 5:11PM on 8-03-2005
Bruce,
thanks for the reply. I have indeed never built my own keyboard, but I've been a consumer long enough to assume the (maybe cynical) position that quality of use will not be the main focus for early generations, when it seems much more important to get a product out quickly. Look at the responses you generate! A lot of people will want to own one of these!
One factor that will be taken onto account in every buying decision, as you are well aware of, is the price of such keyboards; and I'm guessing that these types of displays are still pretty expensive to integrate; my assumption is simply that there are other factors that are more important for the initial versions than the quality of the typing experience.
And your quote fits quite well into this: "Pricing is dependent upon market cost of available components"; it will be rather expensive compared to traditional keyboards. I just assume that longevity of those keyboards will not be a major design factor for the first few generations. Who wants to build a great product that is too expensive for most, when you can just as well serve the market of delighted early adopters who are happy to exchange their display keyboard with every new (improved) generation?
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mardoen said 5:16PM on 8-03-2005
But still, I wish you a lot of success. I'm looking forward to how the market progresses, and I'm shure that there will be some rather rapid developments in all aspects (quality, design, price) as soon as the manufactures experience the popularity and market potential of such devices.
So to put my first comment into perspective: The first generations may suck, but it's still a big step forward. I can definitely see myself buying one of those, at some point down the road.
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Kritpo said 6:46PM on 8-04-2005
The problem with the Optimus keyboard is the OLED. OLEDs lifetimes are measured in 10s of hours or a couple hundred hours max. LCDs have proven themselves as true workhorses. I agree that the OLED keyboard would be pretty, but I woulnd't want to spend a few hundred dollars on something that only has 2 years of practical life. Also, when the keys die how hard will it be to replace them?
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