Tag Archives: Keyboard Design

NUIO Flow Keyboard Will Blow Your Mind: Forget Everything You Knew About Typing!

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NUIO has launched a new vision for keyboards and peripherals, putting human comfort at the core of every design. Founded by Tom Wilson, a former Product Design Executive at Apple, and Greg Wilson, a former digital marketing leader at Digitas, NUIO is transforming ergonomic peripherals. Forget what you know about keyboards—the old designs are outdated. The Flow Keyboard reshapes the typing experience. It’s a reinvention designed to change how we interact with technology, focusing on comfort and usability. NUIO didn’t just update an old design; they started from scratch to create a tool that works with the natural movements of our hands and minds. This makes you wonder why all keyboards aren’t designed this way. Built around the human form, it breaks free from the conventions that have limited productivity for decades.

Designer: NUIO

The split design is the first indication that NUIO plays by different rules, literally tearing apart old conventions. Traditional keyboards force our hands into unnatural positions, often resulting in discomfort or even injury over time. By splitting the keyboard into two halves, NUIO allows users to set the layout as wide or narrow as they want, tailoring it to their individual body type. Each half arcs gently in a 3-D radial wave that contours perfectly to the natural positioning of the hands. This focuses on creating a natural design that integrates seamlessly into your workflow.

Immersive Flow Through Design

The 3-D wave shape changes the dynamics of typing entirely. Unlike flat keyboards, which demand that your fingers reach out and adjust constantly, this design brings every key to your fingertips, almost like the keyboard knows where your fingers will land next. The entire process becomes smoother—you don’t think about typing, you think, and the keyboard flows with you. It’s an experience similar to an artist using the perfect brush, where the tool becomes an extension of their creativity. This is what NUIO means by “finding your flow.” NUIO’s design aims to potentially transform the typing experience, making it feel seamless and natural.

The concave keycaps are another masterstroke. NUIO has given each key a gentle dip, which fits the natural curve of your fingertips and provides a feeling of certainty with every press. When you strike a key, it feels definitive, eliminating the ambiguity that often comes with traditional, flatter keycaps. These aren’t keys—they’re extensions of your thoughts, finely tuned to transmit intention into action without hesitation.

Bold Design Statements and Apple Ecosystem Integration

NUIO understands that form is just as important as function. It is designed to complement the Apple ecosystem perfectly. The backlit keys and the seven premium color combinations offer aesthetic appeal; they speak to a personalized experience, a kind of ownership over the tool that users engage with daily.

Whether choosing a sleek black design or a more colorful option, the keyboard is designed to fit into any space and enhance its visual appeal. It doesn’t just sit on the desk; it complements and elevates the entire workspace, adding an essential touch of personal style.

Accessories That Click—Literally and Figuratively

The NUIO Flow System, including the magnetic Deskpad, trackpad, and wristpads, is built to ensure seamless integration. The magnetic Deskpad serves as an extension of the Flow Keyboard, creating an ecosystem where each component—whether the keyboard halves, wristpads, or edge-to-edge glass trackpad—snaps into the ideal position.

This snapping mechanism eliminates fuss, prevents shifting, and saves time—resulting in an elegantly organized workspace that adapts to users rather than forcing adaptation. Each element has a designated place, and every movement is deliberate and precise.

Wristpads That Disappear Into the Experience

Comfort is a key aspect of the NUIO experience, most notably seen in the Wristpads. Made from an innovative cushioning material, these wristpads provide support while remaining unobtrusive.

They’re designed to be so comfortable that they “disappear” during use, allowing focus and productivity to flourish. This level of consideration elevates NUIO’s approach beyond mere ergonomics—ensuring that tools are as invisible as possible, with only the work left in focus.

Built For Today, Ready for Tomorrow

NUIO’s Flow Keyboard and its accompanying peripherals are designed for creative professionals, focusing on high-quality materials and flexible configurations. The product suite, which begins shipping on December 1st at a starting price of $399, is available for pre-order today at HelloNUIO.com. Every detail, down to the USB-C charging and Bluetooth multi-device pairing, is about maximizing flexibility. Whether switching between devices or shifting from a desk to a coffee shop, the Flow Keyboard is a tool that transforms with users. It’s an entirely new kind of typing experience; it’s the centerpiece of a modular productivity system that bends to their will. The adjustable stands make sure the keyboard can be tented or tilted for optimal comfort, while the mechanical click trackpad adds familiar tactile feedback that feels right.

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RIP Ergonomic Keyboards, the Tetra boasts a Split Wireless Design, with an Elgato-style Display in the center

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Remember the watershed moment when Steve Jobs unveiled the MacBook Air for the first time? He walked up on stage with a manila envelope, and opened it to reveal the thinnest laptop ever made. It changed how laptops looked from then on, and when people first saw the stunningly thin MacBook Air, everyone had the same question on their minds – why doesn’t my laptop look like this? The Tetra keyboard does the same thing for other keyboards. When you look at the Tetra for the first time, chances are you’ll have never seen anything quite like it before. It challenges the notion of keyboard design… and for the better. It’s more compact, easier to use, ruthlessly ergonomic, and comes with a world-first touchscreen display built right in. The keyboard splits in half, allowing you to place the parts wherever you want for a more comfortable typing experience… and the display tilts upwards or sits flat, transforming into a dock for widgets, shortcuts, playback controls, or a media center of sorts. Think Keyboard-Meets-Elgato-Stream-Deck.

Designers: Zikang Feng, Jarvie Liu, and Stephen Ng

Click Here to Buy Now: $249 $399 ($150 off). Hurry, only 5/405 left! Raised over $140,000.

Trust the folks at Mobile Pixels to come up with such a unique idea. The company first jumped to prominence with its plug-and-play laptop extending displays (lauded for their compact designs). These displays were targeted at one thing – boosting productivity through multi-display setups. The Tetra keyboard does the same too, in a matter of speaking. The split keyboard comes with its own dedicated screen that can be used as a secondary display or as a control center for apps and shortcuts. While keyboards are a first for Mobile Pixels, the Tetra highlights their bigger goal of enhanced productivity, thanks to a split wireless keyboard design that can be used in a variety of ways for a more comfortable and efficient typing experience.

SPLIT MODE

SPLICE MODE

Split keyboards aren’t new, conceptually. Most researchers noticed that a cramped keyboard, although compact in size, wasn’t great for your wrists and fingers. Over prolonged periods of time, people developed carpal tunnel and ulnar deviation (where your fingers end up deviating sideways) because of the way these keyboards were designed. The split keyboard was created as an ergonomic alternative, increasing the space between your left and right hands while typing, so that they’re in a much more relaxed position. The Tetra takes that concept and builds further on it, turning it wireless, while also introducing a display into the mix.

Use Bluetooth to Connect to Your Device (up to 3 devices with 3 channels).

Position keyboards at shoulder width for ergonomic comfort.

Customize Your Experience

Type Away!

Broadly, the Tetra exists in three pieces – a central display unit, and the two keyboard halves that attach onto either side. Snap them together or use them independently, the Tetra gives you freedom to set your workspace up exactly the way you want. When attached together in a linear format, you’ve got a comfortable split keyboard with a screen in the middle. The screen functions as an extra display, a shortcut center, or perhaps even a trackpad if you want. The keyboards get spaced out on the left and right, allowing you to type comfortably without having your fingers and wrists bend awkwardly. Alternatively, you can snap the keyboard’s halves away from the display, accessing what Mobile Pixels calls the ‘Split Mode’. The keyboards then can sit anywhere on your desk, as can the screen, giving you full ergonomic freedom. If you want a more traditional keyboard experience, just the two keyboard halves can be attached to each other, creating a compact typing device, while the screen exists independently. Dubbed the ‘Stacked Mode’, this lets you opt for something that feels familiar, with the added benefit of a dock-style screen on the side.

Secondary Display

The keyboard comes with a 65% layout, split across its two halves. Scissor switches enable a fair amount of key travel, up to 1.3mm, and a backlight lets you type with ease. The keyboard halves and screen also have an underglow that feels reminiscent of gaming gear. 1200mAh batteries in each half of the keyboard allow it to operate wirelessly for hours if not days, and the central screen remains connected to your machine via a USB-C cable at all times. To charge your keyboard, simply snap them to the screen and pogo pins allow the Tetra to charge all the way through.

The screen is truly where Mobile Pixels’ innovation shines. It’s a little smaller than the ones that Mobile Pixels offers, measuring just 8 inches diagonally – but it’s an IPS LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 300 nits of brightness. The screen stays connected to your machine at all times via cable, and sits on a unique tilting mechanism that lets you either lay it flat or tilt it upwards to face you. Touch sensitivity means you can control the display the way you would a tablet PC of sorts… and the Tetra offers a fair amount of flexibility in terms of how you use said display. You can use it as an extension of your PC or Mac’s shortcut bar, adding your favorite apps to it. Conversely, it also doubles as a media control center for playback, and even transforms into a tiny secondary display for extending or mirroring your screen. Use it to store notes while presenting on a video call. Turn it into a calculator. Allow it to be your dedicated Spotify device. Mobile Pixels created a special interface known as the Tetra Board App that you can use to customize your display. Yes, you can even load functions, tools, macros, and shortcuts, unlocking power-user potential while running apps like Photoshop, Premier, Final Cut, Logic Pro, After Effects, etc.

All this functionality and the Tetra still remains ruthlessly portable. The three components come apart and stack together, allowing them to be carried around with ease. There’s even a soft-fabric case to store your Tetra during travel, allowing you to slide it right into your laptop bag along with your charger and other accessories. I bet your existing ergonomic or split keyboard can’t boast this level of portability. The Tetra starts at $249 and ships globally starting September 2024.

Click Here to Buy Now: $249 $399 ($150 off). Hurry, only 5/405 left! Raised over $140,000.

The post RIP Ergonomic Keyboards, the Tetra boasts a Split Wireless Design, with an Elgato-style Display in the center first appeared on Yanko Design.

iPad Pro M4 hands-on first impressions: Lightweight, Thin, and Sexy

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If I could review a tablet with one word, I’d pick the iPad Pro, and the word I’d use is perfect. You’d probably demand an explanation, right? Apple has achieved design perfection with the iPad Pro, both inside and out, as well as with the redesigned Magic Keyboard. Now, before you start asking, “What about iPadOS? It’s nowhere near perfect,” let me clarify: I’m specifically talking about the hardware here. We’ll have to wait until WWDC 2024 in June to see what Apple has in store for the operating system.

Over thirty-odd years ago, I enjoyed reading philosophy in my spare time, and one of my favorite philosophers is Plato. Okay, you caught me—rarely does anyone read Plato just for fun. But it’s true that Plato’s “perfect object theory” inspired me in my quest as a tech and automotive journalist to find the perfect [fill in the blank]. My search didn’t initially start with the iPad; I was hoping for a “MacBook touch.” I even bought the domain name MacBooktouch.com back in 2007 as proof that I foresaw Apple making a touch-screen MacBook.

macbooktouch.com domain name

Fast-forward to 2015, when we got the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display and the first Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. That hardware wasn’t close to a MacBook Touch. Nine years later, or 17 years since I registered macbooktouch.com, we finally have the closest thing to a MacBook touch.

The MacBook touch—er, 2024 iPad Pro—is powered by the M4 chip. In case you don’t know, it’s the only device with this new processor. The only things keeping this device from being a MacBook touch are 1) the iPad branding and 2) it’s not running macOS. Is it capable of running macOS? Absolutely. So, why isn’t it? I’ll leave that for you to ponder.

Before I move on, I won’t be revisiting whether you should upgrade to this year’s iPad Pro. If you’re asking if you should, read my analysis here. Okay, let’s dig in, and if anything I say in this article sounds familiar, you’re right—you’ve probably heard it from tech YouTubers or read it in reviews over the past week. Just think of what I’m sharing as confirmation.

The iPad Pro is lightweight, thin, and sexy as hell. It exudes minimalist charm, practically begging, “Pick me up and use me right now!” The Magic Keyboard is what makes this iPad Pro a true MacBook replacement. It’s the key to unlocking the full potential of the iPad Pro, providing a MacBook Pro-like experience with a responsive trackpad, comfortable keys with the right amount of travel, and premium build quality.

Comically, early reviewers seemed genuinely surprised that Apple managed to thin out the iPad Pro even more. One famous YouTuber even asked, “Who was asking for it?” Well, my friends, that “who” was yours truly. Apple delivered on almost everything I asked for, except for titanium—and yes, that was wishful thinking. I’m happily settling for aluminum for both the iPad and Magic Keyboard. I’m also thrilled that both devices have shed some weight, making the iPad, especially the 13-inch model, much more manageable to hold and use over longer periods. The 11-inch model is now just 5.3mm thick and weighs 444 grams, while the 13-inch model is 5.1mm thick and weighs 580 grams.

Briefly touching on the Magic Keyboard, I’ll save the full details for the review, but Apple addressed my issue where the lower portion of the iPad Pro would constantly get in the way of my typing. Thanks to a whole new redesigned hinge system, it’s possible to have a full-size keyboard with an entire row of function keys. For those developers out there yearning for an ESC key, you have it now. The way Apple designed the placement of the iPad, which is now pushed further back yet still articulates at the same or greater angles than the outgoing model, reminds me of how car designers suddenly got so much more room to play with when designing electric vehicles sans the motor. The wheels are pushed further to the edges, creating more internal room for leg space and whatever else they can dream up. I’m sure the new hinges were no small task, but wow—a full keyboard with a function row and a larger trackpad, a proper MacBook Pro-style trackpad with a haptic engine built in.

At the end of the day, I really don’t care what the iPad’s called; what matters most to me is what I’m able to do with it in real life. Whether consuming content or playing games (which I rarely do, but hey, I might start) without a bulky keyboard, or getting down to business and writing, like I am doing right now with this article and many others to come, I know this is the ultimate, ultra-portable device that ticks all my needs now and possibly over the next decade.

I’ve left out a lot in this initial impressions article, such as display quality, performance, battery life, the Apple Pencil Pro, and other features. I also haven’t compared it to my existing 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M1 chip. But rest assured, I’ll cover all these aspects in my full review. I just need more time to test everything thoroughly.

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Top 10 best designed PC gaming keyboards to maximize comfort and style

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A great gaming keyboard is ergonomic and versatile. Some may use controller thumbstick-like analog mechanical switches for precise input, whereas most others use standard mechanical switches with binary input. Some take up a larger portion of your desk, whereas others are only about 60% of the size of a full-sized keyboard. Many modern gaming keyboards include some form of integrated RGB lighting, though there are a few in the wild that don’t include any lighting. You may prefer your keys with a satisfying click after each keystroke, or you might prefer the smooth silence of linear keys.

In any case, you should be able to use your PC keyboard all day long for both gaming and non-gaming tasks, and not feel any discomfort in your fingers or wrists while doing so or any time thereafter. There are a ton of different keyboards out there, but you shouldn’t have to spend all day trying to find the best designed PC gaming keyboard that suits your exact needs and also matches the style you’re going for. I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorite gaming keyboards, and since there’s something for everyone, there’s probably something for you too.

1. SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL

SteelSeries is famous for producing durable, high-quality gaming peripherals that also manage to look snazzy and tasteful. The Apex 3 TKL (short for tenkeyless, or 80% of the size of a full-sized keyboard) should be an instant contender for any PC gamer looking for a compact gaming keyboard that can sustain long periods of play over many years. Its switches are rated to sustain over 20 million “whisper quiet” keypresses, it comes with eight RGB zones that can sync to games via onboard software, and it’s rated for IP32 water resistance, meaning you can spill your drink all over the keys, worry-free. Not to mention, it’s a steal at $44.99.

2. Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

If you’re looking for a full-sized gaming keyboard instead of a TKL, you’re probably looking at the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. It admittedly looks a lot like the Logitech G915 Lightspeed keyboard featured just below, and this is thanks to its five macro keys on the left side of the keyboard – and the multi-function volume roller and media control buttons on the top right. It’s even more versatile, thanks to three additional macro buttons to the left of the macro keys (where your hands would grip onto the edge of the board) as well as the easily reconfigurable Razer Command Dial and wrist rest with RGB LED underglow that lights up the entire desk thanks to Razer Chroma RGB lighting software. It’s a bit spendy for a gaming keyboard at $229.99, but its possibly one of the most well-rounded, feature-complete gaming keyboards around.

3. Logitech G915 Lightspeed

A fantastic wireless competitor to the previously mentioned Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is Logitech’s G915 Lightspeed wireless keyboard. It gives up a bit of the latter’s versatility in favor of not being bound to one spot. The lack of a need for a wired connection lets you use it more comfortably in a more compact gaming space, with a sit-stand desk, or from a greater distance – like on the couch, for instance. Its RGB lighting system, Logitech Lightsync, is a little less impressive than Razer Chroma, but it can also easily connect to the full suite of Logitech Lightsync accessories, like the G560 gaming speakers.

4. Razer Huntsman Mini

Razer’s Huntsman Mini 60% keyboard is known as one of the strongest compact gaming keyboards on the market. RTings gave it a 9.5 for gaming, highlighting its high build quality and macro-programmable RGB-lit LED keys. Granted, the fact that it’s a 60% keyboard by default means it provides insufficient wrist cushioning in comparison to larger and more feature-complete keyboards like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. It also lacks extra control functions and macro buttons, meaning what you see is exactly what you get. For an MSRP of $119.99, the Huntsman Mini is still an extremely well-designed, compact, and visually appealing PC gaming keyboard that will fit perfectly on a smaller desk.

5. ASUS ROG Azoth

ASUS ROG Azoth fits between the Razer Huntsman Mini and some of the larger keyboards we’ve mentioned so far. It’s a 75% TKL board with a number of unique features that you won’t find on other popular gaming keyboards. For instance its three-layer dampening system should make typing on it a cushier, smoother experience than clacking away on a non-cushioned keyboard. It’s also wireless in 2.4 GHz mode, with support for ROG SpeedNova and out of the box support for MacOS. If you’re a primary Mac user who also plays games on a Mac, this may be the absolute best keyboard of the bunch at an MSRP of $249.99.

6. HyperX Alloy Origins 60

HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a competitive wireless alternative to the previously mentioned Razer Huntsman Mini. Much like the latter, it also contains programmable keys and fully-backlit keys. It’s also famously durable, with reviewers saying great things about its build quality across the board. The main difference for the end user is the Alloy Origins 60’s lower MSRP ($99.99), a wire-free experience, and its integration with HyperX NGENUITY, which can control lighting across other HyperX products. If you already own other HyperX products with controllable RGB through that software, this is probably the keyboard to get. Just know that it only works out of the box with Windows.

7. Wooting Two HE

The Wooting Two HE analog keyboard is a lot more like a video game controller in terms of input responsivity. Its analog mechanical switches are designed to react to the amount of pressure applied to them, allowing you to, for instance, walk slowly through an environment in a video game based on how far you press your finger into – presuming you’re like me and you never rebind the keys – the W key. Like many of the other keyboards on this list, it also features RGB backlighting, however, you can switch on Tachyon mode to turn that off and push the Wooting Two HE’s latency to below 1ms. That’s a great pitch for a full-sized gaming keyboard that sells for an MSRP of $194.99.

8. Corsair K70 RGB Pro

The Corsair K70 RGB Pro keyboard is comparable to the Logitech G915 Lightspeed or the Razer BlackWidow V4, with some key variations including 8000Hz polling speed and one feature in particular that stands out: Tournament Mode. By flipping the Tournament Switch on the back of the keyboard, you can immediately (temporarily) turn off all RGB lighting and macro profiles, setting the keyboard to do exactly what the keybindings in your game of choice tell it to do. It’s a bit spendy at $169.99, however, it’s catered directly to gamers who play competitively in certain games – then also play games with custom macros on the side – and want to be able to support both playstyles on the same keyboard.

9. HyperX Alloy Origins Core

The HyperX Alloy Origins Core is a lot like the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 we mentioned earlier. The main difference here, despite it retaining the same basic keyboard design, is its expansion to a TKL layout. To be fair, this is the option I’d personally prefer, since I’m not a huge fan of 60% keyboards. The good news is that it’s just as snazzy at the Alloy Origins 60 thanks to the signature HyperX branding and RGB backlighting with NGENUITY integration.

10. Logitech G413 SE

Easily the most minimalistic gaming keyboard on the list, the Logitech G413 gets rid of all the flashy RGB LED lights, macro buttons, and extra doohickeys in favor of a very simple PC gaming experience that (theoretically) puts build quality over everything else. Reviewers are a bit lukewarm across the board, with The Verge saying “the Logitech G413 TKL SE definitely feels like a $69.99 keyboard,” though some users love its low latency and its “what you see is what you get” personality. Still, as a Logitech G gaming keyboard, it has its place. It’s likely a great gaming board to place on a desk with little to no RGB lighting, where an RGB-backlit keyboard with tons of extra macro buttons and gaming features would look tacky.

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Give your Laptop the Keyboard Experience it Deserves with these Innovative Magnetic Attachments

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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, laptop keyboards have come a long way in terms of portability and design. However, for those who spend a significant portion of their day typing, the convenience of sleek, compact laptop keyboards sometimes falls short of providing a truly satisfying typing experience. Enter Typesticks, designed with a vision to bridge the gap between laptop keyboards and the desire for a more comfortable and efficient typing experience, Typesticks offers an innovative solution that opens new possibilities for laptop users.

Designers: Far East Gadget, Tobalog

 

At first glance, Typesticks might seem like a simple yet unassuming product. However, beneath their unobtrusive exterior lies a clever design that promises to transform the way you interact with your laptop. Imagine being able to enjoy the tactile feel and responsiveness of a full-sized external keyboard while working directly on your laptop – that’s precisely what Typesticks offers.

Designed as magnetic attachments, Typesticks are meticulously crafted to clip onto virtually any laptop keyboard that features a gap of 2.5 millimeters or more between each button and a key height of two millimeters or under. The materials used in their construction, including rigid plastic and silicone, ensure a secure hold on the external keyboard even when the laptop is tilted. This means you can enjoy the comfort of a secondary keyboard without compromising the angle of your laptop screen.

Compatibility is also a key consideration for Typesticks. They are designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of laptop models, both Windows and Mac. This makes them a versatile solution for users across different devices.

For individuals who are accustomed to the tactile satisfaction of mechanical keyboards, Typesticks present an enticing proposition. While you could certainly connect an external mechanical keyboard to your laptop, this can create a sense of separation between you and the laptop screen. Typesticks elegantly address this issue by allowing users to experience the familiarity of typing directly on their laptops while still benefiting from the use of their trackpad.

The magnetic aspect of Typesticks further enhances their appeal. Weighing a mere 15 grams and equipped with built-in magnets, these accessories easily fuse together for effortless transport. Their compact size, similar to that of a piece of chewing gum or a USB stick, ensures that they can be carried without adding bulk to your gadget pouch.

One of the standout features of Typesticks is their adaptability to different user preferences. The magnetic attachments not only provide a stable base for an external keyboard but can also be adjusted to incline the keyboard slightly. This feature enhances typing comfort, but it’s worth noting that it may impact the view of the lower part of the laptop’s display.

While Typesticks offer numerous advantages, it’s important to heed a few cautionary recommendations from the manufacturer. Users are advised not to close their laptops with the Typesticks still attached to the keyboard to prevent any potential damage. Additionally, due to the presence of magnets in the attachments, it’s advisable to keep them away from magnetic-sensitive items like hard drives and credit cards.

Typesticks, priced at ¥2,480 (approximately US$17), offer a cost-effective way to elevate your laptop typing experience without investing in a separate mechanical keyboard or compromising on portability.

In conclusion, Typesticks exemplifies the spirit of innovation by providing a creative solution to a common problem faced by laptop users. By seamlessly combining the comfort of an external keyboard with the practicality of laptop portability, these magnetic attachments hold the potential to enhance productivity and redefine the way we interact with our laptops. Whether you’re a prolific writer, a diligent email responder, or simply someone who values an efficient typing experience, Typesticks offers a compelling solution that aligns perfectly with modern work habits and demands.

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This glass mechanical keyboard boasts of animated, interactive designs underneath

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I see a lot of people that get obsessed with having different kinds of mechanical keyboards with different colors, designs, and even sounds. Maybe this is because they spend so much time in front of their computer that they need to be amused or at least distracted by other things in front of them. I understand the appeal although it’s not applicable to me since I use a laptop 99% of the time. This new glass mechanical keyboard from Finalmouse has got me rethinking about getting a PC or using an external keyboard for my laptop.

Designer: Finalmouse

The PC accessory brand has come up with a new mechanical keyboard that will have koi fishes swimming underneath your fingertips and even the Eye of Sauron (a reference lost to non-Tolkien fans) keeping a close eye on you as you work. The Centerpiece Keyboard has animated images underneath the glass that will provide you some much needed distraction as you work or do your homework. These interactive skins are projected at the bottom of the glass keyboard and becomes animated as you work on your keyboard.

Instead of the usual RGB lights that most mechanical keyboards have, you can have swimming kois, ice cracking, lions grazing, cherry blossoms falling, a spaceship flying through the galaxy, a galaxy itself, and other things you might want to see. These are generated through the Unreal Engine 5, a 3D computer graphics game engine. Artists can actually submit their own skins through the Freethinker Portal, a Steam app run by the company where people can download various skins and these artists can monetize their work.

The Centerpiece keyboard uses a Laminated DisplayCircuit Glass Stack with an aluminum chassis underneath. It has its own CPU and GPU so it has enough power to run the interactive skins and not take away resources from your computer. There should also be a knob on the side to control the brightness and serve as your on and off switch, in case you don’t want the distraction of Sauron looking at you while working. There are no other details about the specs of the keyboard but it is definitely something to watch for all the mechanical keyboard collectors out there.

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This ergonomic keyboard allows users to customize each key’s placement to improve workflow

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The Dygma Raise Keyboard is a customizable keyboard that splits into two halves to optimize ergonomics and streamline the workday.

For all that computers do for us, their design has remained pretty constant. You have the conventional keyboard, the rectangular trackpad, and the flat screen. No matter what kind of work you do on your computer, its design language never changes. While consistency is always a plus when it comes to design, the layout of computers and their accessories could benefit from some customization to fit different needs and physical tendencies.

Dygma, an electronic brand set on creating a paradigm shift within the industry, collaborated with designers Alvaro Navarro and Julio Redondo to create Dygma Raise, an ergonomic, customizable keyboard that can split into two halves for the ultimate bespoke experience.

The Dygma Raise was initially conceived to streamline workflow and avoid unnecessary finger movements. To achieve this, the Dygma team, along with Navarro and Redondo, worked to create a keyboard whose keys can be lifted and switched with other keys for users to have a completely unique keyboard experience.

If you find yourself using the same keyboard shortcut throughout the workday, Dygma allows users to position those keys near each other to avoid unnatural finger positioning.

Exuding ergonomics by its very design, the switching of the keys isn’t the only appeal of the Dygma Raise Keyboard. Users can also split the keyboard in half so that their wrists, hands, and shoulders can rest in a healthy, upright position throughout the workday.

Constructed from a double-coated anodized aluminum body and overlaid with PBT double-shot keycaps, the Dygma Raise keyboard also comes with removable and washable palm pads for wrists to have a comfortable resting position.

Designers: Alvaro Navarro, Julio Redondo x Dygma

Users can easily switch each key’s placement just by removing them and placing them elsewhere.

Magnetic tubing keeps the keyboard’s two halves together. 

Just like the individual keys, users can halve the keyboard by detaching the magnetic fasteners. 

The Dygma Rais Keyboard keeps a slim body to maintain a familiar look and size.

The Dygma Raise Keyboard comes in black or white with hidden neon spotlights. 

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A touch panel gives this ingenious keyboard with a surprising Apple Touch Bar-inspired user interface

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The idea of a full-size keyboard with a touchscreen panel on the top that can be customized to launch the application(s) of choice in one easy click, will surely find appreciators.

Apple has ditched the infamous Touch Bar in the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro for 2021, which was announced at the company’s October product event. Despite the many flaws ardent fans may have noted, the idea of a touchscreen bar on the keyboard has been an inspiration for many designers. We figured this out when we came across first portable Touch Bar. Now, the Touch Keyboard envisions a different approach to the same idea. This keyboard is designed to work with a PC or Mac if by virtue of a full-size keyboard that features a narrow touch bar display along the top of the keyboard – as an extension but in the same design!

The Touch Keyboard as it is called (owning to the introduction of a touchscreen bar to it), is a brainchild of designer Wenhua Xu, who believes people should have direct controls to certain apps on their keyboard. The touch panel is certainly a surprising new user interface option, which will make interaction with the apps more convenient as opposed to the physical buttons. The downside is, not many people appreciate the idea of a touch interface on the keyboard, as we have learnt from the introduction of the feature on the MacBook Pro about five years back.

The interesting thing here is that the touchscreen on the keyboard is made to look, act and work in ways more than that we have seen on Apple laptops. Presumably, this new take will find some takers, since the design will make actions more convenient. For instance, the users will be able to select a few applications they require and operate them from the touchscreen. This will include receiving and making zoom calls or a facility to place some widgets on it to interact with them without having to search them up on the computer. From how the Touch Keyboard images appear, this will be more interesting to type on than the traditional keyboards. The majority of the keys are circular in shape, while some utility keys like the Tab, Caps, Shift and Space Bar are all oval. The touchscreen is slightly higher than the keys, which means the keyboard is thicker at the top and it also features a power button on the left side, which could probably enable or disable the touchscreen or the keyboard in its entirety.

I’m personally not a big fan of the touchscreen panel on the keyboard, but considering you can have features of choice here, customized to need, this could have some potential utility for people who like to toggle between apps more quickly – for example, music controls to taking calls, and from widgets to controlling the brightness of the system. My major dislike for the feature is because of the energy consumed to run the touch panel can drain the keyboard battery faster and that it will add to the already considerable cost of the peripheral.

Designer: Wenhua Xu

The post A touch panel gives this ingenious keyboard with a surprising Apple Touch Bar-inspired user interface first appeared on Yanko Design.

Keyboard designs that improve ergonomics in your workplace: Part 2

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Using a keyboard is universal – touchscreens and smartphones have brought this tool to almost every fingertip. What often surprises me is the innovation behind this humble design that was first invented in 1876! The QWERTY layout we type away on is over a century old and remains a trusted format whereas what has changed are the things we can do other than just typing on our keyboard. Keyboards are now the portable go-between your trusted typing accessory to everything you need on your machine – it doubles as a USB hub or even has sliding compartments that are notepads or Num pads to be used as needed – whatever your problem, we have a keyboard design that solves it!

Say hello to the Kolude KD-K1 by Jeremy Lin, a sleek external keyboard with a pretty interesting twist. With circular keys that sit within a machined aluminum base giving it a neo-retro vibe, the Kolude KD-K1 keyboard is a visual treat with tactile scissor-switch keys that make it a great keyboard to type on too. Built right into the back-face of the KD-K1 is a USB hub, complete with USB-A and USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and two card-reader slots. Designed to be the Swiss-Army-Knife of keyboards, the Kolude KD-K1 makes sure you’ll never have to bend over and reach behind a CPU to plug a pen-drive in again. Connect it to your laptop or desktop using the USB-C port and the KD-K1 comes alive with a myriad of possibilities. The multitude of ports allows you to maximize productivity by connecting drives, devices, displays, or cards to your main computer, right through the keyboard.

As a reflex, we always tend to frantically search for a notepad to jot down a number, address, meeting feedback, last-minute lists, or notes during a class. To integrate this existing behavior with the technology we already use, designer Jeong Woo Kim created Ouverture – a conceptual keyboard accessory that is a number pad + a digital notepad when you flip the cover. It has a typing mode which is the number pad and a memo mode which is the writing pad. “The leather cover acts as a number pad on a conventional keyboard. Current from the fingertips passes through the special conductive fiber to the touchpad inside the leather cover,” explains Kim.

We love seeing concepts that challenge our perception of the future of technology by forcing us to rethink how we will one day interact with devices. Aura by Vince Wang certainly achieves this, and it does so by transforming the humble laptop into an ultra-portable, productivity station! So, you may be asking yourself how it functions without a screen, well that’s all down to the rather clever Eye-tracking Infrared Illuminators that locate eye-details and reflection patterns to project the image directly onto the user’s retinas! The futuristic technology doesn’t end there; in addition to the lack of screen, there is also concave keyboard with Glow Thru keys that’s been paired with an adaptive input service for maximum productivity!

You can find all of Photoshop’s commonly used tools in the key-layout, along with quick-access keys for undoing and redoing, as well as for saving and opening files. There are even custom-mappable knobs for controlling features such as brush sizes, hardness, or even for zooming in/out. The keyboard can be mapped as per your requirements, and for people who don’t want something this elongated (that’s not what she said), there’s even a smaller, square-shaped Numpad-esque keyboard with a few extra buttons that unlock more features… and while products like Loupedeck’s Creative Tool exist, it’s nice knowing that this particular variant, created by Etsy-maker 3dDecors, is close to 5 times cheaper. Forget the MacBook and its Touch Bar, just buy me this slim custom keyboard and I’ll be on my way.

Vinicius Araújo has designed a gorgeous keyboard to aid in the transition between each Adobe program, saving the user hours of switching between Photoshop to Indesign to Illustrator to Lightroom. Accented with stylish LED colors and eye-catching material changes, the Adobe Keyboard is the designers’ must-have.

The Red Dot Design Concept 2020 ‘Best of Best’ award-winning Logitech Ultra combines the best of both worlds. At first glance, the device looks like a touch-screen product, which allows you to swipe between windows, including a calendar/to-do list, a virtual meeting room, or various keyboard interfaces. The screen has IR-Cameras built-in, which tracks users’ finger gestures across the surface. This finger-tracking ability is similar to the controls on a smartphone or tablet. Underneath the touch screen lies a bed of small press-able points that give you the haptic feedback of a keyboard without the limitations of a specific keyboard arrangement. Basically, any point on the tablet’s surface can function as a key.

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Having a visually harmonious, intuitive, and efficient set of tech accessories allows the user to keep all devices and peripherals charged and in sync at all times – its the same calm you experience when you start your day on a clean, organized desk! Link is a collection of essential computer accessories that are integrated to work together to optimize functionality for the user right from wireless charging devices to compact input devices. “The goal of this project was to design an ecosystem of peripherals that aims to deliver an experience that is customizable, easy to use, and adaptable to the computer users’ needs at a moment’s notice,” says the designer. So no more scampering around for a certain jack if you have to plug in a non-Apple device or having a network of cables that just take up more space + energy!

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The Off keyboard by Marko Oljaca comes with soft, rounded keys that are elevated on independent “stems” rather than recessed into a solid surface. Not only easy to clean, but it also prevents the buildup of dirt and residue. Better yet, its seamless design makes it spill-proof and water-resistant. Its organic form is also ergonomically adapted to maximize wrist comfort.

South Korean product designer Cheolsu Park designed ‘Slide’. Slide is a keyboard that doubles up as a tablet. A combination of a keyboard and tablet, Slide, as its name implies comes with a ‘sliding’ element. The tablet can be easily pulled out or pushed in, enabling it to hide sneakily below the keyboard. With two products being packed into one, space is efficiently saved, bringing the usual clutter of your desk to a minimum. When you’re only using the keyboard, the tablet snugly remains a part of it. Park added a lock button to the product, pressing it prevents the keyboard from sliding up and down, keeping it firmly in position. The edges of the product have been centered using a weighty material, ensuring that the product does not tilt in its extended form, especially when you’re typing on the keyboard.

Most Bluetooth keyboards aren’t equipped with a number pad. On the other hand, they are extremely space-efficient. And there comes in Yeong Seok Go’s ‘Hidekey’. But Hidekey has a secret! Its number pad is in hiding. Tucked away on the backside of the keyboard, a quick sliding movement reveals the number pad. The pad can be easily pulled out whenever needed. Once it has been used, you can effortlessly slide it back in. This ensures you always have a number pad at your disposal, improving the efficiency of your work, without taking up too much space.

Check out more products designed to amp up your productivity here!

This keyboard’s magnetic accessories create the ultimate modular desk setup!

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Now that we work from home I feel like we are more aware of how quickly our workspaces can become cluttered. Not just with snacks and numerous mugs of coffee but also with the tech accessories! I personally find myself using a lot more cables and peripheral accessories and that is bound to happen because I am not in an office set up and still trying to keep everything functioning smoothly in the available space I have for working and living. Modular keyboards like this were specifically designed to address this very issue and Link is the latest concept design aimed at giving the user a clutter-free computer accessory ecosystem.

Having a visually harmonious, intuitive, and efficient set of tech accessories allows the user to keep all devices and peripherals charged and in sync at all times – its the same calm you experience when you start your day on a clean, organized desk! Link is a collection of essential computer accessories that are integrated to work together to optimize functionality for the user right from wireless charging devices to compact input devices. “The goal of this project was to design an ecosystem of peripherals that aims to deliver an experience that is customizable, easy to use, and adaptable to the computer users’ needs at a moment’s notice,” says the designer. So no more scampering around for a certain jack if you have to plug in a non-Apple device or having a network of cables that just take up more space + energy!

The designer felt the need to create a truly effortless, delightful, and seamless user experience that went beyond beautiful aesthetics. Link is a one-stop-shop to keep devices charged, synced, and ‘linked’ together with as minimal cables and inconveniences as possible. The keyboard is a constant at everyone’s desk and therefore the peripheral devices were formed to work around it like modular accessories. The set includes the keyboard along with ’tiles’ which are the peripheral accessories. These tiles include a drawing tablet, wireless charging pads, a touchpad, a number pad, and a dial which is the most interesting of them all. “Pan around. Zoom. Select. Click. Clack. Rotate. The Dial instantly becomes your favorite digital input tool,” says the designer about including the playful accessory. All modules are battery operated and magnetically connect to the side of the keyboard to dock and recharge when low on charge before being reused again. It also comes equipped with NFC, Bluetooth, and wireless charging capabilities to make it the ultimate unifying hub. Less is more, and less is specifically one cable.

Designer: Evan Stuart

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