This Is a Cool Keyboard

[Ksyrup]

http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/

http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/keyb_front.jpg



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Side view

Every key of the Optimus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling at this very moment.



http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/keyb_003.jpg
“Enter” key is big in size and nearly square in form

http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/keyb_002.jpg
Additional block of keys on the left is meant for switching between programs or modes

Optimus is good for any layouts—Cyrillic, Ancient Greek, Georgian, Arabian—and so on to infinity: notes, numerals, special symbols, HTML codes, mathematical functions.

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Cast:


art director, designer and interface developer
Artemy Lebedev

laying on of hands
Timur Burbayev

modeller
Alexey Zalata

visualizer
Nikolai Vershinin

assistant
Anna Ponomaryova



http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/mus.jpg (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/mus/)

See also Mus mouse (http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/mus/)

See also § 105. Where once was a comma (http://www.artlebedev.com/mandership/105/)


We want to thank everyone for the support. Stay tuned for our upcoming projects

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE width="70%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=main>http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/eng.jpg
English lower-case

</TD><TD class=main>http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/rus.jpg
Russian upper-case

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=main>http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/psd.jpg
Photoshop
</TD><TD class=main>http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/qua.jpg
Quake
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=main_first width="67%">Patents pending.

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http://optimus.artlebedev.ru/keyb_001.jpg

[KevinNU7]

It’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 it’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.

There’s no snow in Moscow in summer.

It will be available worldwide (why not?)

OEM is possible (why not?)

[rkmsuf]

It will be real

they are pretty thorough over there

[Greyroofoo]

i can finally put a background picture on my keyboard!

[kcchief19]

Do not taunt Happy Fun Keyboard.

[gstelmack]

Day-um. Now if it only came in an ergo design, I might buy one. At least they got the arrow key layout right (what moron changes it from the nice T design to a stupid diamond?)

[Coffee Warlord]

Day-um. Now if it only came in an ergo design, I might buy one. At least they got the arrow key layout right (what moron changes it from the nice T design to a stupid diamond?)

To this day I cann't fathom how anyone can stand those damn ergo keyboards. I despise them.

[dawgfan]

To this day I cann't fathom how anyone can stand those damn ergo keyboards. I despise them.

They work just fine for me. I've had them at work for the last few years and got used to them right away. I still have a "normal" keyboard at home. Funny thing is, I really don't notice the difference.

[gstelmack]

To this day I cann't fathom how anyone can stand those damn ergo keyboards. I despise them.
When your wrists start killing you, you'll try anything. It took me about a day to get used to it, and I can't stand a regular keyboard now. It just doesn't feel natural...

[Buzzbee]

I jafe a mew erfo keyvoard amd I jist van;t get ised to it.