Optimus Maximus keyboard

A computer rendering of the keyboard prototype.

The Optimus Keyboard is a concept for a prototype OLED computer keyboard from the Art. Lebedev Studio, headed by Artemy Lebedev. On each of its keys is a display which can dynamically change to adapt to the keyboard layout in use or to show the function of the key.

Overview

The design featured on the studio's website received attention on the web when it was featured on Slashdot on 14 July, 2005, and afterwards for a few weeks on other technology websites.

Even though the pictures on its product page are computer graphics renderings, the designers intend for the keyboard to be a real product. The studio is currently looking for a manufacturer in China or Korea and is expecting to ship by Feb 1, 2006.

The Optimus would allow for greater user interaction, by dynamically displaying the current function of the keys. For example, when the user presses the shift key, the pictures would change to upper-case versions. It would also make switching between different keyboard layouts (such as English and Cyrillic) rapid, and could make the switch to Dvorak easier for people who only have a QWERTY keyboard with no possibility of rearranging the keys. To demonstrate this concept, the computer renderings show example layouts for Quake III Arena and Adobe Photoshop.

The intended primary audience of the keyboard is typographers and translators; the secondary audience includes graphics professionals and gamers.

Expected features

Photoshop layout

Quake III Arena layout

Art. Lebedev Studio is expecting to manufacture the keyboard with these features:

• An aluminum body
• Extra-durable polymer plastic keys
• 32×32 pixel (for regular keys) screens, Truecolor mode
• USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity
• A separate ergonomic version
• 4-5 year lifetime
• A key-saver mode
• Support for animation on keys
• Ability to form a mosaic using a combination of key images
• OS independence
• An SDK for complete display customization

According to the studio, the price will probably be in the USD $200–300 range.

See also

• 205PRO, a keyboard with 20 pixel by 20 pixel monochrome function keys, using LCD instead of OLED.

References

• "Optimus keyboard". Retrieved Nov. 27, 2005.

External links

• Optimus - The studio's page on the keyboard.
• Slashdot article
• Interview with Primotech