The Optimus Maximus Keyboard
The Optimus Maximus Keyboard, previously just “Optimus keyboard”, is a keyboard currently in development, from the Art. Lebedev Studio, headed by Artemy Lebedev. 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. Pre-orders began on 20 May 2007 for limited production runs.
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 stated that they intend for the keyboard to be a real product. The studio is currently looking for a manufacturer in China or Korea. According to the official newsletter, the Art, Lebedev Studio expected to receive actual samples of the keyboard by the end of 2006. The keyboard is supposed to be in production in 2007, but the studio is planning on creating another model after the release of the Optimus mini three.
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 alternative layouts such as the 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 audience of the keyboard is typographers and translators, as well as graphics professionals and gamers.
The Art. Lebedev Studio is accepting limited pre-orders since May 20, 2007.
Production schedule:
- Beginning of December 2007—200 keyboards
- End of December 2007—200 keyboards
- January 2008—400 keyboards
The current price is listed as USD1564.37 (€1256.86) (£788.25).
Source: ArtLebedev
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