So I know I'd love to have me a set of these!

[igasho]

FWIW I know they are not mechanical, but they are conceptually the holy grail of the future of keyboards if further developed.

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/popularis/

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/mini-six/

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/aux/

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/maximus/

[igasho]

I wouldve imbedded images, but im new to doing things on forums so im not sure how.

[JBert]

FWIW I know they are not mechanical, but they are conceptually the holy grail of the future of keyboards if further developed.

Holy grail? It looks more like a dead end to me.

They are no better for typing than a regular keyboard. It doesn't adapt to your hands, and it might even take more force. Modern experimental touchpad input methods are more refined than this artful keyboard.

If you want keys with legends, there are Tipros which have a clear top where you can place a bit of paper underneath. That same keyboard can also do macros.

All in all, it's an overpriced gadget (or does one imply the other) and doesn't bring any real innovation. It just helps you remember keyboard shortcuts.

[igasho]

They are no better for typing than a regular keyboard. It doesn't adapt to your hands, and it might even take more force. Modern experimental touchpad input methods are more refined than this artful keyboard.

so you would rather type on a peice of glass?

[JBert]

Well, no - but that's just my personal preference right now. I wasn't saying that current touch screens are there yet, but neither do I think that individual screens under keys are the future.

What touch screens currently lack is haptic feedback and a proper tactile feeling of where the keys are supposed to be. However, this is all being worked on, so that's what I'd expect to become a new standard. Just think about it: current tablets can obviously switch between full-screen and an on-screen keyboard. If the glass of the touch sensor would be changed to some flexible plastic, it could bulge to have clear tactical dimples when in keyboard mode, and in screen mode it would become flat again.

I can't find the video about the experiments going on with touchpads, but some have been posted on this site. We'll see if someone else digs them up in the mean time.

So all together, I still believe that improved touch panels are more likely to become mainstream than improved Optimus keyboards.

[Swede]

It may be the holy grail of style, but not of anything else. It's not very hard to get one, you only need the cash for it.

For me it has to be the Datahand that is the holy grail. Hard to find and damn expensive, also one of the most ergonomic keyboards ever made.

[kbdfr]

FWIW I know they are not mechanical, but they are conceptually the holy grail of the future of keyboards if further developed.

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/popularis/
(...)

This trail was abandoned long, long, long (about 30 years) ago:
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=915

The reason is obvious: touch-typing is impossible on a keyboard which constantly changes its layout, so it would in fact be an impediment rather than a advantage.

As an additional keyboard though, they can be a great help:
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1617
and
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1621

Note that all my links are deskthority links. Great site!

[mintberryminuscrunch]

I think these keyboards have its places like any others. For Example graphic designers. Depending on the software they use (Photoshop, video editing etc.) the keys can show the different tools.
But for anyone other it's just an expensive toy.

[zoidbergslo]

Anyone serious in graphic design know all keyboard shortcuts by heart

[hemflit]

I can see how it can be pretty cool to have dynamic key legends, for a bunch of purposes that aren't touch-typing.
It would be very reasonable to buy something like that, if it existed at 10% of the current price.

(And the name, cmon, OPTIMUS MAXIMUS DICKUS WE ARE SO FULL OF IT Keyboard.)