Google Announces Gboard Kurukuru Version Keyboard With Keys On Moving Belts
Google announced the Gboard Kurukuru Version on October 1, a keyboard with keys arranged in four rows on conveyor belts that carry characters to the user's hands. Software engineer Megumi Yamada said rotating character stamps inspired the design, and the blueprints are released free on GitHub. Each belt holds 29 keys, and uppercase and lowercase letters can be typed directly. Because the keys move, users can type without shifting their arms or palms much, and can input with one hand or a single finger. Two additional modes are planned: a High-Speed Mode where keys flow faster, which Google says can train dynamic visual acuity, and a Voice Guide Mode that reads the flowing characters aloud so users can input without looking at the keys. The project is the 15th in Google's annual new keyboard proposals, a series that began with the Google Japanese Input Drum Version in 2010 and continued last year with the Gboard Dial Version.