Google Japan unveils experimental conveyor belt keyboard

Google Japan has unveiled the ‘Gboard Conveyor Belt’, an experimental keyboard designed to bring keys to the user rather than requiring hand movement. The device features 116 keys mounted on four rotating conveyor belts that continuously move characters past a fixed finger position.

Developed by the team responsible for the Android Gboard, the project aims to facilitate one-handed typing and reduce physical fatigue. By keeping the hand stationary, users could theoretically type with one hand while using a mouse or performing other tasks with the other. The team noted that placing two such devices side-by-side would essentially replicate a standard keyboard layout.

This is not a commercial product. Following a tradition of unconventional inventions from Google Japan, the project is open-source. Google has released the necessary files on GitHub, including 3D printing models, firmware, and documentation, allowing enthusiasts to build their own versions. The project includes a ‘Moving Keys Edition’ and a ‘Bluetooth Connection Edition’, though documentation for the latter is still in development.