In addition to spooky season, October brings with it Google Japan’s annual Keyboard Day tradition of showcasing a novelty keyboard design. Previous models have included such impossibilities as a Möbius strip-inspired design and the “___” keyboard, and this year’s addition is one of the most delightfully impractical designs yet. In a new video, Google Japan delivers a tongue-in-cheek showcase of the Gboard Dial Version, a keyless keyboard that uses rotary dials of different sizes to input characters.
Google Japan’s new ‘revolution’ in keyboard technology also features an ‘On Hold stand’ that allows users to turn off their camera by placing their mouse in a holder not-so-subtly inspired by a vintage telephone. As usual, the Gboard Dial Version isn’t actually for sale, but Google has compiled resources on GitHub for those who want to make their own, including 3D printer files and PCB designs.
