Keyboard Builders' Digest
5% off at Mechanical Keyboards US! Code: KBDNEWS
Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects

Double-sided Gboard

The double-sided Gboard is Google Japan's latest crazy project, a keyboard with a twist – ie. a Möbius strip.

KBD.news
Published October 1, 2024
Creators! Feel free to tip me off about your keyboard related projects to bring them to 140K readers.

It's October 1st again (10/1), and as a tribute to the commonly used 101-key keyboards, this is the time when the Google Japan team has been unveiling their quirky projects over the past few years. I was eager to see what new idea they would come up with, and the team – with our friend Ikeji on board – exceeded my expectations: today, they proudly announce the new double-sided Gboard!

Pic:

You may remember the keyboard cup, the Gboard bar or the Gboard CAPS, previous projects in this series.

This time, the authors wanted to solve a nonexistent issue, again:

I want to use the back of the keyboard as well as the front! […] What if we need a keyboard with a twist, one that turns the problem space outside-in – Google Japan.

As always, this is not for sale and definitely not an officially supported Google product, but the design is open source and very well documented.

Specs

  • double-sided ortholinear
  • 208 keys
  • MX, hotswap
  • STMicro STM32F042F4P6
  • per-key RGB (SK6812MINI-E)
  • size (r): 101mm

Pic:

The keyboard is built by connecting 26 modules, each containing 8 switches, then twisting them in a way that creates a double-sided endless loop design with no defined front or back – à la Möbius strip.

Resources

Files available in Google's Github repo:

Pic:

Do you like this post? Share, donate, subscribe, tip me off!

Published on Tue 1st Oct 2024. Featured in KBD #176.


Related

Colorful silk screen

PCBBuy is experimenting with a colorful soldermask printing method and shared some photos of the results.

Waitier

Waitier is a stacked PCB one-key macropad by @yynmt_.

Skateboard keyboard

A wooden keyboard case made out of old skateboard decks – by u/ansedehenle.

Gboard bar

The Gboard bar is the result of Google Japan's latest brainstorm.

GravaStar Mercury K1 Pro review

GravaStar is launching the breathtaking Mercury K1 Pro and other members of their new family of wireless gaming keyboards – with recurring sci-fi motifs, great typing experience, and a lot more!

2001 vs 2010 - A Story in Keyboards

Wyvyrn reflects on keyboards in movies 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel, 2010: The Year We Make Contact.

×
top