Keyboard Builders' Digest / Projects
Gboard Dial Version
The Dial Gboard is Google Japan's yet another crazy input device.
Published October 1, 2025
It's October 1st again, and Google Japan, with our friend Ikeji on board, came out with another crazy keyboard project in the Gboard series: the Gboard Dial version.
"Keyboards are boring if you can only type on them. In response to feedback from our users, we have created a keyboard that you can turn. The Gboard Dial Version, realizing text input by rotation.
Driven by a Raspberry Pi Pico, it achieves character input via dials by using photo sensors and stepper motors – yes, without any keyswitches.
If you've missed this fun tradition: Every year around this time, in tribute to the commonly used 101-key keyboards (10/1, or October 1st), the Google Japan team unveils one of their quirky creations. Over the years, they've delivered abominations like the keyboard cup, the Gboard bar, the Gboard CAPS, and even last year's double-sided Möbius strip Gboard – as you may remember.
This time, it's a dial keyboard. We've seen attempts at numeric input via old rotary phone dials before, but our Japanese friends never disappoint – they've taken the concept to a whole new level.
As usual, the whole project is open sourced and exemplarily documented with a comprehensive build guide, so you can recreate this device if you'd like for some weird reason.
(My personal favorite is the rotating Enter key.)
Specs
- 69 keys(?)
- no switches
- Raspberry Pi Pico controller
- RPR-220 reflective photo sensors
- Stepper motors
- M2003S stepper motor driver module
Resources
Published on Wed 1st Oct 2025. Featured in KBD #200.
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