Google's Gboard Dial: Rotary Phone-Inspired Keyboard Now in Ukraine
Google's Japanese division has unveiled an unconventional keyboard, the Gboard Dial Version, inspired by vintage rotary phones. This open-source device, now available on Ukrainian marketplaces, replaces traditional keys with rotating discs for text input.
Each of the nine mechanical discs on the Gboard Dial is dedicated to a specific set of symbols. Users rotate the disc like on old phones to input text, and the mechanism automatically returns it to its original position. The device connects via USB and is compatible with any operating system.
This isn't Google's first foray into experimental keyboards. Previous creations include a 1.7m long keyboard, a tea cup-shaped model, a keyboard in a baseball cap, and a Möbius strip version. These innovations aim to foster engineering creativity and rethink familiar technologies. Custom models with rotating elements are already available on Ukrainian marketplaces, such as the Glorious GMMK Rotary, Monsgeek M3 QMK Barebone, Custom Macro Rotary Keyboard, and AULA F99 Pro Wireless. The technology behind these keyboards relies on modern sensor modules that detect rotation and convert it into a digital signal.
The Gboard Dial Version is open-source, with DIY assembly instructions posted on GitHub. While there's no public data on the number of Ukrainian stores offering rotary encoder products, this unique keyboard adds to the growing trend of custom, rotating element keyboards on the market.
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