Google Japan's Gboard Kurukuru Puts 116 Keys on Four Conveyor Belts
The Gboard team at Google Japan has unveiled the Gboard Kurukuru Version, which incorporates 116 keys arranged on four conveyor belts. Users can press the keys as they come around, facilitating one-handed typing for both uppercase and lowercase letters. This innovative approach reverses the usual interaction between hands and the interface, allowing fingers to wait for the keys. Google Japan notes that this design permits the other hand to engage in activities such as using a mouse or holding a cup of tea. Kurukuru marks the 15th unique Gboard experiment, following a series of creative designs. Open-source files for DIY assembly are provided. This project was announced on October 1, 2023, and will not be commercially sold.
Key facts
- Google Japan's Gboard team developed the Gboard Kurukuru Version keyboard
- The keyboard uses four continuous conveyor belts, each holding 29 keys, for 116 keys total
- Keys move toward the user, allowing one-handed or single-finger typing
- Uppercase and lowercase letters can be entered directly
- Kurukuru is the 15th entry in Google Japan's series of unconventional Gboard experiments
- Previous editions included a single elongated row, a double-sided loop and 2025 rotary telephone-style dials
- Open-source build files cover 3D-printed components, switches and the belt mechanism
- Google is considering color variations, a high-speed mode and longer or more portable short versions
- No commercial release is planned for Gboard Kurukuru
- Google Japan unveiled the project on October 1, a nod to the 101-key keyboard
Entities
Institutions
- Google Japan
- Gboard team
Locations
- Japan