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Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

sonderdesign.com

101–110 of 237 posts

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#101
post #7

It looks cool, but I don't like that the e-ink displays are deep in the key caps rather than at the top. Perhaps it's a technological limitation.

The keys are made of a specific materail so it acts as a transmissive medium, which is like poor mans fibre optic. The earlier prototypes were CNC'd keys, with injection molding the current design doesn't have the refraction issue you're referring to.

I'm an mech engineer working at Sonder, we have an optics eng who worked on this side.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#102

An interesting idea, but I just don't look at my keyboards. Even so, I can't help feeling this is a much better approach than replacing F-keys with the Mac Touchbar. The touchbar could have been a great idea if above the pre-existing keys. However, if it was a Model M chassis, sculpted full travel loud mechanical keys, E-Ink, and a modern selection of media keys and volume I'd probably buy one. Regardless of how sill…

I think it'd be cool for programming, I have RSI and find using the shift key + another key painful. I also rarely use the number keys above the letters (I used num pad) so changing all those keys to the shit_key equivalent would be neat. And rearranging some of other keys would be great. And don't get me started on games, oooooh, how often to I buy a new game and forget what 'm' does? Knife? Grenade? Pickaxe?

http://voicecode.io

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#103

I wonder if it's fast enough to respond to modifier keys.

The video displayed previously had an older timing controller. Here's a video demo of the current TCM on a different display. It's 10Hz, so it will respond to modifier keys and partially update.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1tmjDDK7jY

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#104
post #5

I really want to like this, but I never look at the keyboard. I wish this were a general purpose display.

You can buy directly from E Ink holdings or PDI without the 50% profit margin from retailers. They come with dev kits too so you can make it into a monitor.

Our software guys would like to work on a E Ink dev screen for software developers who stare at a screen for most of the day.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#105
weird that they are using an Apple keyboard as the design base. That's a horrible keyboard. I'm still not convinced in these "dynamic" mini-screen keyboards. I almost never look at my keyboard anymore. At work, I have a WASD V2 87-Key[1] keyboard with blank keycaps (I use programmer's dvorak as my layout) and it's a delight to type in.

[1]: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#106

>Sonder proudly acknowledges our partners: >Foxconn

And…? I'm missing the significance.

They have a terrible reputation for worker safety and mental health.

As a startup, our strategic partners are incredibly important, we did a study into our supply chain to ensure it's ethical and responsible. Despite the tragedies in the past; Foxconn is the safest, they offer counseling for mental health. , They have a worker population of over a million, statistically the tragic incidents are actually a few times less common than the rest of the Chinese population and around 7 times less than the states.

I lived on their campus for around 5 months, Foxconn takes this very seriously and is doing it's best. From the little things like on average a 15% wage increase year on year for the last few years (seriously), to programs where workers can learn English and other skills.

It's frustrating they have bad PR, one thing living on campus you see is in Chinese work culture, you will nap at your desk at lunch for about an hour or so; when reports emerged they used footage and said works were worked into exhaustion.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#107
post #57

Too bad the fn/ctrl/alt/cmd keys are fixed. I'd love a keyboard that can seamlessly switch between Windows/OS X mode...

Ironically, the most important keys to change have been seemingly ignored here.

We've addressed this in other comments but it was a display MOQ issue; the current design has all keys remappable.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#108
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, but e-ink technology has come a long long way since then.

Has it? I haven't heard about any important improvements for quite some time... What has changed? (genuinly curious)

Increased DPI, colour, refresh rates and partial updating, front lighting solutions, cost(!), mass production optimisation, decreased power consumption. Just a few.

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#109

Can't help but feel like people are only thinking about programming with this. For someone who speaks multiple languages, being able to switch between configurations as easily as you can on a phone seems like it would be super useful.

Languages, app hot keys, emoji, game controls, custom performance options for laptop DJs, musicians, VJs, etc... Many applications. This looks really interesting. Yes/no depends on key feel. I wasn't convinced by the Apple chiclet keyboard when I saw it, but I've lived with one for a year and a half now, and I'm completely comfortable with it. If this has a similar feel I'll be seriously tempted.

The user experience in both the hardware and software is critical, we've put a ton of work in refining the experience. The laptop module is designed to the same standard as an existing laptop keyboard (65g, 1.2mm travel and similar force profile).

Re: Sonder E-Ink Keyboard

#110

An interesting idea, but I just don't look at my keyboards. Even so, I can't help feeling this is a much better approach than replacing F-keys with the Mac Touchbar. The touchbar could have been a great idea if above the pre-existing keys. However, if it was a Model M chassis, sculpted full travel loud mechanical keys, E-Ink, and a modern selection of media keys and volume I'd probably buy one. Regardless of how sill…

>However, if it was a Model M chassis

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing while reviewing this.

An e-ink cherryMX switch keyboard, with a backlight and numpad, would be an instant buy from me (even in the hundreds of dollars range).

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