The Art Lebedev studios surprised us earlier with their Optimus Maximus keyboard that features embedded screens in each buttons. For 2008 they plan to launch a new keyboard: the
Optimus Tactus. This keyboard actually doesn't have any keys. It is designed as one large touchscreen. Still in concept, the idea is that you can program any part of the keyboard to perform a function or to display whatever you want. The first reaction range from 'I need a more tactile feedback, a flat keyboard doesn't work for me' to 'This is already invented by
Fingerworks, a company that is now part of Apple'. Still, it could be quite exciting to have a input device, I can imagine that the Tactus would be useful mounted to walls or as part of interactive exhibitions.

Optimus Tactus in video mode:
