Google Japan has unveiled the Gboard kurukuru, a prototype keyboard featuring a conveyor belt system. Instead of reaching for static keys, users select characters as they move along the belt. Each belt holds 29 keys, allowing for single-handed typing, though the company suggests using two units for a full-hand setup.
The device will not be sold commercially. However, Google Japan has released the blueprints and source materials publicly, enabling users to assemble the keyboard themselves. The project was introduced on October 1, a date chosen to align with the standard 101-key keyboard layout.
The company has been releasing experimental input devices on this date for several years. Future iterations of the concept may include variations in belt length, movement speed, and the total number of supported characters.
