Google Japan Unveils Conveyor Belt Gboard Keyboard Prototype

Google Japan Unveils Gboard Conveyor Belt Keyboard Concept for One-Handed Typing

Google Japan has unveiled an unorthodox hardware concept, introducing the Gboard conveyor belt keyboard, Hypebeast reported. The gadget re-imagines conventional typing by functioning much like a desktop factory assembly line. Based on an automated translation of the official Japanese press release, the rotating mechanism of the conveyor belt continuously loops so that the physical keys flow directly into the user’s resting hand.

The Tech TL;DR:
• The hardware uses four belts with 29 keys each, driven by a single 6V N20 gear motor to reduce one-handed typing fatigue.
• While not a commercial product, complete DIY blueprints, KiCad schematics, and firmware source code are available on GitHub.

Factory-Inspired Mechanics Driving the Conveyor Belt Layout

Aesthetically, the sprawling peripheral resembles a hybrid between a standard office keyboard and a miniature fitness treadmill. Tom’s Hardware reported that the keyboard comes with four belts, each containing 29 keys, making it quite intuitive to operate. Google asserts that this layout alleviates strain by letting users wait for the appropriate keys to slide right beneath their fingertips rather than physically moving their hands to hunt them down, thereby avoiding the need to stretch across a traditional stationary board. TechPowerUp noted that the device stands upright and carries its keys on these moving belts, requiring the user to rest one hand at the base and press each key as it rolls past.

Waiting for each letter to come around makes the device far slower than a regular keyboard, which reflects the nature of the gag. According to the build guide highlighted by TechPowerUp, the assembly incorporates 157 printed components, 116 Kailh Choc V1 low-profile switches, an M5Stack AtomS3 Lite controller, and one 6 V N20 gear motor powering all four belts. The team behind the project is also considering releasing various color variations, high-speed models, and even a shorter version for mobile devices, alongside a potential second unit built for two-handed typing, according to Tom’s Hardware and TechPowerUp.

Google Shares Keyboard Blueprints on GitHub

As expected, the conveyor belt keyboard is not available for purchase as a mass-market commercial product. However, for those looking to build the joke in the physical world, Google made the blueprints available as a DIY project hosted on GitHub under the repository name mozc-devices, as detailed by Hypebeast. Tom’s Hardware noted that the plans include 3D-printable STL files, KiCad schematics and PCB layouts, and the firmware source code needed to build a working copy.

To keep everything accessible to the public, all DIY keyboard files and software are distributed under an Apache-2.0 license. TechPowerUp observed that the repository still looks unfinished, with only the motorized Moving Keys Edition documented so far, while board documentation and a functional Bluetooth keyboard edition are marked as coming soon.

# Clone the Google Japan mozc-devices repository for DIY assembly
git clone https://github.com/google/mozc-devices.git
cd mozc-devices/gboard-conveyor-belt
# Review firmware dependencies and hardware schematics
ls -la firmware/ src/ schematics/

Evolution of Google Japan’s October First Hardware Tradition

Per reports from Tom’s Hardware and TechPowerUp, this unusual device represents the latest installment in the regional office’s annual custom of launching a fresh prototype every October 1st—a date selected to honor the 101-key layout popularized by the IBM Model M. TechPowerUp reported that the Gboard Conveyor Belt Version marks the 15th entry in the joke keyboard series. The local subsidiary previously released these quirky designs as an April Fool’s Day joke starting in 2012 before shifting the release cadence to October 1 in 2021.

Past entries in this lineage include the Gboard Dial Edition reminiscent of 1960s rotary phones, the Double-Sided Gboard designed to function regardless of orientation, and the Gboard bar version placing all keys on a single row. While most prior conceptual designs remained non-functional, the Japanese Input Physical Flick Version offered a more practical approach, contrasting with the purely mechanical loop of the current conveyor belt iteration.