Computers

The iWEB fold-out netbook keyboard concept

The iWEB fold-out netbook keyboard concept
The iWEB folding keyboard cocept from designer Yang Yongchang
The iWEB folding keyboard cocept from designer Yang Yongchang
View 4 Images
1/4
The iWEB folding keyboard cocept from designer Yang Yongchang
2/4
The iWEB folding keyboard cocept from designer Yang Yongchang
3/4
4/4
View gallery - 4 images

Designer Yang Yongchang is proposing a fold-away solution to the keyboard envy sometimes exhibited by netbook users. For the iWEB design, a full-size QWERTY keyboard is jointed in two places and folded inwards so that when not in use it sits within the frame of a 6.5in display portable device. Open up the netbook, fold out the side flaps and enjoy the ease of use and comfort of those nice big keys.

Mobility and portability have certainly taken their toll on keying comfort. As laptops shrunk into netbooks, keyboard size took a seriously big hit. But perhaps Yang Yongchang's vision for a netbook of the future holds some hope for those who tire of the numerous errors resulting from fingers that are chunkier than the keys they attempt to press down or those who just crave for something bigger.

The designer reckons that a hinged, full-size chiclet keyboard could be squeezed into netbook dimensions of just 6.3 x 4.1 0.7in. Hot-keys grace the bottom of the side panels for increased productivity and LED status indicators sit at the edges. Also included in the design is a capacitive multi-touch display.

Of course, being a concept, there are no more technical details available (such as processor, memory and storage) but as folding keyboard solutions already exist in various shapes and sizes then is it such a flight of fancy to incorporate one into a netbook?

Via Yanko Design.

View gallery - 4 images
3 comments
3 comments
Michael Mantion
freaking brilliant.
Facebook User
IBM did it first with their \'butterfly\' keyboard that automatically expanded when the lid was opened.
lapinskism
AMAZING!!!!! i would love to have one of those! i am not one of the people who suffer from their fingers being too chunky, but i hate how small most laptop keyboards are.