Every once in a while, you see something breathtakingly simple, that makes you first think “how come no one thought of this before”, and then “where can I get one?”
Well, I saw some pictures of the Optimus keyboard from Art. Lebedev Studio, and now I’m annoyed that I’m forced to use a “regular” keyboard.

The Optimus keyboard uses organic LEDs to change the face of each key depending which program you’re running. The idea is, if you’re sending emails, it might look like a regular keyboard, but open up Scratch for example, and all the letters are replaced with icons, corresponding to the different hotkeys available.
for more information:
optimus keyboard
UPDATE: There has been some new information posted about this keyboard on their website.

It’s in the initial stage of production.

We hope it will be released in 2006.

It will cost less than a good mobile phone.

It will be real.

It will be OS-independent (at least it’s going to be able to work in some default state with any OS).

It will support any language or layout.

Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Each key could be programmed to produce any sequence.

It will be an open-source keyboard, SDK will be available.

Some day it will be split (and made “ergonomic”).

It will most likely use the OLED technology (e-paper is sooo slow).

Our studio is located two blocks from the Kremlin.

It will feature a key-saver.

Keys could be animated when needed.

It has a numeric keypad because we love it.

There’s no snow in Moscow in summer.

It will be available worldwide (why not?)

OEM is possible (why not?)

well, they have a sense of humour at least…

Comment from mario - 9/25/2005 at 12:21 pm

Yes, sir!

While it looks a wee bit over the top at the first glance, it definitely makes sense if you’re working with a lot of different applications with lots of different sets of hotkeys.

In the long run, I think that this will be the way to go for keyboards. Why not?

And to add things up: Moscow is called after the river that’s running through it, the Moskwa.