Absolem DIY mechanical keyboard mixes class and geekiness in a handsome wooden package
Computer keyboards have remained unchanged over the decades, utilizing the same standard layout with very little variation. Of course, there have been attempts to change the general shape of the keyboard, including split forms designed to improve ergonomics, but the number of keys sometimes remains the same. Sometimes, though, creative people are able to think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas and experimentation. Those often end up looking unpolished or straight out of a sci-fi show prop, but this eye-catching butterfly-shaped keyboard won’t look out of place on a minimalist wooden workspace.
Designer: Denes Ban
The designer is a programmer by trade and a modder by passion. He initially wanted something completely new. The ultimate goal was to have a reduced number of keys, 36 in total, plus a few extra keys that would allow switching between letters, symbols, and function keys. At first, he settled on a “3D” design that had those extra keys hidden underneath an elevated surface for the split 36 keys.
That, however, didn’t pan out, and the modder realized that his needs and situation were better served by a uni-body keyboard instead. Still sticking to the same idea, however, he ditched the typical “ergonomic” keyboard format but still kept the split layout, ending up with a form that looked like a butterfly. He didn’t do it by accident. After reading Alice in Wonderland, he had already chosen the name Absolem for his keyboard.
As always, the building process was actually shorter than the designing and prototyping stages. The Absolem keyboard is not sustainable despite its wooden exterior. It uses a lot of plastics and electronics including neoprene. It does contain a fair amount of steel and wood, which means that it doesn’t have a huge environmental impact.
The creator’s acute attention to detail is what you’d expect from professional modders, but his taste in materials and design does set him above his peers. The end result is an intriguing and beautiful mechanical keyboard that almost looks like a part of some fantasy or steampunk world. Although the ergonomics of this design are questionable, it is likely to be better than conventional keyboards which appear non-ergonomic.
