Scrabble-tile keyboard

Steampunk keyboard maker Datamancer has switched it up with this fabulous keyboard capped with Scrabble keys:

This keyboard was commissioned by a couple of friends of mine from back east (NJ) who are avid Scrabble players. Most of the keys are made from real Scrabble tiles that were all hand-beveled (truly an exercise in patience/masochism!) and built onto a USB, clicky, mechanical-switch keyboard. This keyboard was going into a Mac environment so I decided to use brushed aluminum for the casing and round all of the corners to keep with the sleek, simple Macintosh styling. Near the end of the build, I decided that the keyboard looked a little too minimalist so I added some silver hardware and a seam to put a slightly industrialized twist on the design.

The Scrabble Keyboard (via Make)

[#1 posted by insert , January 17, 2009 9:56 PM]

Oh. My. God.

I think I need to change my underpants. That's totally amazing.

[#2 posted by kevinhall , January 17, 2009 10:37 PM]

Freaking brilliant, literally jaw dropping. Wow, just wow.

[#3 posted by Tenn , January 17, 2009 10:44 PM]

I need a towel. And a new keyboard. I fear the drool may have spoiled this one...

[#4 posted by manicbassman , January 17, 2009 10:54 PM]

bevelling is easy if you have a grinding wheel and make a simple jig... only a masochist would be daft enough to do it by hand with a file of sandpaper...

in fact even with sandpaper, it can be made a simple task with a jig to hold the tiles at the right angle and stop when you've reached the right amount.

[#5 posted by EH , January 17, 2009 10:58 PM]

like a lot of these sorts of things, it's unusable. worse than a VT100 keyboard.

[#6 posted by todscircus , January 17, 2009 11:00 PM]

The bearded lady loves Scrabble! Where can she get one of these????? Thanks!

[#7 posted by Takuan , January 17, 2009 11:02 PM]

yup, go to the yard sales/thrift shops, use a bit of sandpaper, perhaps a drill and pick for the backs (or glue faces onto sanded down old plastic keys?) Time and patience.

[#8 posted by Antinous / Moderator , January 17, 2009 11:12 PM]

todscircus,

Your URL goes on your profile page. Thanks.

[#9 posted by Avram / Moderator , January 17, 2009 11:46 PM]

Oh wow! Gorgeous work. The only thing that could make this more awesome is if the type was right on the number, function, and other non-letter keys.

[#10 posted by Phil Hilliker , January 18, 2009 1:20 AM]

Wow. It's gorgeous.

@ EH- Why is it unusable? That's an awfully solid proclamation if you've never actually typed on it.

[#11 posted by nanuq , January 18, 2009 1:48 AM]

I can't play Scrabble anymore. I get too upset by the words that are or aren't allowed according to most Scrabble dictionaries. And their spellings. I thought I knew the English language.

[#12 posted by jtegnell , January 18, 2009 1:49 AM]

For those of us that type using index fingers and thumbs only, I imagine it's perfectly fine!

[#13 posted by Keir , January 18, 2009 2:27 AM]

#11 I know what you mean - the official book of words allowed in scrabble contains all kinds of crap, but not refried.

[#14 posted by Jacquelyn , January 18, 2009 3:40 AM]

I just wanted to say that some people would not mind purchasing such a keyboard if it was on sale. It certainly looks very nice compared to the normal keyboard.

[#15 posted by rose bush , January 18, 2009 5:38 AM]

this is indeed one of THE sweetest keyboards i have seen in my life!

i believe most if not ALL of datamancer's keyboards do work

[#16 posted by dculberson , January 18, 2009 7:02 AM]

Nanuq and Keir, the dictionary you use is an agreed upon thing.. you can use the OED if the other players agree to it!

[#17 posted by Digital Artz , January 18, 2009 7:22 AM]

Velcome to zur Bauhaus ,again.

[#18 posted by PFlint , January 18, 2009 7:55 AM]

You could probably score yourself as you type.

Anyways, sweet ride.

[#19 posted by Metlin , January 18, 2009 9:38 AM]

I see things like this and I can't help wonder how practical/utilitarian they would be.

Would you really be able to type comfortably on those things compared to a regular $20 keyboard?

[#20 posted by usonia , January 18, 2009 9:54 AM]

Omigod, this would go great with my Scrabblepunk mouse!
Avram, i agree. If the numbers & shift/ctrl/tab/etc keys are going to be set in Futura, they should be pink & blue, like the double/triple score spaces. It wouldn;t stop me from buying one, though.

[#21 posted by Art , January 18, 2009 10:29 AM]

He did it again.... HE DID IT AGAIN!

Is there no limit to this man's creativity?

[#22 posted by Avarice , January 18, 2009 11:18 AM]

It looks completely uncomfortable and off-putting. The screws blaring out with their silvery sheen also take away from it. Neat, but not at all practical or usable.

[#23 posted by OM , January 18, 2009 1:10 PM]

...Where's the Klingon Scrabble version?

[#24 posted by starbreiz , January 18, 2009 1:29 PM]

Holy cow, I need one of these. I'd like to know how he created the non-qwerty keys though.

[#25 posted by sswaan , January 18, 2009 2:28 PM]

Wo-ow.

[#26 posted by Anonymous , January 18, 2009 3:56 PM]

amazing job once again, guy is a genius, all of his keyboards work i have experiences a few first hand! another homerun

[#27 posted by Egypt Urnash , January 18, 2009 9:27 PM]

Practical or not, his keyboard labeled in Enochian is awesome.

[#28 posted by Takuan , January 18, 2009 9:52 PM]

betcha non-qwerty were dremeled blanks. an a sharpie.

[#29 posted by HPHovercraft , January 18, 2009 10:27 PM]

Nice. But why's it got two F4 keys?

[#30 posted by RagManX , January 19, 2009 8:42 AM]

That is one of the most beautiful mods I have ever seen. I am seriously thinking about the viability of doing this myself.

[#31 posted by Clifton , January 19, 2009 9:43 AM]

Wow. My wife the Scrabble shark would love this, and I'm pretty covetous myself.

[#32 posted by EH , January 19, 2009 2:55 PM]

Hilliker: it's like 2 inches thick!