Streamlined Deco keyboard

Datamancer's latest bespoke keyboard is a departure from his customary (and beautiful) steampunk motif: this one revisits his work on cool, streamlined Art Deco models.

The "New Yorker" (Thanks, Richard!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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- IWood
  
  That’s really only an issue if your undersea utopia collapses.
Datamancer

Thanks for the post, Cory!

To address some of the questions above..

The keyboard uses Alps mechanical switches that were specifically selected for their tactile and aural feedback. They have a bit of a “snap” feel to them and make a nice clicky sound, but not obnoxiously so, like an IBM Model M. To me, IBM Model M’s buckling-springs always felt like I was typing with a hammer. My Alps switches are just slightly louder than a standard keyboard, feel great, and fit the ‘typewriter’ theme nicely.

And yes, I realize that this design is begging for a “Bioshock” treatment and I’m considering making another one of these, or even a whole other design, that is heavily tarnished and worn.
:)

-~Datamancer~-
Anonymous

i want one! since i type with one or two fingers it would be perfect!
an0nymous

But is it buckling spring?
Art

Damn, That’s nice!!!!!
solitaire

I know it could never please my the way my IBM Model M does but good god, I want to pull off its windows keys and type love poems on that thing.
solitaire

I know it could never please my the way my IBM Model M does but good god, I want to pull off its windows keys and type love poems on that thing.
Strange Quark Star

Can we have Decopunk now as the new ‘cool’ instead of steampunk?
turn_self_off

looks interesting to hammer away on.
Stonewalker

I can’t get enough of datamancer’s stuff. I love everything he creates.
Mister44

Functional Steampunk – yay!

Note the lack of frivolous gears.
Artimus Mangilord

Anyone who digs this and is in Denver should check out the 2nd floor (or was it third?) design exhibit in the Hamilton building of the Denver Art Museum. They have a chronology of typewriters, some of which reminded me of the aesthetic here. Featherweights, as it were.
- Anonymous
  
  Glad you liked the Olivetti: Innovation & Identity exhibition. It’s on the second level of the North Building; the galleries lead to the bridge to the Hamilton Building but aren’t in that building.
Rachel H

Oh man, WANT! Steampunk stuff is cool, but Art Deco is much more up my alley.
MadRat

There are only so many times I can watch Metropolis and Tail Spin, look at Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon comic strips, read “Wasn’t The Future Wonderful?” and dream of seeing the Chrysler Building. I’m ready for Decopunk right now!! It’s not like it would be hard, just sit down with all the 1930s Popular Mechanix magazines and imagine a world were everything in them came true.

Thanks for the keyboard pictures Datamancer, they’re beautiful.