Computer mouse brand Finalmouse takes personalization to a peculiar level by revealing a new keyboard with an interactive screen beneath a layer of transparent keys and switches. And the results are quite striking.
Customizing mechanical keyboards mostly comes down to changing the keycaps or choosing a new color pattern for the RGB LEDs. But with the Finalmouse centerpiece, as it's called, you can display a moving cityscape at sunset, a space shuttle taking off, or an abstract 3D animation. By watching the announcement video - opens in a new tab, these skins can be redeemed at any time. Some, as mentioned above, are interactive. The koi fish skin, for example, ripples the water effect on the screen each time you press one key, while another causes sparks to fly when you type.
The nice thing about these skins is that they are powered by Unreal Engine 5(Opens in a new tab), a free, downloadable 3D graphics creation tool that has been used in a ton of video games. Finalmouse claims that artists will be able to create and upload their own skins to the hub screen or submit them to the Freethinker Portal app on Steam when it launches. You will be able to load up to three skins on the keyboard and switch between them using the side buttons.
The video indicates that artists can monetize their creations or trade them with friends. It's unclear how monetization will work, but Finalmouse suggests some sort of in-app store.
Internal features
The interior of the keyboard is equally fascinating. The masterpiece has its own CPU and GPU, so it will not use any computing resources. And it looks like you'll be able to play games on the keyboard itself. A scene from the ad shows someone controlling a running lion with the arrow keys on the keyboard.
Speaking of which, the keys aren't plastic, but rather a proprietary type of tempered glass called a Laminated Display Circuit Glass (LDGS) stack encased in an aluminum chassis. If you're concerned about brittleness, Finalmouse says that LDGS is "able to take some heavy abuse..." if you apparently feel like hitting the centerpiece in anger (don't do that).
Competitive gamers will appreciate the custom mechanical switches on the keys. They have been developed together with the renowned Gateron brand of keyboard switches to ensure fast response times. There will also be another core model that comes with Hall effect sensors - opens in a new tab - in its switches for users who want a little more speed.
Persistent questions
Despite all this information, there are still many unanswered questions. For starters, how can people type on this keyboard when everything is empty? A text style skin, perhaps? We also don't know the size of the keyboard, the brightness of the screen (although it seems that it can be dimmed), its refresh rate or even the resolution. The Finalmouse centerpiece will launch in early 2023 for €349. Hopefully we get more information before then.
Until then, be sure to check out TechRadar's recently updated list of the best gaming keyboards for next year. While none of them are quite as ostentatious as the centerpiece, they are definitely worth checking out.