Tag Archives: funny

Physical Double-Sided Gboard is the keyboard of your dreams or nightmares

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Our computer keyboards have just enough keys to cover the letters and numbers of the English language, but sometimes those aren’t enough. Some probably wish there were more keys to assign to certain app shortcuts and actions, while others dealing with other languages and scripts will probably want to cover those without having to switch keyboard layouts every time. Of course, a keyboard with that many keys will probably be huge, but not unless you design it in a creative form. Fortunately, Google Japan has our backs, and fronts for that matter, with a double-sided keyboard monstrosity inspired by one of math’s most classic paradoxes: the Möbius strip.

Designer: Google

The keyboard is made up of 26 modules, each of which has eight RGb-backlit keys, four on each side of the structure. They’re laid out in a band that technically has no front or back, which is what the Möbius strip is infamous for. That means you can practically turn this “keyboard” around or flip it on its side and it will always be right side up. Sort of.

Of course, it’s pretty obvious how unusable such a contraption would be as a keyboard, but the bright minds at Google Japan do have a few suggestions. Forget pair programming! This keyboard lets up to three or even more people type simultaneously, which increases productivity threefold. Since it basically has no right or wrong side, it will be an essential tool in zero-g environments as well. The possibilities are nearly endless, especially since you can’t figure out where this keyboard begins and ends either.

The Double-Sided Gboard also has utility outside of typing. It can be put on a spinning pedestal as a futuristic desk decoration or hung on doors as a welcoming wreath. Google suggests that, just like the strip itself, future updates could unlock access to alternate dimensions. Even if that day never comes, you can still proudly carry the keyboard around like a fashionable handbag.

Of course, Google isn’t planning on putting this highly advanced design into production, but it is generously allowing others to attempt building it on their own, providing complete 3D printer files, firmware, and guidance. The Double-Sided Gboard is just the latest in Google Japan’s series of keyboard designs launched on October 1st, a.k.a. 10/1, to celebrate the iconic and standard 101 keyboard.

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Toaster Typewriter puts a humorous and literal spin on how words can burn you

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We live in an “instant” civilization where we can get what we want almost instantly. Words appear on the screen as fast as our fingers can fly, cup noodles can be done and ready for consumption in less than five minutes, and bread jumps out of the toaster just a few seconds after simply pressing down on a switch. Can you imagine, then, the frustration of having to slowly type out each letter, or manually turning a loaf of bread every minute to make sure it’s properly toasted without burning to a crisp? Of course, no one will want to go back to those not-so-good old days, at least no one in their right mind. That said, such an unimaginable situation could also be an opportunity for a ridiculous invention, which is what this seemingly antiquated typewriter does, making you slowly type each and every letter to adequately toast a bread loaf.

Designer: Ritika Kedia

The idea of typing on an old-school typewriter to toast bread is beyond absurd. The two have almost nothing in common, except perhaps the starting letter of each word. It’s definitely an exercise in patience and futility, one that could make you lose your appetite even before you get a single word out. But like what happens in real life, some ridiculous and frustrating situations can become comic relief if done right, which is exactly what the Toaster Typewriter represents.

The design is practically a Frankenstein of two very mechanical products, a classical typewriter and a bread toaster with much of its outer shell stripped off. Certain letters on the typebar are covered with food-grade clay and have wires coiled around them. The cobbled machine uses multiple transformers to not only power the toaster but also generate heat for the keys, resulting in a composition that looks more like a prop from a sci-fi flick from the 50s or 60s.

The idea is to simply slide in a loaf of bread like you would on a regular toaster, and then slide the toaster box across the typewriter as if it were a piece of paper. Once the letters are sufficiently hot, you press hard on a key and then wait for that letter to be burned onto the bread’s surface. Rinse and repeat until you finally have your desired toast, unless you lose your sanity first.

As you can probably tell, the Toaster Typewriter technically works but it’s impractical and pretty much useless. That’s exactly the point of the design, however, as a paradigm shift toward more entertaining, even comical, designs. The design space has become too serious for its own good. While product designs definitely need to address certain needs and requirements, there is also room for some more entertaining and humorous designs that bring delight in one way or another. Of course, such designs shouldn’t frustrate people the way this Toaster Typewriter does, but good designs need to be able to include more human elements, including human expressions of joy and laughter.

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Razer Cthulhu gaming chair is something you might wish wasn’t just a joke

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Forget about those invisible and impersonal AIs that are supposed to help you at work by composing e-mails, generating images, or even drafting a whole document for you. What you really need is an AI that will take care of your bodily needs while using the computer, whether it’s for crunch time in the office or, more likely, grinding experience points in games. At least that’s the foundation of Razer’s latest genius gaming accessory, a chair that knows your needs and literally gives you a hand, or a claw rather, so you don’t have to stand up for a bite or a drink or even a shave. Yes, this mythical chair is obviously an April Fool’s joke, but it’s an idea that could very well foreshadow the future that is both exciting and terrifying as its name suggests.

Designer: Razer

Named after the eldritch god but looking more like a Doctor Octopus arsenal, the Razer Cthulhu is a gaming chair that literally has a mind of its own, in addition to its six flexible tentacle-like arms each with a three-finger claw for the hand. The idea is pretty simple, really, and is exactly what it looks like. Just like the robotic appendages of the comic book villain, these arms act as an extension of the user’s own arms, performing extra work that frees up the person to do what they enjoy and do best: play a game.

What this “work” entails really depends on what the chair’s AI would learn from your habits and needs. It could be as simple as holding your drink or assisting you with eating, or it could be as complicated as giving you a massage or even shaving your facial hair. At some point, it could even start playing your game for you, allowing you to play a second game on a different device, like a phone or handheld console, without missing a beat.

Of course, it’s literally impossible to accomplish all these today even with the most advanced AI, especially actions that require precision and dexterity. You could even say it’s a tongue-in-cheek commentary on how we’re becoming too dependent on AI, putting our eggs, and our livelihood, all in one basket. That’s not to say it’s not a tempting idea for the future, at least within moderation. With human life and work becoming more complex, it’s not surprising that people will start wanting to offload some of the more mundane tasks to robots and AI.

Computer chairs are becoming more sophisticated, offering features that span ergonomics and convenience from different angles. There are even some that are like a whole encapsulated space for gaming and entertainment, so a chair with AI features won’t be that far from reality. We can only hope that designs will be more on the conservative and reasonable side rather than outfitting the chair with everything, including a kitchen sink, that would make use feel less human and more like cogs in a machine instead.

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Microsoft Windows Ugly Sweater arrives in time to bring holiday jeer

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The Christmas season is often associated with staying warm (if you’re living in the northern hemisphere) and having fun, and there’s a rather recent tradition that combines those with tongue-in-cheek humor. Ugly sweaters are exactly what their names imply, intentionally designed to be ridiculously laughable so that there’s really no room for misinterpretation. Making a pun on being a “soft wear” company, Microsoft has been releasing such unfashionable wearables for half a decade now, poking good-natured fun at its own products. This year’s design is an ode to the early 2000s, bringing back fond and not-so-fond memories of one of the longest-lived Windows versions of all: Windows XP.

Designer: Microsoft

Parts of the Windows XP design have perhaps forever been engraved in people’s memories, at least for those old enough to be using computers by 2001 onward. The candy-like “Luna” theme, the familiar login sound, and, of course, the iconic wallpaper that’s actually a photo of a landscape in Sonoma County, California. It’s this wallpaper, named “Bliss,” that Microsoft is bringing in somewhat low-res quality to this year’s Ugly Sweater, taking wearers and onlookers for a trip down memory lane, whether they like to or not.

Bliss is simple yet captivating, basically a picture of a green hill against the backdrop of a blue sky and white clouds. As its name suggests, it evokes a sense of serenity and calm, which is hardly the emotions you’d associate with using Windows XP, especially when the dreaded BSOD or Blue Screen of Death rears its ugly head. Nonetheless, it’s a powerful and admittedly warm image, just the perfect match for a warm piece of clothing.

That is, of course, if you’d be fine wearing what is practically the Windows XP wallpaper, letting everyone see your loyalty to the operating system or to the company. It’s not a perfect recreation of the wallpaper, though, and is more pixelated than what you’d see on a screen. It’s almost as if someone booted the sweater in Safe Mode, and there’s probably some underlying message there that we missed. And yes, there’s a very large mouse cursor there, fortunately pointing nowhere embarrassing.

This year’s Windows Ugly Sweater does have some hidden beauty, at least in how it is trying hard to save the environment. Specifically, Microsoft has partnered with The Nature Conservancy for this project, though exact details haven’t been laid out. At least you’ll be feeling a little good about yourself every time you intentionally put a large target on your back by wearing such an incredibly comical sweater this holiday season.

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