UK — The Register
Open source keyboard lets you swap parts like magnetic Lego bricks
Devices1 min read
Keybytes is a new open source keyboard project where every key is its own small module. The keys snap together with magnets, so you can rearrange them into any layout you want.
A keyboard made of swappable keys
A student at MIT built Keybytes. Each key has its own tiny computer chip and connection pins on all four sides. The keys link together, and a controller board talks to your computer. You can change the layout whenever you like.
Key facts and costs
- Each key has its own RISC-V microcontroller (a tiny computer chip).
- The key boards (Keybits) cost only a couple of dollars each before assembly.
- The controller boards (Keywords) cost $30 each before assembly.
- Assembly cost $69 for the key boards and $203 for the controller boards.
- The designer says a full-sized keyboard would cost around $900.
Why he built it
The designer, Nathan Alspaugh, is a freshman studying aerospace engineering. He wanted a keyboard he could change at any time. He could not find one like that, so he made his own. He kept a project journal that shows the problems he faced, such as magnets that would not stay put and circuit board errors. He also had to learn how to use a resin 3D printer.
Why it matters
Most keyboards have a fixed layout. Keybytes shows that a keyboard can be fully custom, down to each single key. It is also a good example of open source work, where anyone can copy, study, and build on the design. The high cost, though, means it is still a project for dedicated builders, not a product for everyone.
What to watch
- Whether other builders make their own Keybytes keyboards.
- Whether the cost falls if the parts are bought separately and soldered by hand.
- Whether the designer builds a full-sized version, as he said he might.
Glossary
- RISC-V
- A free, open design for the instructions that computer chips follow.
- Keybytes
- The open source modular keyboard project described in this article.