Keyboards don’t have to be purely functional. They are potentially one of the greatest statement pieces an agency can have. They sit front and center and are often one of the most visually interesting peripherals, especially if you’re a fan of craft keycaps (opens in new tab)or fun ones like these cute rubber ducks (opens in new tab).
Modern keyboards are often a color-shifting RGB party that sits right in front of your desk. So why not just turn the whole thing into a screen? Or include a CPU and GPU that can run Unreal Engine? Why not, says Finalmouse, makers of the upcoming Centerpiece keyboard that does just this.
The announcement video for the centerpiece (spotted by The Register (opens in new tab)) is embedded at the top of this article and really shows the idea. Displaying a highly interactive screen behind crystal clear keys gives an astonishing view. Not only are the animations beautiful, but they can also respond to keystrokes. LED-backlit keyboards may have modes to do this these days, but it certainly catches on differently when the result is rippling water than just colored lights.
Aside from looking really cool, Centerpiece doesn’t give us much information in this video, which is a bit of a red flag, but the switches will be the result of a collaboration with Gateron, a Chinese brand that fans compare to some Cherry- switches (opens in new tab). They feature in some of our favorite less expensive gaming keyboards (opens in new tab) offered. Analog switches are also planned, but for now we’re just waiting to see one of these in action.
With a CPU, GPU, and clear graphics capabilities, the centerpiece looks more like a weird all-in-one PC than just a keyboard. When you consider that, the $349 USD price tag makes a bit of sense. That’s a pricey keyboard, but given how flashy it looks, it could be worth it. Or, depending on the actual capabilities of this device, it can be a very cheap and unique PC.
Anyway, I really want one. If it’s anything like the video, the centerpiece will be beautiful. There are little mini-games you can play on the keyboard, and it even has a skin shop, although that seems a bit early. Still, it could take those in-game keyboard effects to a new level, which I’d really like to see.
Even if it’s not everything the video promises, which is very likely, it’s a cool idea and I’m always eager to see more of it. Especially if they help bring a nice aesthetic touch to the gaming world. I hope there are digital fish swimming around my keyboard when the Centerpiece launches sometime in 2023.
