April 28, 2011

Minebea set to launch the Cool Leaf keyboard on May 13

by Shalu Pillai

Minebea is all set to launch its Cool Leaf shiny, flat, touch panel keyboard next month in Japan. True to its name, the Cool Leaf touch panel keyboard has been designed by Dr. Kazuo Kawasaki and will initially be available to Japanese Windows users only, while other language layouts are scheduled for release later in the year. The stunning 15 x 5 x 0.67-inch (383 x 128 x 17 mm) black framed, mirror-like flat touch panel surface of the Cool Leaf USB keyboard is expected to be popular at dimly-lit home theater environments, medical treatment sites and food plants where cleanliness and dust resistance is important. The keys are displayed on the shiny touch panel and lights up with its guide plate-type backlights, and keying measured by combined electrostatic capacity and load sensor using a new film technology developed by Toray Industries. The keyboard is expected to cost around JPY 26,000 ($316).
[Gizmag]