* The keyboard includes foot-pedals but they aren’t pictured*

So much hype about the Ipad, and not enough hype on the new keyboard developed by google Japan;

a new keyboard design that matches the complexity of the Japanese language better than the standard QWERTY. While Google is better known for its software than industrial design, the company has a long history of floating a few trial balloons each year — always on April 1 for some reason.

The encompassing keyboard design — with six separate pads of kanji characters, a pad for emoticons and a giant Enter button — puts every single standard-issue Japanese typograph at the users’ fingertips. There are also floor pedals of unknown purpose.

As the pictures show on Google’s blog shows, the proper way to input is akin to playing the drums. The design is incredibly efficient once you have memorized exactly where all the kanji characters reside on the panels.

A price hasn’t been set on the new keyboard,or even a plan to begin distribution but undoubtedly it wouldn’t be cheap.

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