Kazuharu Sakura's Leather Keyboard: Only Touch Typists Need Apply

by Darren Murph — Jun 16th 2008 at 3:11PM

Alright, so we suppose a labeled version could be created upon request, but the beauty of Kazuharu Sakura's handmade leather keyboard is really in its simplicity. Just imagine: Your delicate fingertips frolicking endlessly on the soft, supple skin covering the abnormally large Enter / atypically small Space bar, not to mention every key in between. Our knees get weak just thinking about it. [Source: Akihabara News]

Tags: art, design, japan, Kazuharu Sakura, KazuharuSakura, keyboard, leather, pc accessories, PcAccessories

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

John said 8:48AM on 6-18-2008

Dumb

Sarah said 9:02AM on 6-18-2008

No John, this idea is not dumb. In today's world where products and portions are shrinking, this is a pretty good idea! The article says only touch typist need apply meaning that u know where all of the keys are. If you are in fact this good, then you really could care less whether they are on there. There's no reason to put labels on the "gas" or "brake" pedal on an automobile because hopefully you don't need to look down everytime you use them. If so, please stay off the road!!
Of course if you are like many people that still need letters so you can hunt-and-peck then more power to you. Everyone had to start somewhere. They still make keyboards WITH letters so don't fret!

Nancy Ferraro said 11:44AM on 6-18-2008

I am a touch typist, having worked in the legal field for over 40 years. I type 150 wpm. I still like to see the letters even though I know where they are. However, that having been said, I think the feel of a leather keyboard would be awesome.

Kat said 8:06PM on 6-18-2008

This sounds very interesting. I would like to try it out.

Eric said 1:44PM on 6-18-2008

I just want to know why it has to be leather. I'm far from an activist, I'm just a minimalist. Why would you need to have something so pointless made out of leather. Does anyone really need this? It's likely expensive, so is anyone really going to run out and buy this? It's a waste!

drjoelj said 11:40PM on 6-18-2008

Dumber

Pamela said 9:19AM on 6-18-2008

I'm a touch-typist, but I agree 100% with John--this is just one more thing to get people to spend too much money.

Sarah, I don't know what "In today's world where products and portions are shrinking, this is a pretty good idea!" has to do with this. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with giving the consumer more.

roger said 9:28AM on 6-18-2008

This is not a big deal, but its not really necessary. I learned to type in the Army on a manual typewriter that had no letters on the keys. If you looked at the keys the drill sgt. would rap you on your helment with a swagger stick. In 8 weeks of this at 3 hours a day you learned quick. I came out of that training typing 120 wpm corrected. I cant do that now but there may be something to having a soft responsive keyboard.

Theresa Sondys said 9:38AM on 6-18-2008

I am, indeed, a touch typist - it's how I learned many, many years ago. I can type approximately 110 words per minute with only one or two errors. But I learned how to type on a keyboard of a standard size. When you shrink the keyboard, you are totally changing the spacing of the keys, which then results in errors. For instance, my right forefinger knows exactly how far it has to go to type a y instead of a u. Shrink the keyboard, and I may inadvertently get a t instead.

Wendy said 9:41AM on 6-18-2008

I don't see any reason not to have the numbers and letters. While typing this I'm not looking at the keyboard at all, but once in awhile during extended typing I like to look down and verify. Especially for the shift key symbols with the numbers, which I don't use frequently enough to say confidently that I've memorized.

I agree with the poster that says there's nothing here that clearly offers the customer more. I'd actually have to try it and feel it to see if the leather keyboard was really more comfortable than a standard plastic keyboard, or if it slips (smooth leather) or sticks (suede) or gets all sticky with sweat and humidity. If they cheapened production with vinyl or other synthetics it surely would. The lack of numbers and letters does not seem to be an added luxury feature that I can identify, and there isn't even the number pad on the right, at least not pictured.

No, you could take the numbers and letters off of an antique nineteenth century typewriter with metal keys and bars, and that would not make it
a luxury. I'm not sure whether the leather is a luxury or a liability for typing, or merely an oddity.

spitfi0017 said 10:10AM on 6-18-2008

This is really dumb and disgusting.

Anna said 10:24AM on 6-18-2008

This is for Darren Murphy, the literary genius who wrote this article. "Alright" is not a word. It's two words: "all right." People who read this article assume you know the proper spelling and will start using the incorrect version. Please use your talents to show how smart you are, not how stupid.

Edwin Kiser said 11:22AM on 6-18-2008

Alright now, this is altogether too much objection to a spelling that is already in common usage, Oh, Kay?

Barry Summerlin said 12:11PM on 6-18-2008

Someone just bought their first stylebook!

Barry Summerlin said 12:23PM on 6-18-2008

Or rather, someone just bought _her_ first stylebook. I am filled with shame.

johnh said 2:18PM on 6-18-2008

Anna,
Alright is a word, though not the preferred spelling. It has been in use since the 1880's as an adjective and an adverb. If you were as educated as you claim to be you would know that one of the best features of the English language is its malleability. Language is a tool to serve humans, not vice versa. Dictionaries and grammar rules are only a snapshot of a language at an instant in time. Do we use the same English that Shakespeare used? Shakespeare understood that language should serve people. He invented hundreds of words because the existing words did not serve his art. People today are continually inventing new words and stringing them together in ways that challenge the rules of grammar. So what! Language is meant to change.

Vanessa said 2:15PM on 6-19-2008

Lol.
Why would they make a keyboard that is missing parts and sell it for more?
That's like the other day I went to the food mart and there was a whole cake for $8.49 and a half cake for $9.08...I just stared at it like, why would I pay MORE for HALF of a cake?? And it didn't even include the cherry on top like the WHOLE cake.
Terrible.

Cindy said 10:35AM on 6-18-2008

Anna, "Alright" is in fact a word.
alright
adv 1: without doubt (used to reinforce an assertion); "it's
expensive all right" [syn: all right, alright]
2: an expression of agreement normally occurring at the
beginning of a sentence [syn: very well, fine, alright,
all right, OK]
3: in a satisfactory or adequate manner; "she'll do okay on her
own"; "held up all right under pressure"; (`alright' is a
nonstandard variant of `all right') [syn: okay, O.K.,
all right, alright]
adj 1: nonstandard usage

Mellie said 11:03AM on 6-18-2008

Alright, We all knew it was wrong but didn't want to embarrass her,
so you are right.Alright is a word...... now thats out there,
Anna dear, you have formally been corrected !!!!

Kim Ailport said 10:44AM on 6-18-2008

For a bad typer how would they use this key board. WHERE ARE ALL THE LETTERS ECT.? aLSO HOW MUCH $$$$$$$$$ DO YOU HAVE TO PUT OUT FOR THIS FACELESS KEYBOARD?

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