Google Japan’s Gboard Conveyor Belt Keyboard rolls keys to you

Google has made a keyboard that forces you to wait for every single letter, and I think it might be the most committed joke of the year.

Google Japan has revealed the Gboard Conveyor Belt keyboard Version, the 15th entry in its gag keyboard series. The keys sit on four rotating belts with 29 keys each. You rest one hand at the base and press each key as it rolls past. It is as slow as it sounds, and that is the whole point. Google’s blog post even suggests building a second unit for two-handed typing, which I respect for the sheer lack of shame.

The Gboard team used to drop these pranks on April Fools’ Day. It now does it on October 1 as a nod to 101-key keyboards, so this one arrived right on schedule.

Google Gboard Conveyor Belt Keyboard Version

Can you actually build it?

Sort of. There are no plans to sell it, and the GitHub page says it is not an official Google product. But Google has posted 3D-printable STL files, KiCad board data, and firmware. The build guide asks for 157 printed parts, 116 Kailh Choc V1 low-profile switches, an M5Stack AtomS3 Lite controller, and one 6 V N20 gear motor that drives all four belts.

The catch is that the repository looks unfinished. Only the motorised “Moving Keys Edition” is documented so far. The board documentation and a “functional Bluetooth keyboard” version are both marked as coming soon, so a fully working unit probably isn’t possible just yet.

Still, a keyboard that makes you queue for the letter E is peak Google Japan. I wouldn’t write an email on it, but I’d happily watch someone try.

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