Google's Japanese division, known for its annual pranks, has introduced a new conceptual keyboard, Gboard Dial Version, inspired by old phones with a dial pad.
Instead of the usual keys, Gboard Dial Version features several rotary dials, including a dial pad that looks exactly like the dial on old landline phones. In addition to letters and numbers, the keyboard also has dials for other buttons, such as space, shift, and more.
To enter text, the user must scroll the disc to the desired letter or button and release it, after which the character will be fixed. A special system of three discs was created for entering letters.
Another similarity with old phones is the way to end a call, when you had to physically hang up the phone. In Gboard Dial Version, Google has come up with a special stand: if you put your mouse on it, the webcam will automatically turn off during an online meeting.
Such unusual keyboards have already become a tradition for Google's Japanese division. For example, in 2023, the company presented a hat-shaped keyboard with a built-in 6-axis sensor for text input.