Gboard: A Numpad Size Keyboard Designed for Gmail

Nobody can deny Google’s success. Similarly nobody can deny their huge contribution to making internet a more fun place. Google has ventured into all software and internet related areas. Some of their accomplishments include running one of the leading search engines, providing people with a huge email inbox capacity for free, creating highly useful web applications such as Google Calendar, and creating one of the fastest and sleekest internet browsers available today (Google Chrome).

Already having stepped into all those fields and now trying their hand at operating systems, the next logical step for Google seems to be hardware. Google needs to make something solid, something hard to go with their programs.  Whether or not Google agrees does not affect its fans. There already exists a device made specifically for Google by a non-Google source. This device is called Gboard.

The Gboard is numpad-sized USB board with nineteen keys on it. It is made for use with Gmail. By pressing the keys on the Gboard you can initiate a lot of Gmail shortcuts. For instance with the board you can start messages, begin a search, jump between message threads, delete emails, and a lot more. When not in Gmail, Gboard’s keys will type whatever number, letter, or regular key that correspond with that particular shortcut.

In Windows the Gboard is plug’n’play; no CDs or additional driver files are required. In Macs, users need to cancel the Keyboard Setup Assistant which might pop up when you connect the Gboard.

After plugging in the board, make sure you have enabled keyboard shortcuts in Gmail otherwise your Gboard’s keys will not affect your Gmail in any way.

Gboard is far from the ideal Google hardware especially when we consider the fact that Gmail has more than 60 shortcuts. But the product shows that there are people willing to accessorize Google with hardware just like the iPhone has been accessorized.  A step in the positive direction, Gboard’s invention promises great things.

Current price of the Gboard is US$ 19.99 (+ taxes).

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