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Keebin' Chat with Kristina: Discussion on John Lennon's Typing Machine

Custom wearable device, known as Clawtype, modeled after the Chordite by John W. McKown, draws attention. First off, the brass rails are commendable.

Custom wearable keyboard/mouse duo, Clawtype, brought to attention by reader [akavel]. This...
Custom wearable keyboard/mouse duo, Clawtype, brought to attention by reader [akavel]. This innovative device is a modified version of the Chordite by [John W. McKown]. First off, the brass rails catch my eye...

Keebin' Chat with Kristina: Discussion on John Lennon's Typing Machine

Revamped Take:

Let's hop right in! The brass rails on this sucker, aka the Chordite, give it that sweet circuit sculpture ambiance. Penned in Rust, this fella runs on a SparkFun ProMicro RP2040 board. The mouse magic is thanks to an MPU6050 gyro/accelerometer.

[akavel] was all about merging it with XR glasses – talk about a futuristic duo! While typing speed's a bit sluggish, [akavel]'s seen some impressive progress and even dabbles in vim coding during hobby downtime.

Next on the agenda for [akavel]? A BLE version with a single AA Ni-MH cell and the nRF52840 chip running the show. [akavel]'s buddy [Cunfusu] designed and 3D-printed the case – check it out at Printables, a must-visit!

Here's another typewriter that's caught my eye – The Typewriter. It boasts a Raspberry Pi 3B+ and FocusWriter to get down to business. A 7.9'' Waveshare display and a 60% mechanical keyboard (that unfortunately wasn't Bluetooth) power this workhorse. The whole ensemble clocks in around the size of a ream of A4, with a shoulder strap in the works for added portability.

Now, there's room for improvement: a spiffy new Raspi, a lighter physical support for the display, and a cooling system come to mind.

Feast your eyes on this Palm Springs number! Calling all space age hardware fanatics – Send me a pic of your fashionable desk setup, and you might just find yourself featured here!

Yesterday's typewriters... today's curiosities. The bad boy in the spotlight here isn't the original Odell number 1 – no "Seal-Foot" base for this model. But Levi Judson Odell did give the world the model 1b, with a new design and patent in 1890. I love the markings on the base – they've got character!

Paperback literary greatness might just be within reach – this Legendary Beatle's typewriter is up for grabs! For a cool ten grand, you could add this historical treasure to your collection. It's unclear if Lennon fancied himself a writer (despite composing poems and songs on the machine), but the distinct SCM Electra 120 is sure to spark some conversation.

Any hot tips about keyboards that'd rock my world? Go ahead and drop a line – I'd love to hear them! Don't want the whole team to know? Drop me an email instead.

  1. With the growing interest in smart-home-devices, it would be intriguing to see how [akavel] could integrate the Chordite with similar technology for a futuristic typing experience.
  2. Besides gadgets like the Chordite, consider adding a Raspberry Pi-powered Typewriter to your collection of quirky technology gadgets.
  3. For bookworms and typography enthusiasts, including a mechanical keyboard, books, and a Beatles' historical typewriter could make an interesting setup for a tech-themed entertainment center.

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