OLED is a new display technology that can be used to create thin and efficient displays - and so they are perfect to use inside small devices or gadgets.
OLED keyboards use an OLED display in each key. The display can change according to the application context. So for example when you switch languages, the keys can change. Or when you are running a specific application (like photoshop), the function keys can show their action.
Art.Lebedev OLED keyboards
Art.Lebedev is a design studio, pioneering OLED keyboards. Their best known keyboard is the Optimus OLED keyboard. This is a full 113 keyboard, where each key has an embedded OLED display (48x48 pixels, 65K Colors). The keyboard is sold for over 1,500$.
Other keyboards offered by Art.Lebedev invlude the Optimus Mini Three, a 3-keyed OLED keypad (these keys have a 96x96, 262K colors OLEDs) and the Optimus Aux - a 15-keys keypad with the same OLED displays as used in the Optimus Keyboard, with a hefty 650$ price tag.
UnitedKeys OLED keyboard
UnitedKeys has released their own OLED keyboard. It offers 103 'regular' keys plus a 9-OLED-keys pad (that can also be bought seperatly). It is much cheaper than The Optimus at 179$ (the keypad costs 179$, too), or 89.99$ under the OCZ Sabre brand. We have reviewed the keyboard - and like it!
Other keyboards
Another keyboard that is worth a mention is the Razer Tarantula, aimed for gamers. This is a more simple design - a normal keyboard, but with one high-resolution OLED 256x64 display.
Future OLED keyboards
Art.Lebedev are working on a new type of keyboard - this one has just one OLED panel - a large one, which will be touch sensitive. They call it the Optimus Tactus.
