A keyboard for spies and messy eaters

(Credit: iKey)

The people at iKey (not to be confused with IKEA) clearly have some sort of James Bond complex. Last fall they debuted a keyboard made for night-vision goggles, and now they've come out with a model that supposedly can endure the harshest environments. (What's up with all these survivalist keyboards, anyway?)

The DT-5K-MEM-TP, whose name perhaps intentionally sounds like an encrypted message, is an "industrial membrane" keyboard that's made with a "hard-coated, textured polyster film" that supposedly puts silicon keypads to shame. It also bears the distinction of being NEMA 4X-certified, which the company says "means it can withstand directed hose water, disinfectants, environmental contaminants, and heavy industrial use."

The keyboard is also handy for those occasional underwater missions, as seawater won't seep into it because all the keys and its Synaptics touchpad are completely sealed. Which, by the way, makes it much easier to clean after spilling Cheetos crumbs and Red Bull on it all hours of the day and night.

[Syndrical.One]

It looks kinda interesting... can also be used by people who can't keep their hands off their hot coffee
.....

[Lerianis]

Hey, have you SEEN what is in the average keyboard? I have, I clean my computer keyboards almost every MONTH because of the crap I get into them, from skin leavings, to food, to a gunk I can't even identify.
I would pay for this keyboard, as long as it lasted a long time.

[Jazzed99]

Concur with comment. One question: skin leavings...?

[aric_]

hahah wow

[7aji88]

tell me about skin leavings, I have to unplug my keyboard just to scrub them away :(

[paanmc]

Reminds me of my old membrane-style Commodore 64 keyboard. No way I could touch type on such a keyboard. I need the tactile feedback of keys moving under my fingers. But the "clean" nature if it is appealing to keep those cracker and sandwich crumps out, to menion all the other junk that floats a house full of small kids :-)

[paanmc]

Reminds me of my old membrane-style Commodore 64 keyboard. No way I could touch type on such a keyboard. I need the tactile feedback of keys moving under my fingers. But the "clean" nature if it is appealing to keep those cracker and sandwich crumps out, to menion all the other junk that floats a house full of small kids :-)

[dolladym]

Please help me. I am afraid to look at my keyboard. I have been using it for over a year without cleaning it 'cause I am not sure how to clean it without ruining it. Would like to drop it in a sink ful of soapy water and hang it out to dry but don't think this is a good idea.

[morninglory]

I cleaned my keyboard up pretty good with Windex and a Q-tip and a cotton pad (the kind women use on their face). It really was yukky and now it looks great. Just be sure & spray the Windex on the Q-tip or pad, not the keyboard!

[melsrockpile]

After having my computer for almost two years, I took the time to take the screws out from the back of my keyboard and gently separate the front part from the back, and as I had suspected - a simple circuit board and a rubber membrane contact. So... a gentle rinsing under the tap isn't going to hurt anything. A light brushing with a toothbrush or the like and a drop of dish soap will probably suffice in cleaning in between the keys. Even disassembly is very simple.

[dolladym]

I have another question for anyone who knows about dty converter boxes. Does anyone know or have an opinion on what works best in a camper with an atenna out in the woods?

[mssoot]

Yes - none. You dont need a converter for over the air transmissions - at leaset analog

[midcow2]

Nothing new industrial keyboards have been around for a long time. I think it to accomodate the newest onset of laziness: IM, My Space and Facebook and slobby easting!

[mssoot]

Obviously this is developed for military applications. (Night vision applications also)