TECH

CLVX 1 Is A New Wireless Keyboard With Embedded Touchpad Technology

Increasingly these days, Kickstarter seems to be the place where genuinely innovative technology concepts are floated and the first wave of products funded. A case in point is the new CLVX 1 keyboard.

Not only can this wireless keyboard be used for typing just like any other, but it also has a touchpad built-in with the ability to read gestures and Touch Sliders for controlling apps.

The CLVX 1 touch keyboard is powered using patented TouchOnKeys technology that has been developed by Clevetura since 2017 The CLVX 1 is the first product to use the second generation of this technology.

Launched on Kickstarter on April 2, the CLVX 1 is a full-size, scissor-switch keyboard with stylish and low-profile keys plus RGB backlights. Using the built-in touchpad, users can scroll, swipe and make gestures directly on the key surface.

The CLVX 1 keyboard has a full sized ANSI layout with a numeric keypad and navigation cluster. CLEVETURA

Gestures use three and four fingers on the keyboard and can be programmed in different ways for separate applications. For example, Touch Sliders can be used to control the brush size in Photoshop or the audio volume in another application. Both application-specific actions and standard actions for each profile are supported.

When typing on the keyboard, the touchpad is locked out but as soon as gestures are made, the touchpad function comes to life. Switching is automatic thanks to the TouchOnKeys chip inside the keyboard. Switching sensitivity can also be customized using the TouchOnKeys application.

When typing on the CLVX 1 with two hands, you don’t even need to raise your other hand to make a gesture. You can select the appropriate touch area using the dedicated key or in the app. The TouchOnKeys companion app enables customization of the keyboard and all keypad data is processed inside the keypad and not transferred to the app.

Among the other features of the CLVX 1 is also RGB backlighting which is 131 per-key addressable LEDs. The backlight can be customized in the app for different tasks. Gesture Backlight follows touches, providing on-keyboard feedback. The backlight brightness adapts to ambient lighting conditions using a built-in light sensor.

The CLVX 1 keyboard officially supports Windows and Linux but other platforms have limited support for now for basic keyboard and mouse functionality. Support for macOS has been announced and is currently in development.

CLVX 1 is a wireless keyboard and has three Bluetooth 5.1 channels as well as a USB Type-C wired connection. That means that up to four devices can be connected at once and the user can switch between. The rechargeable battery is good for up to 80 hours use, which equates to around three weeks of normal usage without the backlight turned on. With the backlight on, that figure drops significantly as the battery has a modest 1,900mAh rating.

As of April 3, the new keyboard is available on the product’s Kickstarter homepage and is on top of the design section, which is the most prestigious section on the platform for hardware projects.

The company has already completed pilot production of the CLVX 1 and is set to begin mass production in June. The first people will be able to get the keyboard in July, while the public will be able to buy it from September 2024.

Pricing & Availability: The CLVX 1 is available now on Kickstarter at $189 for Early Bird (first 3,000 units) and $199 for others. The retail price will be $219. As with all launches on Kickstarter, exercise due diligence as there may not be the kind of consumer protection available when buying in-store or online.

More info: Kickstarter(https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/clevetura/clvx-1-keyboard-gives-you-more?ref=rc1ak9&token=aeb39e37&utm_medium=article+content+intenship&utm_source=mediarelations)

Tech Specs:

Number of keys: 110.

Switch type: Scissor.

Keystroke: 1.2mm.

Layout: ANSI.

Key pitch: 19mm.

Touchpad technology: TouchOnKeys.

Touch area size: 186 х 84mm.

Dimensions: (HxWxD): 12.4 x 437 x 130mm.

Weight: 640g.

System requirements: Windows/Linux with macOS support in development.

Reporter: Mark Sparrow