InventorSpot

Sometime in the near future, you might "log" in to your favorite website on one of the sleek new wooden keyboards displayed by Japanese electronics giant Marubeni Infotec at the recently concluded Computex Taipei 2007. Accompanying the keyboard were a variety of matching peripherals such as USB drives, a 4-port USB hub and even a boxy (I'm just getting warmed up here) card reader.

While solid info on Marubeni's au natural lineup was sketchy at best, it seems as though these items will be available in a variety of attractive woods or wood finishes. The USB drives in particular looked quite natty in what appeared to be Pine, Cherry, Mahogany and Walnut cases. While wood or imitation wood trimmed CPU cases, monitor screens and peripherals have tested the market from time to time in the past, these new keyboards and peripherals are much more than chips off the old block.

The look & feel is very organic, almost hand carved... good enough to tempt termites, I'd reckon! The keyboard's keys display a palpable grain reminiscent of better quality Scrabble sets. "Wood" it not be cool if, when these keyboards went on sale, a Scrabble game CD was included? Marketers of the world, unite!

Computex Taipei 2007 took place on June 5 through June 9 of 2007 at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall in Taipei, Taiwan. While the Wood Keyboard, USB drives and USB hubs displayed by Marubeni Infotec are not yet available to the buying public, the warm reception garnered by these items at Computex Taipei 2007 makes their retail availability only a matter of time (via AVING USA ).

Steve Levenstein
Japanese Innovations Writer
InventorSpot.com