# GBoard Stick Version

> open source practical joke

**Wikidata**: [Q114440473](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114440473)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gboard-stick-version

## Summary
The GBoard Stick Version is an open-source practical joke computer keyboard created by Google Japan. It features an unconventional design where all the keys are arranged in a single, long row, measuring over 1.6 meters. While not a commercial product, its design documents are publicly available as an open hardware project for anyone to build.

## Key Facts
- **Creator:** Google (specifically, the Google Japan team).
- **Announcement Date:** September 1, 2022.
- **Classification:** It is classified as a practical joke, a computer keyboard, and an open hardware project.
- **Length:** The standard version measures 1600 mm (approx. 5.2 feet) long.
- **Prototype Length:** A longer prototype version was created, measuring 2400 mm (approx. 7.8 feet).
- **Alias:** The device is also known as the Gboard Stick.
- **Official Website:** The project has an official website published in Japanese.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the GBoard Stick Version?
A: The GBoard Stick Version is a novelty computer keyboard designed by Google Japan as a practical joke. It arranges all keys in a single long row, and its plans are available as an open hardware project for DIY enthusiasts to build themselves.

### Q: Can you buy the GBoard Stick?
A: No, the GBoard Stick is not a commercial product sold by Google. It was created as a creative work and a joke, with its design documents released publicly for anyone to use, rather than being manufactured for sale.

### Q: How long is the GBoard Stick?
A: The standard GBoard Stick Version is 1600 millimeters (about 5.2 feet) long. A prototype version was also developed that measured 2400 millimeters (about 7.8 feet).

## Why It Matters
The GBoard Stick Version is significant as a high-profile example of corporate creativity and engagement with the open-source community. While conceived as a practical joke, its release as a fully documented open hardware project transformed it from a simple marketing gag into a tangible project for the global maker and DIY communities. This move demonstrated a playful and innovative side of Google, generating substantial media coverage and public interest beyond typical product announcements.

The project also serves as a humorous commentary on user interface and hardware design, pushing the concept of a keyboard to an impractical extreme to spark conversation. By making the project accessible, Google Japan fostered a unique form of brand engagement, allowing people to participate in the joke rather than just observe it. It stands as a memorable case study in creative tech marketing and the value of open-sourcing even unconventional ideas.

## Notable For
- **Unconventional Form Factor:** Its most defining trait is its extreme length and single-row key layout, a radical departure from the standard rectangular design of computer keyboards.
- **Open Hardware Project:** Unlike most corporate promotional items or jokes, its complete design documents were made publicly available, allowing anyone with the right tools to build, modify, or improve upon the keyboard.
- **Corporate Practical Joke:** It is a well-documented instance of a major technology company developing a functional, physical product purely as a practical joke and creative work.

## Body
### Creation and Announcement
The GBoard Stick Version was created by Google's team in Japan. It was officially announced on September 1, 2022. The project was conceived as a practical joke and a creative work rather than a consumer product.

### Design and Specifications
As a subclass of computer keyboard, the GBoard Stick's primary function is text input, but its physical design is highly unconventional.
- **Layout:** All keys are arranged in a single horizontal line.
- **Dimensions:**
    - The standard version has a length of 1600 millimeters.
    - A prototype was also developed with a length of 2400 millimeters.

### Open Source Nature
The GBoard Stick is an instance of open hardware. This means its design documents are openly accessible for the public to view and modify. Google Japan published the project's details on a dedicated Japanese-language website, allowing hobbyists and developers to create their own versions of the device.

## References

1. [Source](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/google-shows-us-how-to-make-a-5-foot-long-keyboard/)
2. [Source](https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/04/google-japans-outlandish-keyboards-might-be-the-best-running-joke-in-tech/)