A touchless keyboard with knobs? Google Japan blends nostalgia for rotary phones into a brilliantly absurd gadget. It’s a perfect mix of retro and high-tech, showcasing the clever humor typical of the Japanese firm.
At Google Japan, innovation often dances with creative madness. Each year, the subsidiary surprises us with ever more whimsical keyboard prototypes. Following the cylindrical tea cup-shaped model and the giant 165 cm keyboard, here comes the Gboard Dial Version. This is a dial keyboard that reimagines the design of yesteryear’s phones.
Google Japan Revives The Rotary Phone
Google Japan loves to play with nostalgia and absurdity. Following their famous April Fools’ prank in 2021, the Japanese branch of Google introduces a new concept, the Gboard Dial Version. This keyboard is inspired by old rotary phones—yes, those where you had to rotate a dial to dial a number.
The Gboard Dial features nine rotating knobs of various sizes, each assigned to characters, symbols, or functions. One special knob is even dedicated to the Backspace key. To write a letter, you simply insert a finger into the knob, turn it to the stop, then release it. The knob returns to its original position, ready for the next input.
Old rotary phones operated using an ingenious pulse dialing system. Each rotation sent a series of electrical signals corresponding to the dialed number. Google Japan incorporates this principle into their design. The knobs on the Gboard Dial utilize modern sensors that translate rotations into USB signals, allowing your computer to interpret the dial turns as keystrokes.
Additionally, the stand that accompanies the keyboard can disable your webcam during a video call when you rest your mouse on it. This clever nod to old phones, which would “hang up” by being placed back on the receiver, adds a playful touch.
Google Japan has released this year’s Gboard novelty keyboard: the Gboard Dial. This year, 3D print model files are available if you want to make your own. https://t.co/PcWEPFotRh pic.twitter.com/7u3JiM2qQm
— Engineer Brains (@HHackenbecker) October 7, 2025
As always, Google Japan shares its quirky creations with the community. The Gboard Dial is not available for purchase, but you can make one yourself. Plans, 3D printing files, electronic diagrams, and a list of components are available on GitHub.
