AZIO at COMPUTEX 2019: ALUMINUM Keyboard, Mouse and Number Pad, Concrete-built Electronics

[Raevenlord]

AZIO at Computex 2019 showcased a number of new products, which showcase the company's Los Angeles-based design. AZIO's ALUMINUM line of products includes the Iris ALUMINUM K-Pad (which AZIO says is inspired in retro camera designs), the Iris ALUMINUM N-Pad, the RCM ALUMINUM mouse, and the RCPM mouse pad. The Iris K-Pad in particular has a multi-functional knob on the top right corner allowing as much as three actions per side, and is a complex feat of engineering to say the least. We look forward to checking out the new lineup in detail closer to launch.

Various materials, such as leather, are being used in these AZIO products, but the one star of the show has to be the usage of concrete in computer peripherals. I guess we'd have to actually touch these to see if the texture does work well in a daily environment, but it's interesting that this material has been used in a computer peripheral at all - and the effect does look interesting and pleasing to the eye. The RCM aluminium mouse looks like a very sleek unit, with the cold touch of aluminium greeting your first minutes of usage, and it does feature AZIO's design touches that have become the company's hallmark.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Valantar]

An untreated concrete top plate is a terrible idea - it'll be impossible to clean. Too bad, really, as it could be a really cool aesthetic choice for the bottom/sides while also lending the keyboard a sturdy and stable build. There are plenty of cool DIY projects out there using concrete for aesthetically pleasing and practical stuff, but this doesn't seem to consider the properties of the material much.

 

[VSG]

An untreated concrete top plate is a terrible idea - it'll be impossible to clean. Too bad, really, as it could be a really cool aesthetic choice for the bottom/sides while also lending the keyboard a sturdy and stable build. There are plenty of cool DIY projects out there using concrete for aesthetically pleasing and practical stuff, but this doesn't seem to consider the properties of the material much.

I discussed this with AZIO, and they are definitely treating it to cater to the various possible issues before release.

 

[kieguru]

An untreated concrete top plate is a terrible idea - it'll be impossible to clean.

Nah it'll be fine, I'm sure it would be the same finish of a concrete kitchen worktop with a smooth polish.

 

[Valantar]

Nah it'll be fine, I'm sure it would be the same finish of a concrete kitchen worktop with a smooth polish.

I'm pretty sure those are all treated and sealed, not least of all to prevent leaching of various chemicals from the concrete to your food. Besides, look at the pictures. That is not what polished concrete looks like.

 

[Ferrum Master]

I'm pretty sure those are all treated and sealed, not least of all to prevent leaching of various chemicals from the concrete to your food. Besides, look at the pictures. That is not what polished concrete looks like.

Maybe it is not the concrete we all think... it is from the dental field.

 

[bonehead123]

Maybe it is not the concrete we all think... it is from the dental field.

Please don't confuse concrete with cement.... they are 2 similar but very different substances, each with their own use cases....

Valantar is correct that polished & sealed concrete would be great for peripherals & such, but I also believe that the item pictured (the KB) does not look like it is either of these, but rather an un-polished and un-sealed material of meager quality...

A great idea, but with terrible execution, at least at this stage of development. Hopefully they will refine their processes and produce a finely-honed, well-crafted product that we all wanna rush out to buy asap, but this aint it..

 

[Ferrum Master]

Please don't confuse concrete with cement.

Well... concrete is made partly from cement... the additive particle mixture differs... That's why I think that it is actually from a different field. It is not classic concrete at all.