The market is full of mechanical keyboards aimed at gamers. However, computers are not only used for gaming. Freewrite has developed the Wordrunner keyboard for those who do a lot of typing and word processing.
The new product has 88 keys with quiet Kailh Box Brown switches and no number pad. At the same time, it has many unique features that are convenient for writers, including an electromechanical «word counter» that counts typed words like a car odometer counts kilometers. There’s also an electromechanical timer for writing sprints, a set of special macro keys, and a function row that has been redefined specifically to perform actions needed by writers.
Freewrite is known as a manufacturer of word processors (or smart typewriters), small devices with LCD screens and keyboards designed to help writers do their work without the distraction of using full-fledged computers. The Wordrunner is the company’s first standalone keyboard, and it is designed to connect to a PC or Mac via Bluetooth (can support 3 profiles) or USB-C. The device has an all-metal body and simple white backlighting.
The Freewrite Wordrunner keyboard has two displays:
Wordrunner will not require any special software to be installed, as the word counter and timer will get all their information from the hardware. The company says it will use a simple algorithm to measure the number of words, which detects when the user presses the space bar or enters punctuation such as a period. The timer can be customized using the buttons on the keyboard itself, and it can work as a 25-minute Pomodoro session or have its own duration.
In the upper left corner of the keyboard is a bright red joystick/knob that can be used to control media, and three macro keys labeled Zap, Pow, and Bam that can be customized. They are located above the Page Up/Page Down block in the upper right corner.
Instead of the traditional F1-F12 function keys, Wordrunner has keys dedicated to functions that writers might need while editing, such as «Paragraph Down», «Paragraph Up», «Find», «Replace», «Undo», and «Repeat».
The keyboard measures 374×320×18 mm and weighs 0.86 kg.
Freewrite plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in February to raise funds for the production of the Wordrunner keyboard. Its price will be announced then.
Source: tomshardware