Product designer Justin Mitchell has designed Amber KB 1, a conceptual portable clamshell keyboard that transforms smartphones into laptops.
Named Amber KB1, the device is designed to be compatible with iPhone models and the Samsung Galaxy S series.
“The Amber keyboard, or KB 1 as we are calling it, was inspired by a need to write anywhere inspiration strikes,” Justin Mitchell told Dezeen.
“The top clamshell is large enough to support most if not all large form factor phones and we will supply faceplates for the most common device sizes in the box.”
Featuring mechanical, chunky keys, the Amber KB1 would allow users to place their devices into the slot and start typing after connecting via Bluetooth.
“The keycaps will feature a low profile linear mechanical switch for a balance between that fun clacky feel and non-intrusive sound for those of you writing in a shared space or cafe,” Mitchell explained.
The keyboard will be made from soft-touch plastic for the shell, with the top covered in polyurethane synthetic leather featuring the Amber logo.
Compact enough to fit in a car’s side pocket or a bag, the keyboard can be charged via a USB port.
One of the key challenges in the design was developing the hinge mechanism and ensuring the phone stays securely docked during intensive typing.
“The phone holder is a MagSafe-compatible magnet that locks your phone in place,” Mitchell explained.
“The hinge has to be robust enough to support the weight of the phone, while also offering adjustable angles for optimal ergonomics and stability during typing,” he continued.
“We built a gap into the top shell to allow the top half of the clamshell to extend further back than 90 degrees so the writer is not hunched over while typing and can adjust to a comfortable position while still maintaining a weighted balance. Laptop hinges served as a major inspiration point here as they already achieve this quite well.”
Other conceptual designs featured on Dezeen include a diagnostic kit powered by AI, designed to remotely diagnose and manage health conditions and a menopausal treatment service that would use AI to help alleviate users’ symptoms.
