LCD Keyboard -- Arcade buttons possible?

[robbins]

Hey all,

Have you seen this cool LCD Keyboard?

http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/

As a mameist with my own homemade cab, I would love to have arcade buttons that could use this kind of technology.  I mean, we already have some software available that lets us see the buttons ahead of time or on a separate lcd panel.  Just think of how awesome it would be if we could actually change the colors and text on each individual button based on the game!!  Incredible!!  So, what do we have to do to get a project like this started?  Any brilliant guys out there interested?  I'd love to hear your comments on the subject.

James Robbins

[SirPoonga]

Been discussed before.  It's only a prototype right now too.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=39945.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=40336.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43741.0

[robbins]

Well, the previous posts pretty much just say how cool people think it is...  Really, if we can get a system like this in place for arcade buttons, it would go way beyond cool!!!  Are there any engineers out there who think they can manufacture some buttons with LCDs in them?  Anyone else think they can make a computer interface?  I am a programmer, so I can probably make a nice front end to use.  So, any takers on a mega project to bring this kind of thing to life for us arcade fanatics?

James Robbins

[SirPoonga]

Well, if hte product existed possible.  But it's only a prototype right now.

[Stingray]

I'm not terribly excited about the prospect of paying $25 per button. In any case, it's all about the retro to me. I like plain plastic buttons.

-S

[robbins]

Well, hopefully we could do it for less than $25 a button.  If they are trying to make an entire keyboard with LCDs on each key, then surely we could get the cost to be at a price point we could actually afford.  You do have a point that it is about the games.  It would just be nice if the end result is a cab that's easy for anyone to walk up and play any game.  *shrug*  Well, I guess the retro in my wants the new cool stuff too.  *grin*