[1] Sidenote: anyone know if there’s a specific significance to September 30 or October 1 in Japan à la April Fools’ Day?
Translated from Japanese from the announcement^:
Q. Today is October 1st, isn't it?
A. Yes, today is October 1st!
Q. What is the significance of today?
A. When we were considering the perfect day to announce the keyboard, we noticed the widespread use of the "101-key keyboard"—a type featuring 101 keys. So, we decided to launch it on October 1st as a nod to that standard.
^ https://blog.google/intl/ja-jp/products/android-chrome-play/...
Wow, they have several other input devices: https://github.com/google/mozc-devices
Geez, apparently there's still a corner of Google where the people are getting paid (presumably) to goof off...
In terms of design it reminds me of that bit of Animusic's "Pipe Dream" where xylophone bars of the appropriate pitch travel on a rail just in time to be struck by ball bearings from a stationary launcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmoUSSVSV7I&t=2m12s