As of this publication, computer keyboards to input Bhāratīya languages¹ are the same standard 104/105 key English keyboards patched using a software to render Bhāratīya scripts on each key stroke. The official in-script keyboard is such a layout built on top of the standard 104/105 keyboard.

The problem with such a set up is efficiency. The standard 104/105 key keyboard is designed for the seamless typing of English language, which consists of only 26 alphabets. The Devanagiri alphabet set on the other hand has 33 consonants, 18 vowels, 21 diacritics, and other modifiers. The rest of Bhāratīya languages follow the same trend.

This means that the number of keys on the standard 104/105 keyboards are far too less for the efficient typing of Bhāratīya languages, forcing users to strike multiple keys to render certain characters.

Therefore, a new physical keyboard layout that allows the typing of most Bhāratīya characters with a single key stroke and yet isn't too large or slow to use is a tenable proposition. Such a keyboard is inevitable for the true digital adoption of Bhāratīya languages.

This keyboard will also not disrupt our muscle memory to type English because the 104/105 keyboard can be superimposed onto the Bhāratīya keyboard given its larger size.

Such a keyboard is part of our product roadmap. If you are interested in designing such a keyboard and have the skills in web parsing, statistics, utilitarian and industrial designs, you may join us.