Jonathan Dobres

Adam Savage interviews Ryan Norbauer about his meticulously engineered keyboard, the Seneca. Norbauer gives a detailed walkthrough of how he dedicated months to researching and developing a key stabilizer that won’t (nay, can’t) jiggle, creating a precise movement free of unwanted noise. The stabilizer affects just five keys, but it exemplifies Norbauer’s entire philosophy. What starts as an engaging engineering analysis ends on a discussion of the optimistic futurism of Star Trek and the role of glamour in society. Norbauer, paraphrasing or perhaps quoting Virginia Postrel’s The Power of Glamour, says, “Glamour is free of the disappointments of everyday life.”

Norbauer readily admits that no one in their right mind needs to pay $3,600 to $8,000 for a keyboard (my Keychron Q6 Max feels plenty luxurious), but it’s not really about typing. It’s about the pursuit of perfection.