A former Apple product design executive is launching a brand-new range of ergonomic computer peripherals that claims to set new levels of design, functionality and user experience. Co-founded by brothers Tom and Greg Wilson, NUIO plans to disrupt the peripheral market with an innovative approach to design and functionality.
The NUIO product ecosystem is centered around the Flow Keyboard, a split-design model that is available for pre-order today and will start shipping on December 1 priced at $399.
The NUIO project began with the idea that the interface between a person's hands and their computer is woefully outdated.
"There are no right angles in the human body," points out NUIO CEO Tom Wilson. "Yet we spend most of our lives hunched over rigid, rectangular keyboards and peripherals -- often enduring hours of wrist pain, tech fatigue and poor posture."
Coming from a tech background like Apple, Tom saw the disconnect and decided it was an opportunity.
"Our industry moves at the speed of Moore's Law, yet peripheral design hasn't changed in decades," added Tom's brother Greg, NUIO's CMO. "The 140-year-old QWERTY keyboard felt like some vestige from a bygone era -- not a modern, ergonomic tool designed with creative professionals in mind.
Unencumbered by legacy thinking, cheap materials and outdated production techniques, NUIO is based on a bold reimagining of the tools needed by the modern creative professional. Designed around the natural curves of the human body, and unrestrained by outdated forms, NUIO claims to be a radical departure from anything the industry has seen or felt before.
The NUIO suite of peripherals includes a wireless split keyboard and trackpad system that the company claims are a paradigm shift in how users interact with their digital environments.
"Our goal with every product we design is to remove the barrier between the user and their computer," says Greg Wilson, "So you can get into a productive flow-state faster, expressing your ideas without distraction. For us, 'Finding your Flow' isn't just a tagline. It's our design brief."
NUIO's flexible ecosystem lets users build up their workspace according to their needs and preferences. Regardless of device type or preferred setup -- be it a home-based monitor, a laptop or a tablet on the go -- NUIO says everything works seamlessly together via wireless Bluetooth. Every NUIO tool is purpose-built to withstand the rigors of modern work and can be spread out to find a unique workflow.
The design language and build quality of the NUIO range complement the Apple ecosystem, both functionally and aesthetically. The feature set is chosen to meet the demands of mobile and versatile work environments. Some key features include a re-engineered split design keyboard for optimal hand positioning. There are LED backlit keys, a wireless trackpad with high-resolution tracking and multi-touch gestures. The keyboard has flexible stands that tilt and tent, enabling infinite adjustments in position. Magnetic wristpads provide comfort and a premium feel.
The product range also includes multiple sizes of desk pads that serve as a magnetic canvas to bring the entire NUIO Flow system together. NUIO says that all the products are designed with a premium feel that can be immediately sensed when first interacting with the keys. The weight and finish of the materials alongside precision manufacturing tolerances provide a luxury feel.