THIRDREALITY Puts a Mechanical Keyboard on Your Matter Smart Home Network for Quick 12-Key Control

Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home specialist THIRDREALITY has announced possibly the most unexpected Matter-compatible gadget yet: a mechanical keyboard, which can seamlessly switch between controlling your computer and your home automation devices.

"THIRDREALITY Smart Mechanical Keyboard MK1 is a Matter-enabled device that seamlessly integrates with Apple [Home and other Matter-compatible] ecosystems," the company writes of its otherwise-unassuming wired mechanical keyboard, "offering flawless compatibility without the hassle of complex setups. "With 44 pre-set lighting modes and customizable RGB illumination, you can personalize your keyboard to match your style and elevate your smart home ambiance. The standout feature? The F1–F12 keys double as smart home controls!"

On the face of it, the Smart Mechanical Keyboard MK1 — brought to our attention by CNX Software — is just another wired mechanical keyboard. It has the usual per-key RGB LED backlighting, shining through unbranded "Yellow" mechanical switches, and a compact 87-key layout that slices off the number pad while retaining the Home block and dedicated cursor keys. The connection to the PC comes through a detachable USB cable — but the keyboard also includes integrated single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.

Given there's no support for using the device as a wireless keyboard, why the Wi-Fi radio? Simple: THIRDREALITY's keyboard includes support for Matter over Wi-Fi, allowing it to integrate into smart home setups that have adopted the cross-vendor Matter standard. This, the company explains, allows the keyboard to act as a 12-key controller for the user's choice of smart devices — simply by holding down the "Matter" key, which pulls double-duty with the "Menu" key, and pressing one of the 12 Function keys along the top. "Create custom routines," the company suggests: "press F1+Matter to open the curtains, F2+Matter to turn on the lights, and effortlessly manage your smart home at your fingertips."

More information is available on the THIRDREALITY store, where the keyboard is up for sale at $79.99.