Smart Keyboard Innovation Wins Global Award

Quick Smiles:

• OnCue is a breakthrough keyboard supporting people with Parkinson’s disease.
• It won the 2025 James Dyson Global Award thanks to its unique assistive features.
• Italian designer Alessandra Galli plans to improve and launch OnCue soon.

An inventive smart keyboard called OnCue has been celebrated as the Global Winner of the 2025 James Dyson Award. Created by Italian designer Alessandra Galli, it was initially developed as her thesis project at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

This device is the first of its kind to offer integrated support for people experiencing motor symptoms like tremors or slowed movement.

“OnCue is a clever and empowering solution, allowing people with Parkinson’s and other motor conditions to stay connected and communicate independently,” said James Dyson, the founder behind the award.

Galli was inspired to develop OnCue after learning how typing difficulties impact the independence and confidence of those with Parkinson’s.

The keyboard combines several supportive features to encourage smooth, accurate typing:

• Haptic feedback sends gentle vibrations through the keys and optional wristbands to guide rhythm and boost tactile sensation.
• An AI lighting system predicts the next key press and illuminates it, simplifying typing and reducing mistakes.
• Its ergonomic, compact, and split design with raised-edged keycaps is modeled after gaming keyboards for greater comfort.

OnCue is also highly customizable, letting users adjust cue intensity to meet their daily needs. Galli will use the $40,000 prize to further develop electronics and test the keyboard with therapists and Parkinson’s organizations.

Stories like this show how creative thinking can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Share this uplifting news to support innovation and awareness!

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