At first glance, you might think it's a futuristic gadget from an episode of Black Mirror: the Oncue keyboard, which is split in half and glows and vibrates, and the wrist cuffs that can easily be replaced with a fashion accessory. But in reality, it's Oncue, a thoughtfully designed device that aims to make life more fluid for people with Parkinson's disease - literally. Typing, which many take for granted, becomes accessible again, and above all, less frustrating.
Oncue was designed by an Italian designer Alessandra Galli, and she presented it at Milan Design Week 2025 – where beauty and functionality often meet in a cocktail of designer extravagance.
Technology with a sense of rhythm
The Oncue is more than just a keyboard. It’s modular, meaning you can split it into two parts that adapt to your natural hand position—so your hands aren’t forced into military focus. The keys are arranged ortholinearly, in straight lines, which is more friendly to your fingers and reduces typing fatigue. Who would have thought that the layout of the keys could also be an activist move against unnecessary effort?
But that’s just the beginning. When the user presses a key, the keyboard and wearable cuffs vibrate. Not because they want to create a massage experience while typing (although, hey, it’s not a bad idea), but to help maintain rhythm. Parkinson’s brings tremors and slowed movements – and Oncue responds with vibrations and light signals that gently hint to the body: “hey, now is the time for the next move.”
If your finger stays on the button for too long – which often happens – the vibration intensifies. A silent alarm, no stress, no drama.
Lights, AI and a bit of futurism
Each time you press a button, it lights up. Yellow. Simple and clear. But the system goes even further – with artificial intelligence that predicts the next button and in advance shines with a green light. It's as if the device is telling you, "I believe in you, this is your next letter." Although the AI still can't tell the difference between sarcasm and truth, it's apparently pretty good at reading between the lines when typing.
The system also remembers the user's habits - trainable like a pet, but without the need for food.
Adaptability that understands Parkinson's unpredictability
With Parkinson’s disease, not every day is the same – as users know all too well. That’s why Oncue is designed with daily variations in mind. You can use just the cuffs. Or just the lights. Or both. You can adjust the vibrations to suit your day – gentle, firm, minimal or maximum.
Aesthetically, the device doesn't disappoint either. The keyboard's vibrant orange casing gives the impression of something positive and full of life (because why should medical devices always be sterile and boring?). The cuffs are shaped like watches - sleek, minimalist, and suitable for both the home office and brunch.
What about the future?
For now, Oncue is still in the presentation phase – it was shown at the Milan fair and tested in collaboration with Parkinson's Association Treviso. But it's still unclear when the device will actually be available on the market. Until then, we can only hope that someone in the industry will see that this is not just a pretty design, but a tool that truly changes lives.
Oncue is not the savior of the world. But it is a device that can allow someone to write a message without tripping over their own physical resistance. And that's worth more than a thousand futuristic concepts.
