USB Typewriters

Since 2010, engineer and designer Jack Zylkin has renovated typewriters for the digital age, transforming them into more versatile, practical writing tools. Plugged into a computer, tablet, or smartphone, Zylkin’s USB Typewriters function like modern external keyboards, combining the physical writing experience of the manual typewriter with the ease of modern word processing. Zylkin sells ready-made USB Typewriters, as well as do-it-yourself conversion kits customized for a range of models. The following images highlight Zylkin’s process.

A USB Typewriter conversion kit includes (clockwise from top left) a roll of cloth tape, an assortment of magnets, four magnetic switches, a sensor panel, and a control panel. A user can install the kit with a few basic tools: a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a hot glue gun, wire strippers, and a metal file.