This is rather uninteresting, but given Wii's history when it comes to to peripherals, I thought it could be newsworthy. An
ornamental design for a keyboard was published today through the USPTO:
Source:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...ALL&S1=D0653665&OS=PN/D0653665&RS=PN/D0653665
If the link above doesn't work, the patent number is D645,443.
Unlike patents concerning for example the "Miniature flexure based scanners for angle multiplexing" I referenced a few pages back in this thread, ornamental designs are mostly always used full out as actual products. Kazuhiro Maruyama has for Nintendo designed multiple things:
Repeater for communication (wireless router/bridge for sale in Japan)
Pedometer (Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver)
Combined support stand and data entry device (for Nintendo DS)
Pedometer (Personal Trainer: Walking)
Stand for electronic game machine (for Nintendo DS)
Stylus pen (for Nintendo DS)
Controller for electronic game machine (for Donkey Konga, Jungle Beat etc.)
Liquid crystal display for an electronic game machine (add-on screen for Gamecube)
I doubt this is something extra, even Wii had an official cordless keyboard (developed and released by Logitech in 2008). It was used mostly for internet browsing, but I know Animal Crossing: City Folk/Let's Go to the City and some other games utilized it. With Wii U and the Nintendo Network, Nintendo perhaps is aiming to simplify communication and offer this device as a default I/O. In a tentative Monster Hunter MMO or a Pokémon MMO (I know Junichi Masuda has explained why they are not interested in this, though that comment was made in 2009), text based communication would be indispensable (with voice chat as an option). While you certainly via the Wii U remote can type through an on-screen keyboard, it's usually rather slow and could become boring if used excessively.
Chance is that this is, as scale is not mentioned in the documents, something for the Nintendo 3DS much like the Circle Pad Pro, but I think it's a very small chance. Make of this what you will.