Apple patent app reveals intelligent keyboard

Arguments have surely ensued over the iPhone's polarizing touchscreen keyboard, and while you just knew it was lurking out there somewhere, the patent application describing the aforementioned device has finally surfaced. Dubbed "Keyboards for Portable Electronic Devices," the documents outlines an adaptive board with multi-symbol icons, and aside from using it solely on the iPhone, it looks like the technology could be implemented on nearly any handheld gizmo. Of course, the verbiage does mention handset mainstays such as word recommendations and predictive text entry, so it's hard to believe that all of this stuff is completely Apple's creation. Regardless, who needs license agreements when you can just hack one for your own good? [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via UnwiredView]

[refractured @ Jul 31st 2007 12:53PM]

Personally, i have no qualms with the iPhone's keyboard. Better than those mushy pearl buttons.

[jbulava @ Jul 31st 2007 1:19PM]

Gee...I'm glad they got the size of the iPhone down a bit since the application. I'd probably still buy it though.

[Ireland @ Jul 31st 2007 1:36PM]

The real question is is this a large iPhone, are a regular sized tablet?

[Ireland @ Jul 31st 2007 1:38PM]

Please excuse the dumb typo "or".

[gfar @ Jul 31st 2007 2:23PM]

That antenna is totally sweet. It looks way better than a BlackBerry 8820....NOT.

[MacGuru @ Jul 31st 2007 2:53PM]

So you really think that the finished product will look like this??? Come on now.. This is a patent application and you know Bill is looking at it too.. He's just dumb enough to build his WM5 devices to look like this :D

[Bladefree21 @ Jul 31st 2007 3:38PM]

It would be stupid if they won the case as there have been predictive text entry programs on PDA's for years.. Spb Full Screen Keyboard, WM keyboard, Resco Keyboard, etc.

[Carbonize @ Jul 31st 2007 3:55PM]

Someone made a predictive text keyboard years ago but whats the point when you have a full size keyboard which is faster?

[Bladefree21 @ Jul 31st 2007 4:07PM]

? Those have been available as well. Targus Stowaway,Belkin Universal Wireless PDA Keyboard, (Bluetooth, infrared, projection, etc).. :P

[Mr. B @ Jul 31st 2007 8:09PM]

Is it just me or is this similar to a touchscreen Point of Sale system for a restaurant?

[Ignacio @ Aug 1st 2007 12:02AM]

That picture indicates something more... they finally hired someone who can draw human hands! (or did they give up and use stock clip art?)

[Meltz; @ Aug 2nd 2007 11:10PM]

that really looks like clipart to me

[Bob Asconi @ Aug 8th 2007 2:43PM]

It is very interesting, as WordLogic has developed this technology and has it available for laptops, desktops, PDA's and cellphones. The touch screen applications were initially created for the tablet computers. See the website. www.wordlogic.com