Revenge of Apple patent attack: giant laptop touchpad

Apple is up to its old tricks again: filing crazy patent requests for wild devices like the process is going out of style. This time, the boys and girls in Cupertino have really delivered a doozy: a wide touchpad for a portable computer. Okay, honestly, it does seem to be just a very large trackpad with some "multi-touch" capabilities. The pad would take up some of the space where you typically rest your hands when typing, though according to the patent documents, the system would be smart enough to distinguish between desired input and accidental movement. Clearly, this kind of technology puts Apple one step closer to its ultimate goal of really, really huge touchpads.

Update - While this is a continuation of an older Apple patent, this is a new application filing, just in case there was any confusion.

[Via PC Joint]

[HektikLyfe @ Aug 9th 2007 5:51PM]

That laptop is clearly designed for aliens. Take a look at those hands man..... :D

[sentient.exe @ Aug 9th 2007 5:56PM]

Treefingers, creepy.

[HektikLyfe @ Aug 9th 2007 6:03PM]

Awww man, have you seen Salad Fingers? (Google) Eewwwww.

[tyler @ Aug 9th 2007 6:14PM]

Wow, that really was creepy. Thanks for that...

[Jagannath A @ Aug 9th 2007 9:27PM]

i guess all patents are filed by some 12 yr olds ;D

[paloooz @ Aug 9th 2007 5:51PM]

I like how they are all hand drawn, pretty poorly. You'd think that since they are coming from Apple, they would be some crazy awesome looking Illustrator drawings at the very least.

[Chris @ Aug 9th 2007 8:54PM]

The people that write those are not graphics artists. They are lawyers.

[Jesse S @ Aug 9th 2007 6:00PM]

Wow, Apple really hates ergonomics and tactile feedback, don't they?

[Glazun @ Aug 9th 2007 6:08PM]

what if its a screen.. and not just an ordinary trackpad?

[Shane @ Aug 9th 2007 6:09PM]

Just got back from Siggraph '07, and one thing was readily apparent after perusing the 'Emerging Technologies' section...the ripple-effect of the Apple iPhone's multitouch and the Nintendo Wii's Wiimote is validating all the alternative input research that's been done the past decade+. There were tons of cool tactile/motion sensitive interface designs on display.

Apple is correct to begin expanding the implementation of this interface technology throughout their product lines...

Just like they were avant garde w/ their early use of the mouse (which the didn't invent, but knew a good thing when they saw it), they know this is the way of the future.

[Tim @ Aug 9th 2007 6:17PM]

Ooooh, a MacBook DS Lite

[photog @ Aug 9th 2007 6:19PM]

Hey, look, Steve-o gave that reporter the complete brush-off when he said that multitouch was considered a research project on full size computers, for the time being. Here's the proof that at least they truly are thinking about it, no matter how bizarre this particular implementation of the idea is. At least Apple has a creative bone in their body, as opposed to Microsoft. I hope Jobs and Ives stick around AAPL long enough for my stock fund to mature enough for retirement.

[Miles @ Aug 10th 2007 2:27AM]

The same Microsoft who already has working multi-touch on a full computer?

I'll give Apple props for getting Multi-touch in such a small area, but now everyone else is going to be doing it too.
And in Microsoft's case, they have the surface (lol) and some random LCD that supports multi-touch.

Either way multi-touch trackpad seems useless. I can understand it being on a monitor but a trackpad?
No.

[LegendZ28 @ Aug 9th 2007 6:19PM]

Just more proof that the patent system in this country is completely screwed up. It's utterly ridiculous that any company would have a chance at getting a patent for something that they've never even produced, and probably never will.

[TiJ @ Aug 9th 2007 6:31PM]

But that is exactly how the system is suppose to work - you put forward a patent, get it moving through the system (patent pending) and then you start development work in earnest. If you do it the other way around you risk the competition getting wind of it and publishing something about the system... or your own marketers publishing something about it, and then all your hopes of patent are gone. (Due to the lack of novelty)

[Christen @ Aug 9th 2007 6:32PM]

Isn't this old news?

http://www.gadgetreview.com/2006/03/apple-notebook-wide-touchpads.html

[rp @ Aug 9th 2007 6:33PM]

I dunno, I think that's an awesome idea; multi-touch display that doubles as a trackpad. For example, let's say you're using some sort of mastering software like Logic. Wouldn't it be great to be able to switch from your mixing console to your muli-track display and back to the regular keyboard with the click of a mouse? Or, let's say you're using Traktor. You could allow the display of the mixer and waveforms for easy manipulation by touch.
I'm willing to bet that this technology does see the light of day actually. Extending your arm to use a multi-touch screen would be much more tiring than this.

[michael @ Aug 9th 2007 6:42PM]

That's one thing I don't like about Apple - the crazy patenting of many ideas

Patenting is good to protect your own idea and stuff, but they haven't even made such an invention yet. And nobody else but Apple will be able to do so either, without selling it.

There's 2 kinds of patenting: one is to protect, the other is to prevent any other company to make a possibly better product.

Of course, #2 is the more evil kind, and I've seen that as the route Apple's taking. Which is really bad. Apple might as well patent the ability to make time machines, and whatnot. Might as well kill every company in the world to do so.

[Tyre @ Aug 9th 2007 6:43PM]

Now they're taking the iPhone to the next level. I for one am not a fan.

[Trace The Hedgehog @ Aug 9th 2007 6:43PM]

" the system would be smart enough to distinguish between desired input and accidental movement"

That is win

[CraigJ @ Aug 9th 2007 6:53PM]

"Okay, honestly, it does seem to be just a very large trackpad with some "multi-touch" capabilities.", Look again, looks very much like a virtual keyboard up top (some images have keys, some don't) and a track pad down below.

[Maztec @ Aug 9th 2007 7:07PM]

Apple bought FingerWorks. This is only a natural extension of that technology.

I have used my TouchStream keyboard for years. It is god-like in its abilities and ergonomics. You quickly realize just how little you really need tactile feedback. Heck, your finger touching the surface is tactile feedback in itself.

[Miles @ Aug 10th 2007 2:33AM]

I'd have to disagee.

I've used chiclets and keyless keyboards and I have to hunt and peck while looking at the keys to type.

Maybe it'd be nice to type on one of those if you look at your keyboard, but to get real work done, you need to learn to type without looking.

I doubt you could get much higher than 30 WPM on a keyless keyboard, while on a keyboard with keys and tactile feedback you'd be able to get 100+ WPM easily.

[Maztec @ Aug 10th 2007 12:48PM]

Miles, you are completely correct. I cannot - and as far as I am aware most people cannot - type as quickly on a keyboard without a fully tactile layout. However, I suspect the reasons for this are other than assumed.

To me the main difference is not the feel of the keys response or having to be pushed down. The main difference is being able to slide your fingers across the keyboard and feel where each key begins and ends. The edges of keys really do make a tactile difference that .. at least for me .. when I pay attention I notice my fingers are constantly feeling the nearby keys. This is at times frustrating with the TouchStream keyboard. Luckily its home-row nubs help position and you learn to use your other fingers for that response and positioning. I believe this could probably be achieved to the same affect with some type of responsive surface that provided slight key depressions or raised areas depending on the currently used layout. Unfortunately, that technology is still a ways out.

Nevertheless, I typically type well over 120 wpm in 1 to 2 minute bursts on a standard keyboard. After more than a few minutes, my wrists start to hurt due to carpal tunnel and having to actively muscle the keys down (yes, it takes effort to press keys down). I slow down to about 80 wpm if sustained over 10 minutes, but can maintain that for hours. However, on my TouchStream keyboard my maximum speed is only 108 words per minute. I have yet to break that speed. I know of a few other TouchStream users that flit around that speed. It appears that the software goes semi-wonky at that speed because you can't move your fingers out of the way fast enough. Most people I know, who had 100+ wpm speeds on a normal keyboard, hit between 60 and 80 wpm on a TouchStream keyboard. I suspect this might be a bit higher than 30 wpm ;) but correct me if my math is incorrect.

Nevertheless, there is one major exception to the TouchStream keyboard over a normal keyboard. I can sustain that speed of 108 wpm for hours, without my hands getting tired or my wrists getting stressed. Why? Because I am not having to actively push the keys down. The main muscles being used in my hands are to lift my fingers back up, relaxing them lets them drop. I think of it analogous to walking or running. A lot of people run incorrectly, pushing their foot down, they wear out faster. If you relax, it just happens. On a normal keyboard, if my fingers relax, the keys don't get depressed, and no typing occurs.. unless it is a relatively low impact keyboard.

Please note, I am talking specifically about the TouchStream keyboard made by FingerWorks which was bought by Apple. I have used other low-tactile keyboards and not been satisfied with them.

Oh, and I rarely look at my hands. The little nubs on the home-row of the keyboard are sufficient to tell me where my fingers are and to re-position if I fall off (which happened a lot during the first three months, but happens less and less with each passing year). You are correct though, I never look at my hands on a normal keyboard.

Take that for what you believe. :) [yes, that is an odd phrase]

[Will @ Aug 9th 2007 7:17PM]

Steve vs. the button part 3?
I recall something about an elevator at Apple Japan that stops at every floor because it has NO BUTTONS...

MS Surface is multi touch and has been in development for quite sometime...
I f'n hate apple... I have an iPod and love it... I hate mac's they quite happily forward virus' onto PC in our corp net...
I love the idea of the iPhone... just waiting for ver 2 to fix the low points... 3rd party apps without a stupid browser...

sigh... too damn complicated.
(now that was a pretty detacted thought process I just went thru)

[Miles @ Aug 10th 2007 2:34AM]

What you don't seem to understand about this and the iPhone is that the surface uses TONS of sensors and crap inside the base of the table.

Stuff like the iPhone and that monitor Microsoft is working on don't have that kind of room to spare.

[Will @ Aug 10th 2007 7:58AM]

Actually I get it. I get it all... I was demenstrating obsertity with obsertity... not to mention my love hate relationship with apple hate and love what they do.

[new @ Aug 9th 2007 7:51PM]

The top left drawing looks like one of those projector keyboard thingy. Interesting...

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/projector-keyboard/index.html

[theappletruth @ Aug 9th 2007 8:42PM]

I've been thinking for a while that they should replace the trackpad with a multitouch screen. The center of the screen will be for moving the cursor like a track pad and they could have dynamic buttons on the left and right side of the multitouch screen that change their function depending on where the cursor is located.
ie. your in safari the default dynamic buttons could be back, forward, refresh, etc. then you have your cursor on a link the buttons could change to "new tab", "save link" , "copy shortcut" etc.

[Chris @ Aug 9th 2007 9:13PM]

"Just make a tablet with multitouch capabilities, period (like that Microsoft prototype or something)."

You mean the one that's going to cost $10,000?

[Ignacio @ Aug 9th 2007 10:55PM]

The identity of Fake Steve is now known. So here is the next challenge: who is the "artist" in charge of drawing all those weird hands in Apple's patents? ;-)

[ne3k @ Aug 9th 2007 11:23PM]

Warning, apple fanboi commenting:

I agree with a lot of the comments in reference to the multi-touch display replacing the track pad. I can see this being an excellent improvement to the "portable computer" It could open up a whole new generation of mouse response. Or as someone mockingly mentioned it becoming a MacBookDSlite, hell, who wouldn't think it would be amazing to have two screens and the bottom screen alternating as a keyboard or whatever the person needs. This also could be an elaborate, desperate move by Apple to keep competitors from using their multi-touch on a computer, I'd also be curious if this isn't an early strike so someone doesn't develop a tablet pc with multi-touch.

[E @ Aug 10th 2007 3:23AM]

When will this war ever end???

[shaun @ Aug 10th 2007 6:13AM]

Apple's next project: a big ass, button-free table

[rafael.ct @ Aug 10th 2007 7:37AM]

Oook.. doesn't the XO have a huge touchpad with handwriting recogonition and all? This is kinda lame, looks like a copy.

Why don't they stop the BS and patent a tablet where there are two touch screens and no keyboard? It would cost a fortune, but would be sooo sexy. Tablet DS :D

[Luke Lundeen @ Aug 10th 2007 10:39AM]

I think it be nice if the keyboard also doubled as screen for mixing and editing. It could also be used for iTunes to flip through albums. The possibilities are endless...ew..cliche.

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 11th 2007 1:22AM]

i just realized... the OLPC has a touchpad like this... is apple patent trolling??

[cauri @ Aug 11th 2007 12:14PM]

Doesn't the XO Laptop, released by One Laptop Per Child, already use this technology. As far as I know they have already incorporated a superwide touchpad with multi-touch as standard, and to great success. So how does Apple's patent affect this.
Perhaps, Apple's just using misdirection so they can release a touchscreen on the quiet.