Apple envisions tactility on touchscreen keyboards

Tactile feedback isn't exactly new to the mobile device arena, but Apple is apparently looking to add a bit of tactility to on-screen keyboards of the future. In a recent patent filing, the gurus in Cupertino have described four arrangements for accomplishing the aforementioned goal, some of which include adding dots / bars to keys and throwing an articulating frame underneath the panel to enable users to feel varying levels of resistance when mashing down. Per usual, we're left to imagine where such technology could eventually end up (tough job, we know), but considering that this is the third touchpad-related filing seen from Apple in the past 20 days, who knows what is (or isn't) brewing.

UPDATE: Check it out -- seems this diagram looks an awful lot like something designed by Fingerworks. Thanks for the heads-up, Jason!

[Via UnwiredView]

[Jason @ Oct 25th 2007 11:57AM]

I have sketchbooks with drawings like this that are at least 5 years old. I'm positive there are thousands of wanna-be and real industrial designers with the same.

How can Apple get a patent on a obvious idea like this?

[mikeypizano @ Oct 25th 2007 12:02PM]

They are Apple...

[Scott Culp @ Oct 25th 2007 12:18PM]

I agree, I invented something similar for a computer science project back in 98 that gave onscreen, tactile feedback to blind computer users.

I may have to look into registering "prior art" or whatever they call it.

[Alex Whiteside @ Oct 25th 2007 12:24PM]

It's worth bearing in mind that hardware patents are as much about the method as the execution. Just having a rough idea for "screen which recoils a bit when pushed" doesn't really cut it.

[Sean DL @ Oct 25th 2007 2:15PM]

JSut because they filed for it, doesn't mean they'll get it. Go ask Amazon.com. http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9799269-7.html

If they do get it, it must have something unique about it to get passed...

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 25th 2007 12:01PM]

Maybe they are making the multi-touch iTablet?

[EJ @ Oct 25th 2007 12:55PM]

My thoughts exactly - the divided keyboard indicates something with a screen much wider than the current iPhone (and knowing Apple's penchant for miniaturization, I doubt an iPhone XL is in the works). A well-implemented touchscreen keyboard (and Leopard) would make for a very tempting tablet.

[Martin Trautmann @ Oct 25th 2007 12:03PM]

How are those four concepts supposed to work? I don't understand the drawings.

[david @ Oct 25th 2007 12:22PM]

really, how can apple patent this? they will make tones of money on royalties. something like this plus e-ink is the future of keyboards/screens.

[shelterpaw @ Oct 25th 2007 12:45PM]

I know what you're saying, but then take a look at the Apple/Creative patent lawsuit and then you'll understand that it makes more sense to patent than to not patent, even if it is obvious. The reason being is to protect yourself from obvious patents. Sound crazy and it is, but that's why everyone is starting to realize just how crappy that the US patent system has become.

The patent system needs restructuring so we don't have to read about obvious or logical patents anymore.

[getz76 @ Oct 25th 2007 12:26PM]

Interesting.

I still prefer buttons.

[gork @ Oct 25th 2007 12:28PM]

Actually, this is what the screens on the Enterprise D were supposed to be like. Providing tactile feedback to a onscreen and changeable interface.

[Kennyout @ Oct 25th 2007 2:11PM]

Thats exactlly what I was thinking, I was thinking "doesn't Paramount own that in someway?", due to licencing and all that. I would be suprised if some of the technologies on sci-fi shows/movies/books have not been previouslly patented---especially this.

[nick gonzalez @ Oct 25th 2007 1:40PM]

I would say that keyboards like the optimus maximus are the future !! If only I could afford it...

[doctadjones @ Oct 25th 2007 1:56PM]

If they're talking about just feedback when you press a button, then it's nothing new.

However, if they mean that as you run your finger across the screen you get a small "bump" each time you pass over a different key. That I haven't seen before.
And that would help solve the problem of finding keys on a touch screen without looking at it.

[crescentdavid @ Oct 25th 2007 7:33PM]

I heard there's this thing called a keyboard which allows people to type at ergonomically correct angles with tactile and audio feedback AND is guaranteed not to smudge or scratch the screen.

Like, wow. Personally, I don't believe something so advanced could possibly be in production.

[cthree @ Oct 26th 2007 2:03PM]

What's brewing is a multi-touch tablet/sub-notebook for MacWorld. What do you think the iPhone SDK is all about? It's about a multi-touch framework.

[Minox @ Nov 12th 2007 4:47PM]

Looks A LOT like this http://www.fingerworks.com/images/Al_15_MacNTouch/Finished_2.gif