Apple patent application reveals tactile-feedback keyboard

By on Dec 24, 2009 at 4:09 PM
General December 24, 2009

With Apple tablet rumors mounting and anticipation causing its market share to rise, it looks like there is still more innovation to be uncovered. Apple filed a patent application called “Keystroke Tactility Arrangement on a Smooth Touch Surface” which entails a dynamic surface that changes depending on how a user interacts with it. In order to keep a smooth surface while pointing and swiping, like on the iPhone, and getting some ridges or bumps on the surface for typing, the surface of the screen would have to physically change depending on use. So, when you’re just pointing on the screen, there are no bumps — type on the screen and bumps appear.

Another patent application called “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller” will allow greater flexibility with multi-touch systems. The patent says:

While virtually all commercially available touch screen based systems available today provide single point detection only and have limited resolution and speed, other products available today are able to detect multiple touch points. Unfortunately, these products only work on opaque surfaces because of the circuitry that must be placed behind the electrode structure.

Apparently, removing the limitations of an opaque surface would allow for better speed and accuracy, as well as the ability to detect more contact points on the screen. So, with better multi-touch technology and possibly a surface that reacts to how you use it, future Apple products, like a tablet, could see a huge leap forward with regards to how we interact with touch screen devices today.

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  • victoria gino

    Because marketing doesn’t work. Just because you don’t like something mainstream doesn’t make it garbage. Apple locks down products so that they hopefully function better together and ‘just work’. If you need a more open support, there are other products for that. Apple is aiming to the masses, not to every little Debbie Downer who wants more open source. Merry Christmas.
    Apple Tablet 2010 details: http://bit.ly/new-apple-tablet-best-or-worst

  • Jarrett

    @ Galen

    Exactly why would I be concerned with what anyone on these “message” boards believes or doesn’t believe about what I write? I throw some facts out there, if you agree, fine, if not, fine, there still facts.
    It’ reminds me a lot of the 90′s when windows users would crack on me for using a Mac, they never saw the irony in it all. Their platform was only possible because of my platform. Without the Mac, windows would have never came to be.
    In much the same, no Eric Schmidt on Apples board, no Android. You might not agree with any of that, but those are both facts. You use second teir products, maybe second class, maybe not, but second teir anyway you look at it.
    People are going to use what they want to use. You just have to except that more and more people are choosing Apple gear.

    • darkprince

      Do you read the garbage you type before you post it??
      “MY PLATFORM?” Alex, I’ll take delusions of grandeur for $400, please.

      I beg you, take the little pills the doctor prescribed for you. Wow. You’re as bad as the TV Guide dork on Seinfeld!!

    • rhon

      “Their platform was only possible because of my platform.”

      Actually it was Xerox. If you read the history it is neither Apple or MS but Xerox. Sad that they seem to be forgotten.

    • http://www.robertguyser.com Robert Guyser

      I disagree with your cost based assesment of peripheral superiority. It is by no means a fact that a more expensive keyboard is always better for all uses. These are tools and need to be recognized as such.

      The correct tool for the job is not always the most expensive. Also, your ‘without mac windows would never have been’ is sort of misleading. Most who have looked into desktop GUI history know that there was a lot of interplay between the various companies involved and that any reductionist and revisionist history is bound to be of limited worth.

      I personally like Apple and Microsoft products, and even hardware In a PC market with many levels of peripheral quality, both apple and M$ are very good. Especially compared with ‘generic’ competition..

      Sometimes, though, a $800 industrialized keyboard is best for an application.. Is this the true ‘first tier’? No… it is just the correct tool for a specific purpose.

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