“Apple’s forthcoming tablet could employ a dynamic surface that gives users tactile feedback when typing in order to identify individual keys, according to a new patent application revealed this week,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“Using an ‘articulating frame,’ the surface of such a device would create physical bumps or dots for the user to feel when it is in keyboard mode. Those surface features would retract and disappear when the device is not being used to type. It is detailed in an application entitled’Keystroke Tactility Arrangement on a Smooth Touch Surface,'” Hughes reports. “It is similar to an application first filed back in 2007.”
“‘The articulating frame may provide key edge ridges that define the boundaries of the key regions or may provide tactile feedback mechanisms within the key regions,’ the application reads. ‘The articulating frame may also be configured to cause concave depressions similar to mechanical key caps in the surface,'” Hughes reports.
Hughes reports, “The [possibility of a] tactile feedback keyboard [may have been] revealed as one anonymous source told The New York Times that users would be ‘surprised’ how they interact with the tablet.”
Full article, with more info and patent application illustrations, here.
Here it comes the new way of interacting with your computer…
…NOT…
Wasn’t there a non-Apple phone that did this and failed miserably at it? I hope Apple doesn’t copy RIM or whoever’s failures (but why would they?).
@MacIntosher
That was a TERRIBLE implementation that just “clicked” the touchscreen when it was depressed.
I’m not aware of a full implementation of a haptic touchscreen, but am looking forward to one.
@ Macintosher
err, that was a nasty screen that ‘clicked’ – the whole screen was a giant dumb-ass button.
This i entirely different.
I’m not sure if it will work, but its a far leap from a simple dumb-ass button LOL
I think the tablet will bring about those awesome multi-touch gestures I’ve clamored for since the “gesture dictionary” patent was revealed in 2007.
http://gizmodo.com/285176/apples-gesture-dictionary-a-fingering-chart-for-multi+touch
The tablet might be the most amazing thing we’ve ever seen. Apple was in the lab cooking this up for the past decade and the iPhone was only a small taste of the future.
It’s a good thing I’m the only one working at the office today. It’d be hard to hide my boner.
This strikes me as too “out there” for this generation, but I don’t understand why touch typists couldn’t train a touchscreen. Wherever your fingertips are, start typing and the tablet/virtual keyboard recognizes the distance between resting location and tap.
It would be far from perfect, but with spelling correction it shouldn’t be too bad.
Is it cold in here or does my touchscreen need a sweater?
Then again, this could be very stimulating for the visually impaired.
for a tablet you may not use a screen protector but most people using the phone or ipod might, would this still work with a screen protector applied? or would it simply be less defined to the touch?
So it’s “goodbye” to the beautiful glass screen of the iPhone?
iWish…..Glass is the big weakness of the iPhone. Using something else would probably keep the major source of iPhone problems……ie: cracking the screen, from happening.
Pictures of naked ladies could have little bumps for their nipples. She’d giggle when you touched them.
“Ew, gross! Yet strangely compelling!” I wanted a haptic implementation when I bought the first generation iPhone. But now it’s not as appealing as a lot of us are comfortable without that feedback. Still, if they can do it with minimal battery drain and can still have an oleophobic coating then I’m all for it! Technology!
So Josh does just rip off the ideas of others. Got it.
Interesting patent, but doing something like this on a device that’s supposed to be ultra thin and relatively low-cost seems highly unlikely.
But I do look forward to learning WHAT IS “surprising” about the user interface for Apple’s tablet.
“But I do look forward to learning WHAT IS “surprising” about the user interface for Apple’s tablet.”
It’s a female interface that never asks what you are thinking.
ok this sounds interesting but too futuristic is this what apple has been working on for the past 10 years?
Apple also has a patent that makes the whole screen a camera, as between the pixels are tiny little lenses and they compose all the pixels to a whole image.
hold up didnt a mp3 player by sony i think it was called sony vaio have this but instead it was a screen along side a bumpy surface i for got it was cool but it wasnt exactly on the screen just along side of it
Ah yes, the perils of patents.
some years ago, I wanted to start a research project on cuttlefish, so we could incorporate a similar technology on touch screens.
And the professor said it was a stupid project to begin with … well look at it now, Apple takes it to a whole new level.
They could call it the T-800 terminator touch!
@ mac_kid
I’ll bet James Joyce’s “Ulysses” is your favorite book – and e.e. cummings your favorite poet
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ericdano
The glass iPod touch screen is as brilliant as the Apple engineers who thought it up. I just retired my 1st gen touch (25 months old and no problems) to my wife and received a 3rd gen 32 gig touch. Wonderful piece of hardware. Plastic or any other surface would not work for as long.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
How gullible can you folks get?
All this stuff coming from the rumor mills is the god spoken truth to you poor children. This is going to turn out to be the biggest yet ‘pump and dump’ of AAPL.
Play it for the money, not for the fictitious tablet and you will be the smart guy.