“Text input, more than anything else, is the problem Apple needs to solve to make the concept work,” Herrman writes. “So how will they do it? …How do you create text without a keyboard?”
“We’ve been comfortably typing without physical keyboards for years now, and this is largely Apple’s doing,” Herrman writes. “One of the great triumphs of the iPhone was to make onscreen keyboards bearable—something that, even if you hate the concept of virtual keys on principle, you have to admit they accomplished.”
Herrman writes, “The onscreen keyboard as we know it doesn’t scale gracefully, and unless Apple wants their tablet to be completely useless (our sources say they don’t) they’re going to have to figure this out. So what are Apple’s options?”
Herrman covered four possible solutions:
1: A Giant iPhone
2: Voice Control
3: The Dreaded Stylus
4: A New Style of Keyboard
Full article – recommended – here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Winston” for the heads up.]
here’s how – two words: haptic feedback
MDN’s report on BGR’s predictions back in Jun’08 mentioned haptic feedback for the touchscreen keyboard, but I’m surprised this seems to be in few people’s predictions and rumors these past few weeks. so that plus a bunch of new multitouch gestures will make the UI of the tablet very useable
My guess: Users will wrap their fingers around the edges and control the device partly from the back.
Anyone know more about that idea of it using a touch-sensitive back surface? You’d type on the back using a split keyboard approach but with visuals of the keys appearing onscreen.
Damn, should’ve checked the comments before I posted. Sorry, Monger. Any more details out there about it?
Actually, Apple has a patent on a touch keyboard that adapts to the user. That is, the keyboard size and position moves based upon where your fingers are.
Touch typers are taught to rest their fingers on the keyboard, index fingers on the f and j keys. The patent I saw had the keyboard adjusting its size and position based upon where your fingers are resting.
Funny, but this was also an idea I had had when the iPhone came out, and was thinking of filing my own patent, but apparently Apple beat me to it. Actually, I dragged my feet.
Any chance the current wireless Mac keyboard would work as an accessory?
Apple had a patent granted a couple of years ago where they talked about integrating a camera into an LCD display (not in the surround, but interspersing CCD elements into the spaces between the LCD pixels. Maybe “no camera” really means ‘no separate camera’?” That would allow 3D control gestures where your fingers don’t actually touch the screen. That fits with the “interacting WAY differently” and “steep learning curve” rumors.
Actually I call idiot author.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
The iPhone has bluetooth, the Apple keyboard has bluetooth, Its simple. Once Apple decides to do it.
My guess is an on screen touch keyboard and a way to link bluetooth keyboards. Add a 60 degree angle holder for the screen unit and you go to town. In fact the magic mouse is wireless too.
Hmmmmmmmm?
Just a thought,
en
How about using ‘Dragon Dictation’?
iPsychokinesis.
I think a touchscreen keyboard and handwriting recognition with a capacitive stylus would do the job. Yeah Steve shit on the stylus at Macworld but he contradicts himself all the time.
To ignore all the wonderful things you can do with a stylus on a tablet would be a mistake, IMO.
i think i’ll type with my big dick
Simply hold the tablet vertically and the accelerometer opens up a keyboard. While in iPhone’s 3.5″ screen the vertical keyboard is more of a hassle than the horizontal one (too small), here the horizontal would be too large, and the vertically almost perfect. It would also leave more space to see the text as you type it.
Voice control isn’t efficient, and it would be a mess outdoors. Why Gizmodo even suggest such a thing is beyond me.
Stylus is even worse than “giant iPhone keyboard” (for typing, unless every text app uses handwriting, and my handwriting is pretty difficult o understand)
And those “new keyboard styles” would take too long to get used with and aren’t as efficient than the vertical one.
a shorthand writing system.
After reading that article, I think my facetious idea of a velcro-strap on the back may not be so far off. Perhaps a handle of some sort on the back-side that is meant for you to slide your hand through (to hold the tablet like a platter), or to hold traditionally (balling up your fist around the handle).
This would take care of weight/balance issues caused by holding the table on just one edge. Your free hand could then be used to type, using all 5 fingers. Remember that computer geek from 007 Goldeneye who typed like that?
Yeah, but the key is fingerprints all over the place. This is the only problem I see because my keyboard is also where I will be surfing online.
There are some good Apple cleaners out there and some in the apple store. I use one called iKlenz that is portable and great for the iPhone and works well, but I’m sure it will work for the Tablet / iSlate. Hope you can pair a bluetooth Apple keyboard though!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
If you can type with your wanker, then it is not big! A needle come to mind!
But Little John, we will give you the benefit of doubt.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
A very good article. The author is right – how we input – and how we hold the tablet while we input – are the keys to making a tablet work.
Nah, the iSlate is actually a 10″ iMac with a Bluetooth keyboard. If you need to go bathroom u just grab it from the stand and continue typing on the screen.
It won’t be voice control. Of that, I am certain.
There are too many accents and disabilities that would hinder it.
Voice may be an optional input, but it definitely won’t be the only option.
Is for the back and sides of the entire device being touch-enabled and software driven. So you’d hold the device in either portrait or landscape mode, thumbs over the top/sides, fingers resting happily on the back, and you would type that way – perhaps the screen will give you virtual targets to hit from the backside.
I find it hard to believe that no portable device manufacturer has yet seized upon using all that bezel space as a capacitance touch space with software-virtualized buttons/controls.
@Zeke – I like the camera thought. It would go a long way towards reconciling the recent conflicting rumors, although I suspect the “no camera” line fed to Daring Fireball was more likely either an AAPL leak test *or* someone shorting the stock. There’s no way the cryptozoologic Tablet would lack a camera!
There will be a small retractable wire that you can stick in your ear. It will be able to translate your brainwaves and type out whatever you think.
The best part about it is that the software driving it is so sophisticated that it can tell a PC user right away and merely present a BSOD or, to be more contemporary, a BlackSOD.
Be afraid PC posers, be very afraid. We will know who you are. You will be assimilated.
@YoYo – Yo. I think you have it. The thing to remember, this device will not be stupid. Most ideas here would be too stupid to make it out the door at Apple. Apple has a great wireless mouse and keyboard for heavy duty typing at the desk. And all the technology required for mobile typing and input, away from the base station. This will be astounding and simple at the same time. Apple is not into Rube Goldberg claptrap.
The Apple tablet will read the user’s thoughts. No typing required.
@bc,
100% agreed. “Haptic” touch is coming – tactile feedback!
It solves everything for people who need real keyboards.
It also allow the screen to remain multi-touch.
Handwritting? Voice? Why not? But haptic is the big innovation here.
Even future iPhones/iPod touches will have it too.