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Apple's Research on Tactile Feedback for Touchscreen Keyboard Revisited
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Quick! Yesterday it was at $202 a share and now it's at $209 a share!ohh well...its look like i got to buy more Apple shares then
I hate to say it, but I've had something like this in mind for years. I don't have the knowhow to iron out the specifics, obviously, but tactile feedback was just a matter of time. I wonder if it'll be pronounced enough for Apple to introduce a braille interface. Now THAT would be awesome.
No, apparently they came up with a far-fetched conceptual patent to address that. Whether they have actually solved it is another matter.
Sure, but for this to be effective they'd have to crease, which is a completely different ball of wax.
He also publicly criticized watching videos on an iPod screen...
I think the point is that you don't lose real estate because the keyboard disappears when not in use. I don't think they need to be (or can be) as small as a pixel, but one every 4-5 pixels would provide a pretty reliable tactile interface. Your fingers aren't as sensitive as your eyes.
No, apparently they came up with a far-fetched conceptual patent to address that. Whether they have actually solved it is another matter.
Sure, but for this to be effective they'd have to crease, which is a completely different ball of wax.
He also publicly criticized watching videos on an iPod screen...
I think the point is that you don't lose real estate because the keyboard disappears when not in use. I don't think they need to be (or can be) as small as a pixel, but one every 4-5 pixels would provide a pretty reliable tactile interface. Your fingers aren't as sensitive as your eyes.
seems like an impractical idea. Seemed like an impractical idea when I read the parent patent application a couple years back. doubt we'll be hearing about it soon. Guess we'll see.
I would be surprised if this is the surprise. Steve Job hates stylus input with a passion
It's not light years away. It's already been in existence for years. Look up FingerWorks via Google. Or fingerworks.com.
THEY are the ones responsible for that technology behind Apple's iPod Touch/iPhone and other things. It was THEY, NOT Apple, that provided the technology. Apple did NOT invent it but rather ACQUIRED it.
That's how the conglomerates work. They don't invent things out of thin air. They buy them into their fold.
Fingerworks did not have dynamically-generated tactile feedback. They had fixed bumps over the home row of keys.
I would be very surprised if Apple had just applied for a patent for technology to be introduced in the marketplace less than a month later. They haven't done anything like that before, have they?
If a tablet using this type of tactile feedback is ready for release, they would have to have developed this technology much earlier but without applying for a patent. That would be a risky strategy just to keep their R&D secret.
If a tablet using this type of tactile feedback is ready for release, they would have to have developed this technology much earlier but without applying for a patent. That would be a risky strategy just to keep their R&D secret.
If I recall, the first application on this idea was filed by them around 2007. Since this app was just published, it must have been filed 18 months ago (patent applications are published 18 months after filing). Note that they could have (but didn't) submit a non-publication request that would prevent publication until the patent issues (but prevent international patents). This probably means they don't intend to use it - they wouldn't want to tip off the competition ahead of time, I would think.
It actually claims priority to a 2003 application, which is why it published so fast.
I can imagine finger grease and gunk getting caught in the grooves of the bumps which will get extruded into noodle like protrusions when the keyboard activates :X
It sounds kinda cool but i doubt the "surprise" is tactile feedback....i dont see any extra benefit to this. I think the surprise is more of the operating system and how it interacts with the user. Meaning i think were going to see a new beefed up iPhone-ish OS.... which would still be revolutionary on a tablet....in a sense LOL
either way I Want One LOL
either way I Want One LOL
FingerWorks only had patents and worked with opaque surfaces such as keyboards... never with transparent touchscreens.
Yep, that's often true.
Bumps or Lumps
Steve once said the best way to interact with a computer is talking to it, like a human. Tactal bumps are good for us geeks, but most people do not prefer to type. I'd be surprised if the surprise is what was just pattended.
Steve once said the best way to interact with a computer is talking to it, like a human. Tactal bumps are good for us geeks, but most people do not prefer to type. I'd be surprised if the surprise is what was just pattended.
I wouldn't be. Steve keeps everything hush hush. Apple doesn't need a patent because they know they are the only ones who will take the risk to develop this tech. If the other companies knew what they were doing via patents they would start making their own competing technology. This way no one knows what they are going to do right up until they release the thing. This means they are already about 2 years ahead of the market with no competition.