Apple patents a Mac keyboard with configurable keys that use tiny displays Comments
- abigfanoftechs
- 99A
"US Patent and Trademark Office" is broken.
Patent trolls know how to game the system.
In my opinion, there're various use cases,
1. Local language typing will become easier as not everyone remembers the location of a letter in every font,
2. novelty value?
3. showing different font styles on the keyboard first, maybe?
4. but what else.... ?
On the demerit side this will increase battery consumption and replacement costs too...
In my opinion, its far better to have a second, independent touch display, and it must have a removable translucent keyboard (rubber) cover which has mechanised keys that feel like keys and touch the display when pressed.... and give the same keyboard like feel.
This will give dual benefit.
Conventional Keyboard when you apply this rubber keyboard layout, and display when you remove it... plus the same benefits (since its a display underneath).
- Investi
- S3c
paqcal, 31 Dec 2020Apple have been researching this since 2005. Their first patent was filed on May 12, 2005.
... moreNo, they haven't been "researching" this for 15 years, they are just carpet-bombing with patents of what they may or may not succeed in doing later on, claiming they were first. Dishonest tacticts as always.
A Russian design buereau, Art Lebedev, made a keyboard like this way back in 2007, there was no need for a decade of research. Very likely Apple became aware of AL's early design ideas in 2005 and ran to the patent office.
- Anonymous
- JG5
Anonymous, 31 Dec 2020Yes leys all do lots of reaserch before posting a simple comment.Oh wait some of us have actua... moreNice lives you have there if you have time to post misleading comments here, lul
- Anonymous
- j%t
I'm still waiting for the day Apple announces a revolutionary idea for the mode of transportation with these circular air filled rubber donuts called iAirAutoWheels.
MSRPof $999 per or get 4 for $4,999.
Such Deal, Much Wow.
- botox
- 3Sw
That concept exists from the 80s. As mentioned already the exact same tech is in existence since 2007. I am beginning to think Apple is actually a sect that is testing total obedience with whatever idiocy thrown at the masses. I am waiting for the the day they will be so devoid of ideas they will just say "Well, electricity isn't good enough, here we have filed a patent for candles".
- Anonymous
- tZ4
Xirion, 30 Dec 2020The Optimus Maximus keyboard had this functionality in 2007 with each key having a 48x48 OLED ... moreso, how it goes ?
- Anonymous
- 4j0
There was literally a keyboard that does exactly this released in 2007, called the Optimus Maximus keyboard. It wasn't just an idea. It was produced and sold. It was created by a Russian designer, Artemy Lebedev.
And I think I've seen other keyboards like this also. And there was of course the adaptive function key strip on the 2014 Thinkpad X1 Carbon that was basically the same idea.
It is so stupid that Apple got a patent for something that already exists in the real world. Did the Patent Office even try to research this before granting the patent? Is the Patent Office so fooled by Apple's marketing, the idea that they are the great innovators, that they just assume all of Apple's ideas are original? (In reality, Apple is almost always copying other people--for example, very often they steal ideas from Linux and take credit for them.)
I don't know. Maybe Apple is just bribing the Patent Office these days. It would make more sense than that the Patent Office is so incompetent.
- paqcal
- t7B
Ace, 30 Dec 2020Razer did this first is it? I mean check out their first Razer Blade Pro and Deathstalker Ulit... moreApple have been researching this since 2005. Their first patent was filed on May 12, 2005.
https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2006/11/major-apple-touchscreen-patent-for-macbook-tablet-pcs-and-handhelds.html
- Anonymous
- Fht
Anonymous, 30 Dec 2020They're not patenting the type of tech they're patenting the way they achieve this t... moreYes leys all do lots of reaserch before posting a simple comment.Oh wait some of us have actual lives.
- Kenny
- f}N
Unwanted tool. No benefit to end consumer. Keys can break. Cost of these keys would certainly be higher than normal ones. Can't be fixed via third party repairers. More flaws than uses.
- AnonD-909757
- 3g5
*Laugh in Elgato Stream Deck*
Waw, what a revolutionary invention. (Read it in the most sarcastic tone possible).
- ThunderCrackR
- SvB
Really? Just look at others' patents from the last 5 years (and some of them even become reality in the mean time). And Apple comes with this? Oh, so innovative..
- Xirion
- vCT
The Optimus Maximus keyboard had this functionality in 2007 with each key having a 48x48 OLED screen with full configurations for each individual key... nothing new
- MrPong
- xZI
Dex, 30 Dec 2020There's a Keyboard out that does this called the Optimus Maximus, which is very expensive... moreIt's going to be OLED.
- Chip
- nD5
Another apple joke. They're sticking with their practice: reinventing. Art Lebedev were the FIRST to come up with something like this 15 YEARS AGO. And now with apple moving the display to a fixed support (the MB, most likely), they're considered "innov masters". Way to go, fans! Moving a display a few mm is NOT an innovation.
- Anonymous
- p%L
Anonymous, 30 Dec 2020MacOS support touch screen, yes not on their own screen. But you can definitely connect a exte... moreNot many people are interested in investing themselves into MacOS
- Anonymous
- PuF
they wont get this one, this exist and there is multiple product released with this
and some mechanical keyboards with suchj feature
- Lothars
- nDy
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