Apple Patents Switch-Less Force Touch Keyboard, Could Lead to Thinner Macs

[NickTheMajin]

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/03/apple-patent-force-touch-keyboard/

 

 

 

As summarized by AppleInsider, the exhaustive patent filing details how the keyboard would have a switch-less QWERTY input mechanism, rather than mechanical switches, allowing for less key travel and potentially thinner Mac keyboards.

Apple's current MacBook and Mac accessory lineups employ modified scissor switches, or butterfly switches on the 12-inch Retina MacBook, nestled within hollow key caps. Today's patent mirrors the aesthetic of existing designs, but deviates from established technology by replacing mechanical switches for a stack of sensors, actuators and supporting circuitry. 

Theoretically the system operates akin to Apple's Force Touch trackpads, but on a much larger scale; one force sensor package for each keyboard key. Force sensors configured to measure downward pressure are integrated beneath the keyboard's key caps, while integrated actuators — part of the key stack — generate haptic feedback.

The patent filing does not guarantee that Apple will release a Force Touch keyboard, but a pressure-sensitive keyboard is plausible alongside the Magic Trackpad and Force Touch trackpads on MacBooks. 

Apple's new Retina MacBook has been criticized by some over its all-new butterfly mechanism keyboard, which has low key travel, so whether Apple implements this new keyboard design into the rest of its MacBook lineup remains to be seen. 

Apple was granted U.S. Patent No. 9,178,509, and credits Jeffrey T. Bernstein as its inventor.

 

Anyone whose used a force touch device knows how good the technology is. This is pretty exciting because the butterfly key switches on the new MacBooks are not a joy to type on in my opinion and experience 

[Nexxus]

Anyone who's used a touch keyboard knows how bad a typing experience it is

[NickTheMajin]

Anyone who's used a touch keyboard knows how bad a typing experience it is

 

No touch keyboard has force touch yet. 

[Nexxus]

No touch keyboard has force touch yet.

force touch isn't going to help you find a key you are looking for. All its going to do is give you tactile response that you actually "pressed a key"

[Bsmith]

I agree with

Anyone whose used a force touch device knows how good the technology is. This is pretty exciting because the butterfly key switches on the new MacBooks are not a joy to type on in my opinion and experience 

and

Anyone who's used a touch keyboard knows how bad a typing experience it is

 

So far touch keyboards have been pretty shitty, but with force touch being a thing now I can see it get traction and take off pretty smoothly.

 

Apply has my attention for real this time.

[ShadowCaptain]

ooooooh they could make force touch keyboard in the iPad Pro

[KirbyTech]

While it might improve touch keyboards I don't think it should be a standard option on macs or any laptop for that matter. There is a reason reviewers mention travel distance on keys and a reason Microsoft went with a longer travel distance on the surface pro 4 keypad.

[HumbleMobo]

No touch keyboard has force touch yet. 

That makes literally no difference...why would I want to now forcefully touch a button I can hardly find in the first place!  Jesus and you all thought membrane boards were bad...wait till you see the typos you'll make with a TOUCH KEYBOARD!

[Misanthrope]

Of course because touch controls are so reliable, I type faster on my phone!

Retarded, but since apple is doing it I'm sure innovative will be the most common adjective.

[BuckGup]

No touch keyboard has force touch yet. 

It is not the same at all though. It would just be like typing on a piece of glass that vibrates when you press it. Sure you would know if you press it by I need them clicky clacky feed backs of them mechanical keyboards

[NickTheMajin]

That makes literally no difference...why would I want to now forcefully touch a button I can hardly find in the first place!  Jesus and you all thought membrane boards were bad...wait till you see the typos you'll make with a TOUCH KEYBOARD!

 

Learn how to touch type and it won't be a problem   If you don't have to look for the keys you can type quite fast on even an iPad. Force touch would give you the clicky feedback we all like from mechanical key switches. 

[Aniallation]

So the Surface Touch Cover with vibration

[RichardsD]

Why Apple?

 

I have a relatively thick Thinkpad, and guess what.  The world didn't end, my arm didn't break.  It's fine.   In fact the thinness of Apple computers already, I just don't see the point going any farther.  It just seems pointless.

[HumbleMobo]

Learn how to touch type and it won't be a problem   If you don't have to look for the keys you can type quite fast on even an iPad. Force touch would give you the clicky feedback we all like from mechanical key switches. 

No that's not how it works.  When you touch press, you'll find that you instinctively push down and you expect something to happen.  This is something you can't train away, it's just natural.  Not sure if you've noticed the force needed to press down a mouse click either, so you will be slowed EVEN more.  It's impractical and far from innovative, just another thing to keep the Apple fan boy dollars rolling.

[ShadowCaptain]

Why Apple?

 

I have a relatively thick Thinkpad, and guess what.  The world didn't end, my arm didn't break.  It's fine.   In fact the thinness of Apple computers already, I just don't see the point going any farther.  It just seems pointless.

 

Because some of us actually value portability and lightness, if they can make a computer thinner and lighter, but give it good performance, great battery life and a great display, then that is a good thing

 

If we want technology to get better, we have to find ways to make it smaller and lighter, otherwise we may aswell just make a graphics card the size of a car

[NickTheMajin]

No that's not how it works.  When you touch press, you'll find that you instinctively push down and you expect something to happen.  This is something you can't train away, it's just natural.  Not sure if you've noticed the force needed to press down a mouse click either, so you will be slowed EVEN more.  It's impractical and far from innovative, just another thing to keep the Apple fan boy dollars rolling.

 

I type 80wpm on an iPad. Something I don't use all that often, but I occasionally bring my girlfriend's to class to take notes. Granted, I type well over 120wpm on my K70 and Blackwidow mechanical keyboards, if I used the iPad more often I would be able to bump that up quite a bit I believe. 

 

It's very possible to type fast on a touch screen keyboard, especially if it gives you the sophisticated kind of feedback force touch does. 

[NickTheMajin]

 

 otherwise we may aswell just make a graphics card the size of a car

 

I'd buy it. My graphics card is already one of the largest you can buy. 

[rcarteraz]

Yeah, I already can't stand their tiny keyboards as it is. I seriously doubt I'd be able to use this. It's pretty cool technology though and I'm sure there are tons out there who'd like it.

[HumbleMobo]

I type 80wpm on an iPad. Something I don't use all that often, but I occasionally bring my girlfriend's to class to take notes. Granted, I type well over 120wpm on my K70 and Blackwidow mechanical keyboards, if I used the iPad more often I would be able to bump that up quite a bit I believe. 

 

It's very possible to type fast on a touch screen keyboard, especially if it gives you the sophisticated kind of feedback force touch does. 

There is a BIG difference between iPads and keyboards.  When you type on an iPad screen the keyboard is right there in your face!  When you type on a laptop, the screen is in front of you while the keyboard is beneath it and out of sight.  Your analogy is baseless, redundant and does not prove any point of why a Touch keyboard is needed, innovative, and better than the standard.

[NickTheMajin]

There is a BIG difference between iPads and keyboards.  When you type on an iPad screen the keyboard is right there in your face!  When you type on a laptop, the screen is in front of you while the keyboard is beneath it and out of sight.  Your analogy is baseless, redundant and does not prove any point of why a Touch keyboard is needed, innovative, and better than the standard.

 

Not sure why that matters. It's not like when I'm note taking i'm looking at the iPad. I'm looking at the lecture slides and typing on the iPad out of site. My point was I don't look at the keyboard at all. You learn the layout and it's fine. I'm not staring at the keyboard. 

[GoodBytes]

Yes. because that was not done before:

 

Can't wait for the new iTouch Keyboard for the Apple iSurface Pro 2

(and yes, it detects how much pressure you are applying on the keys, that is how it knows if you typing or having your fingers on the keys resting)

[KemoKa]

Force touch? we already have haptic feedback on our phones. why do we need to make it any more shitty than it already is? Apple? pl0x tell us.

[Mister Snow]

Yeah... no. If you think this would be better then current MacBook keyboard, you're in for a surprise if they ever implement this. 

[christianled59]

I'm typing this on a touch keyboard on y iPad. I'm typing lie I'm using a regular keyboard. It's a pain in the ass and is really uncomfortable. Becaus you can't feel where the keys are. I normally use my thumbs i portrait typing but using it like this is really strange. I'd hate if the MacBook had only touch keyboard.

[ShadowCaptain]

Yes. because that was not done before:

 

Can't wait for the new iTouch Keyboard for the Apple iSurface Pro 2

(and yes, it detects how much pressure you are applying on the keys, that is how it knows if you typing or having your fingers on the keys resting)

 

I assume Apples would also give it the same haptic feedback as the new trackpad, so its completely different as it would give you a tactile clicky feeling when you press down

 

that would be cool if they could work that out