First, allowing a flexible screen to deform when a virtual key is pressed. Accordingly, a keyboard with global force sensing may set a force threshold that determines whether a key is pressed based on the number of fingers that are in contact with the surface at a given time (as detected by a touch sensing system, for example).Īpple proposes a three-fold approach to making a screen-based keyboard feel like a physical one. Thus, the force threshold for detecting a key press may change depending on how many fingers are touching the keyboard. And the same user may rest different numbers of fingers on the keys at different moments while typing.
Moreover, different users may rest different numbers of fingers on the keys, or rest them with different amounts of force. Users may rest their fingers on keys that are not being actively selected. It also notes an additional issue for touch-typists. Therefore, improved input devices are needed to provide both greater flexibility and customizability while providing feedback to a user during operation. However, touch sensitive input devices often have a flat, inflexible input surface that gives little or no tactile feedback to a user and may therefore be less desirable for many scenarios than traditional input devices. As a further drawback, the dedicated keys or buttons of traditional input devices are unable to adapt to different user needs and preferences. Alternative input devices, such as touch-input devices, appear to offer some greater flexibility for input scenarios and customization than mechanical keyboards, mice, and similar input devices.īut it acknowledges the challenge of replacing a physical keyboard with a screen-based one on a device designed for typing. However, traditional input devices lack the flexibility to accommodate expansive features offered by newer devices, operating systems, and software. The operation of each key or button may be tied to a particular function or command. Traditional computing input devices, such as mice, keyboards, and trackpads, tend to operate using dedicated keys or buttons. The patent background almost echoes what Steve said during the iPhone launch (below), albeit using more formal language. And that’s what Apple tackles in a new patent application …
The same argument could be made for a laptop, but while an on-screen keyboard is fine for small amounts of typing, it can never replace a physical laptop keyboard – unless it could act and feel like a real one. That was, he said, an inflexible approach when you didn’t need a keyboard all the time, and where the optimal keyboard layout may depend on which app you’re using. When Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone in 2007, he made much of the fact that other smartphones of the time had physical keyboards.
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