geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: trauring on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:40:52

Title: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: trauring on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:40:52
An interesting patent application from Apple. Sort of a full-circle thing considering Apple's original touch technology came from their acquisition of FingerWorks which made a touch keyboard that allowed multi-touch gestures. Of course, that keyboard didn't support haptic feedback to simulate physical keys, but there's still a connection. Not likely to be popular among the crowd here, but it should be interesting from a tech point of view.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/11/03/apple-patents-switch-less-force-touch-keyboard-for-mac
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: jbondeson on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:48:05
Apple is really looking to keep hand and wrist orthopedic practices flush with patients!
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Bartlebum on Tue, 03 November 2015, 10:13:05
I have a Macbook with the force touch mouse pad and I just don't see how that would work on a keyboard. It'd be like typing on an iPad, which I'm very much not a fan of.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: keshley on Tue, 03 November 2015, 10:17:18
Putting on my Captain Obvious hat for the moment.

Just because they patented it, doesn't mean they're going to make it. An incredible amount of patents are registered just in case somebody else tries to market the same idea.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: agbockus on Tue, 03 November 2015, 10:36:49
This wouldn't really be interesting for a MacBook, but I'd like to see this implemented somehow into an iPad. That would actually be pretty interesting to see/use. It would HAVE to be better than typing on simply a flat screen, since it would have a deeper feedback...feel? Haha
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: NeonBacon on Tue, 03 November 2015, 16:45:20
Wont this just feel like tapping a table for hours a day?
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: weehooherod on Tue, 03 November 2015, 16:50:10
I imagine this will be like tying on an iPad that vibrates each time you press a key.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Cindori on Tue, 03 November 2015, 17:12:25
People here should try the new Force Touchpad before jumping to conclusions.
It offers a very tactile sensation that, when implemented as a keyboard, would feel nothing like typing on an iPad.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Bucake on Tue, 03 November 2015, 17:26:59
People here should try the new Force Touchpad before jumping to conclusions.
It offers a very tactile sensation that, when implemented as a keyboard, would feel nothing like typing on an iPad.

the only Apple thing i ever bought was a keyboard..
to harvest the Alps!

 :cool:
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Bartlebum on Tue, 03 November 2015, 23:40:14
People here should try the new Force Touchpad before jumping to conclusions.
It offers a very tactile sensation that, when implemented as a keyboard, would feel nothing like typing on an iPad.

I use the new Force Touch on my Mac all the time, that being said I still think it would feel like typing on an iPad that vibrates. It doesn't give the same feedback as physically pressing something. Yes, it feels awesome, but a different kind of awesome.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: SamirD on Wed, 04 November 2015, 12:33:31
Well, this will be the best keyboard for my brother.  His rsi is non-existent on the ipad keyboard due to the super light touch that is possible.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: chyros on Wed, 04 November 2015, 13:04:17
People here should try the new Force Touchpad before jumping to conclusions.
It offers a very tactile sensation that, when implemented as a keyboard, would feel nothing like typing on an iPad.

the only Apple thing i ever bought was a keyboard..
to harvest the Alps!

 :cool:
In other words, you liked the one bit that wasn't Apple-made xD . Good choice!
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: MeltingTeeth on Wed, 04 November 2015, 16:11:01
Well, this will be the best keyboard for my brother.  His rsi is non-existent on the ipad keyboard due to the super light touch that is possible.

Ugh, how can he type on that?
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: SamirD on Wed, 04 November 2015, 19:23:51
Well, this will be the best keyboard for my brother.  His rsi is non-existent on the ipad keyboard due to the super light touch that is possible.

Ugh, how can he type on that?
I dunno, but it works for him.  He literally has to barely apply any pressure, which when you have carpel tunnel like he does makes sense.

I was just talking to him yesterday about how a touchscreen keyboard would be his ultimate.  He said yes, but then that they'd never make one because it's too expensive, lol.  So much for that!

Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 05 November 2015, 03:45:10
Well, this will be the best keyboard for my brother.  His rsi is non-existent on the ipad keyboard due to the super light touch that is possible.

Ugh, how can he type on that?
I dunno, but it works for him.  He literally has to barely apply any pressure, which when you have carpel tunnel like he does makes sense.

I was just talking to him yesterday about how a touchscreen keyboard would be his ultimate.  He said yes, but then that they'd never make one because it's too expensive, lol.  So much for that!

Problem is, this will likely require more force than a normal touchscreen keyboard. One of the problems with a touchscreen is you can't rest your fingers on any keys, so you're always holding your hands up (stressing shoulders). With this tech you can rest your fingers and it requires a certain pressure threshold to actuate. Since it probably takes up a good deal less space than even the new crappy Apple laptop keyboards (and they don't seem to care about either customer health or how their boards feel anymore) they'll probably actually implement it for their new "Air".

Then there's this: http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/glass-keyboard-by-bastron/

A problem with typing on a solid surface is the shock.
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: Bucake on Thu, 05 November 2015, 04:06:42
glass keyboard? phew, no thanks..
typing on a hard flat surface totally sucks.
mech forever!
Title: Re: Apple patents switch-less Force Touch keyboard for Mac...
Post by: SamirD on Thu, 05 November 2015, 11:29:40
Well, this will be the best keyboard for my brother.  His rsi is non-existent on the ipad keyboard due to the super light touch that is possible.

Ugh, how can he type on that?
I dunno, but it works for him.  He literally has to barely apply any pressure, which when you have carpel tunnel like he does makes sense.

I was just talking to him yesterday about how a touchscreen keyboard would be his ultimate.  He said yes, but then that they'd never make one because it's too expensive, lol.  So much for that!

Problem is, this will likely require more force than a normal touchscreen keyboard. One of the problems with a touchscreen is you can't rest your fingers on any keys, so you're always holding your hands up (stressing shoulders). With this tech you can rest your fingers and it requires a certain pressure threshold to actuate. Since it probably takes up a good deal less space than even the new crappy Apple laptop keyboards (and they don't seem to care about either customer health or how their boards feel anymore) they'll probably actually implement it for their new "Air".

Then there's this: http://thegadgetflow.com/portfolio/glass-keyboard-by-bastron/

A problem with typing on a solid surface is the shock.
Thank you for the link!  I think that's the keyboard I need to get my brother.

He's adjusted his force to the point it's just enough to activate the key via the touch screen.  So in fact it is much, much less strain.

I don't know how he does deal with not being able to rest the fingers on the keys though--that's a valid issue.  I think he may completely hover his hands, but I'll have to watch him the next time he's on his ipad.
glass keyboard? phew, no thanks..
typing on a hard flat surface totally sucks.
mech forever!
I'm with you except that there is some merit to not having to put much force at all to activate a key.  Then all the strain is reduced because pressing a key isn't a strain anymore.