Apple, the technology giant, has reported a new patent to remove laptop physical keyboards. The latest Apple keyboard patent issued on March 30th describes a “power-sensitive electronic system input structure,” replacing keys with small displays on the keyboard. Instead, the usual QWERTY configuration can be modified based on user preferences. For example, the user may want to switch between the first (e.g., English-language) and second formats of a keyboard (e.g., a Chinese-language layout). An electronic system’s control circuit will then change the keyboard labels displayed from English to Chinese letters in response to the input for switching the keyboard, thus reversing the keyboard from the first format to a second format.
Apple appears essentially to extend the technology used by today’s MacBooks in the touch bar. This is the slim band of OLED screen that’s right now on top of the MacBook Pro keys. The patent states, “keys attached to a housing” with a “movable key member” on each ticket and the “associated key display” on the new keyboard. It implies that Apple does not remove the tactile feedback from keyboards but tries to make every critical multifunctional. A fibre optic plate may shape each primary moving key. A coherent fibre bundle with opposed first and second surfaces may form the fibre optic plate. The first surface can be next to the key’s display and shown with key label images. The second surface will face a user externally and obtain key-press feedback from the user’s fingers key label images.
It is, of course, uncertain if this technology would eventually be implemented in MacBooks by Apple. A change to the keyboard could lead to an essential user-learning curve that is difficult to justify consumer electronics. Current mechanical keyboards are based on years of research and science and rely on our users’ muscle memory over the years.
Technology such as this, however, may also overcome some of the limits of physical keyboards. For example, Apple may include changing the keyboards’ looks and adding stickers and emojis on the keyboards; some beautiful changes can be made with the keys’ RGB background colours. The patented keyboard’s functioning seems quite complicated for now, but as seen in the past, this new invention of the apple might change the entire path of how computers are made in today’s world. It sounds like a make or breaks invention, which could either take apple to new heights or can be a total market failure. Also, it will need to be really sophisticated because if it starts having technical troubles, this new patent of apple might become a new abomination for apple and could also ruin the spectacular brand image that the company has established after quite some hard work. For now, users can sit back and expect some new and exciting technology to come their way.
I have a feeling that this is the future. Do you think this is the future of keyboard? Let me know in the comments.
