Apple developing dynamic keyboard
According to Apple Insider, Apple has filed a patent for a dynamic, OLED-based keyboard that will allow on-the-fly keyboard layouts via software. Each key would have a matrix of OLEDs (organic light emitting diodes) that display that key's currently configured character.Not only would this dynamic keyboard design be able to show you the effects of meta keys on standard keys, it would also allow for swappable language configurations. As a user with a bizarre keyboard fetish, I would personally jump all over this, even if it didn't have the Matias Mechanical Keyswitch.
[via Apple Insider]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason said 1:07PM on 1-03-2008
I think these guys already did this:
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/
-J
Reply
DagMX said 1:10PM on 1-03-2008
Yeah, can anyone explain the difference between this and the art lebedev 'concept'?
Reply
kayone said 4:11PM on 1-04-2008
artlebedev keyboard is not a concept, it's a real product. it was demoed in Artlebedev Shop in Moscow
Brett Terpstra said 1:16PM on 1-03-2008
Point taken. I will have to sheepishly admit to being in the dark on the Optimus Maximus. I wonder if Apple's will sell for over $450, too?
Reply
Rhywun said 2:00PM on 1-03-2008
Yeah, I thought of the Optimus too (although I didn't know its name); and I thought--then as now: (a) I really, really want one, and (b) I really don't want to pay $500 for it.
Reply
mark said 2:06PM on 1-03-2008
$450 will pretty much just get you 'in the door' with the optimus maximus. That version only comes with an OLED space bar. The full model, with all OLED keys comes in at over $1500.
http://store.artlebedev.com/computer_add-ons/optimus/
Jon said 2:23PM on 1-03-2008
I really hope they add this to the MacBook. I didn't buy a MacBook Pro because I didn't want a 15" laptop. The MacBook is the perfect size BUT it doesn't have the backlit keyboard which really sucks for me. This would correct my one complaint about the MacBook :)
Reply
phlyingpenguin said 2:23PM on 1-03-2008
This would be quite nice as I'm a Dvorak user and reconfiguring keys is less than a joy to do. Most keyboards come out okay, but I miss the dimples for my home row keys which ought to be on U and H for Dvorak.
I'm sure it'd be far from simple on a laptop, but I actually damaged my laptop re-arranging them on the first try. The keyboard and mouse became unresponsive from a severed connection. I then re-arranged again not 5 minutes after getting it back from service.
Reply
Dan Parmelee said 2:27PM on 1-03-2008
Could go a long way towards some sort of iPhone with a mechanical keyboard.
Reply
Shunnabunich said 2:59PM on 1-03-2008
Wouldn't it make more sense to have e-paper keys that only use a bit of energy when they're changing? If the transition time (which I recall reading is still a couple seconds between images) can be shaved down, it'd be viable for the "showing the effects of the Option key" scenario too, and backlighting would perhaps be optional, instead of having OLEDs glaring in your face every time you looked down. I wonder which has a longer lifespan, too.
Reply
Jon H said 9:29PM on 1-03-2008
e-ink's patent holders might want too much money, and might not have the production capacity for 104 little e-ink keys times millions of keyboards.
required said 3:16PM on 1-03-2008
Does anyone know why they chose OLEDs? I was under the impression that those degraded over time. Seems it would make more sense to use the type of LCDs or LEDs found in calculators and old gameboys as they are quite inexpensive and have a proven track record.
Reply
Mo said 3:22PM on 1-03-2008
LCDs require backlighting, which would be both difficult in the available space, and would be enormously environmentally-unfriendly.
(O)LEDs themselves emit light, and so don't require backlights.
Peter said 3:35PM on 1-03-2008
Although I'm generally opposed to the current patent system, I think this would be a great item for Apple to implement. This isn't to say it hasn't been done before, but Apple can do things in volume, which would drive the price down, increase features (resolution, software customizability, maybe even sensors in a keyboard that lets you drag your finger above it like a track pad for an additional input device), and it'll be quite a product. Now all we need are keyboards that can safely take a spray of windex, and we'll be set.
Reply
Amit said 3:49PM on 1-03-2008
Wow! Apple is always upto something which no one has thought about...
bookmarked @ livbit
http://www.livbit.com
Reply
Just Cause said 4:05PM on 1-03-2008
Oh no, I see it now, reports of people typing slower on a Mac due to the letters noting being raised on the keyboard. It's the iPhone all over again.
Serious note: is digital paper or OLED better for this application?
Reply
Rowdehaj said 4:33PM on 1-03-2008
I actually think E-INK would be a better solution to this. Does anybody know about the limitations of that technology and (without mentioning the fact that it's backlit :P) the pros for OLED in comparison to it? Because quite frankly, having a keyboard with dotted letters such a shown in the mockup, does not look appealing to me at all. I've grown to like Apple's keyboard fonts, I hope they won't go cheap on us.
Reply
Rowdehaj said 4:39PM on 1-03-2008
Wow, I'm a 'tard. This has been brought up three times already :D
Reply
alxndr said 4:54PM on 1-03-2008
The Optimus Keyboard team wrote about their decision to use OLEDs on the product blog.
Reply
(01) said 9:13PM on 1-03-2008
Not having to spend enough money to buy a plasma TV for a dynamic keyboard? Yes please.
Reply