Patent For Configurable Input System Emerges

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Hrmph reports on a recently released patent filed by Apple for a configurable input system that is shown to be applicable for an iPod and a laptop computer.

Apple seems to propose that you take a ‘blank’ iPod and add a wheel for a standard iPod, add a keypad to make it a phone - add a joystick to make it a game machine. The overlays are identified by the computer/device and it reacts accordingly. Imagine adding a nice volume control to your iPod. The ‘blank’ iPod can be made into a PDA, cell phone, game machine, handtop or remote control.

Add a joystick to your MacBook? How about a mixing desk?
Presumably, this would allow third-party vendors to design their on interfaces for the iPod/MacBook- this would make an extremely versatile machine. Examples mention by Apple include surfaces to make your MacBook a music/video editing machine or even overlays allowing you to add two buttons to your MacBooks touchpad.

The concept is based around adding physical/tactile controls over a touch-sensitive pad. By having such a modular system, an iPod or laptop could become even more multi-functional. The following image depicts several different modules that could be used on a laptop.

http://guides.macrumors.com/images/1...onfigInput.png

As a grain of salt, readers are reminded that Apple routinely patents technology that never makes it into shipping products.

[Mac Fly (film)]

I like!
/Borat

[Peace]

It's a great inovative concept.One that could actually be popular and work.

[nodrog6]

This is the most innovative idea I have seen in a long time. Way to go Apple!

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by nodrog6

This is the most innovative idea I have seen in a long time. Way to go Apple!

I had a video game sysem back in the 80s that did this...each game cartridge had its own interface and programming. It basicually used a the same touch pad to interpret the location of the finger pressing and the programing to tell it what to do with the input.

While this does present some interesting concepts...it looks like more vaporware from Apple. Companies routinely patent ideas for later use or more commonly to just 'hedge' their products or keep others from developing them. Other countries have a better idea. If you don't push to take it to market, you lose your patent. Whats the sense in patents that exist only to stiffle an industry? And I have 3 patents, 2 of which will never see the light of day. Just like many alternative fuel technologies. The small companies that hold patents get bought up by the gas guzzling car makers and the development of these technologies all but stops.

[McGiord]

I believe this type of design is much like what Handspring did when they launched their Plam OS based PDAs with a springboard port some years ago, in that period of time instead of buying a Palm Pilot it was much better to buy a Handspring PDA, why? Because you had a way to expand your PDA with the right accesories, do you remember the GPS, the phone, even a vehicle scan tool, camera, etc... Very neat feature that soon evolved to what we currenlty know as Smartphones (the Treos and so on...).
Anyway, this is a nice topic for discussion, because like everything in life, when you are anlyzing to take a decision, you balance what you want vs what the market offer, and based on that some features will be there, and some will not or they'll too costly, but you have to make a choice!!!
Right now some smartphones allow you to do almost everything from just talk with it (it's a phone) even to watch live TV shows and connect to the web, emails, high quality video/photo recording, playback and even some edit...but...yes, but there is always something sacrifized, even it is money, type of service, with wi-fi/no wifi, bluetooth/no bluetooth, with QWERTY/no keyboard, touchscreen/plain screen, pull or push email service, palm os/windows BLABLA, etc...etc...

So this make me wonder, is Apple finnaly going to do it, once and for all, I have been waiting many many years for a nice Apple's PDA have it all type of device.

Have you ever wonder why the Newton was so great when it was launched, and why it died some time after? Well, sad but true it's all about money, so the add what you need/want feature of any device in this fast evolving tech market is a nice and competitive way to go.

Will Appple do it, or will just research it, or will just keep it as an strategic move? Who knows..probably only Mr. Jobs...

Well, I hope they make it, at least as a prototype that they we'll show in one of those Apple media shows, to at least crank all the other tech providers/accesories developers to start to offer alterantives with nice new solutions for people like us.

I like the idea, but remember there is always something to be sacrifized....you'll have to carry on all the gadgets you need to have a fully operational piece of hardware...or could you live with some standard features and carry on with what you don't have in your have it all portable device.....

Enjoy, have fun!!!

Dreaming is and always will be FREE!!!!
But to live your Dreams you'll have to pay a FEE!!!


SIDE QUESTION:
DUDE COULD YOU DETAIL WHICH VIDEO GAME SYSTEM WAS THIS ONE:

Originally Posted by CTYankee

I had a video game sysem back in the 80s that did this...each game cartridge had its own interface and programming. It basicually used a the same touch pad to interpret the location of the finger pressing and the programing to tell it what to do with the input.

[weg]

Originally Posted by Peace

It's a great inovative concept.One that could actually be popular and work.

Don't know.. I know some mobile phones that have a keypad as overlay for a touchscreen.. though this keypad is not exchangable. However, the idea isn't all that new.

[JMax1]

After watching the TV interview... let the host ask again "Yeah, but HOW is Apple innovative?"

Can I put a beer dispenser into my MacBook?

[racebit]

That is such a neat idea. However, I somehow get the feeling that makes me doubt its inclusion in any of apple's new products in 2007.

[applecrag]

this sounds pretty cool. is it possible to do this and keep a sturdy product? correct me if im wrong but i thought they moved away from the moving wheel (1G ipod) to the touch wheel because it was less moving parts. very cool and innovative. i hope this is something that gets used and knowing apple they will use it well!

[Spanky Deluxe]

I really don't think they will actually market this and if they do the modules will cost a fortune.

[dmw007]

One word: AWESOME!

[Leej]

Very very slick, but (like mentioned) this looks like the kind of thing that never materializes. Say... I wonder if they could make a good espresso maker input/output system...

[dmw007]

Originally Posted by Leej

Say... I wonder if they could make a good espresso maker input/output system...

I'll drink to that!

[BlueRevolution]

Not gonna happen. For starters, how do you type in names for your audio tracks when you've got your keyboard swapped for a mixer?

Still, neat idea.

[Reverend Wally]

Originally Posted by BlueRevolution

Not gonna happen. For starters, how do you type in names for your audio tracks when you've got your keyboard swapped for a mixer?

Still, neat idea.

Have a fixed row of preset and a few reprogrammable keys to call up the interactive functionality of each seperate module so by switching the module to do each task you could record your info with one module switch the module while the file is open push the correct preset key and name the file then go on to the next either related or new task at hand.

[csimmons]

Originally Posted by Reverend Wally

Have a fixed row of preset and a few reprogrammable keys to call up the interactive functionality of each seperate module so by switching the module to do each task you could record your info with one module switch the module while the file is open push the correct preset key and name the file then go on to the next either related or new task at hand.

Take a look at this:

http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php

a killer interface, easy to program, it works, and is shipping since about a year. The tech is here, so I would expect Apple to be able to implement it in their products.

[MacQuest]

Originally Posted by BlueRevolution

Not gonna happen. For starters, how do you type in names for your audio tracks when you've got your keyboard swapped for a mixer?

Still, neat idea.

External keyboard.

The overlay input device would obviously need to replace the laptop's keyboard, but plugging in an external keyboard would be easy enough.

I don't agree with "Spanky Deluxe" who said that these overlays would cost a fortune.

They would certainly cost less than buying a completely physically separate component.

I keep imagining something like those "Z-Board" gaming keyboards that are custom made for each game, but in this case it's just the overlay and the functionality that changes.

Interesting...

[Aldyn]

yes, please!

[JMax1]

Originally Posted by MacQuest

External keyboard.

Why not keep the keyboard and use an external mixer?

[lazyrighteye]

Originally Posted by MacQuest

The overlay input device would obviously need to replace the laptop's keyboard, but plugging in an external keyboard would be easy enough.

Plug in... Bluetooth. Either way, interesting concept.

[sPAULj]

Originally Posted by BlueRevolution

Not gonna happen. For starters, how do you type in names for your audio tracks when you've got your keyboard swapped for a mixer?

The laptop would have wireless in it. Why not make simple wireless connectivity to have a constant connection with the keyboard when detached?

[Flowbee]

Of course this would be pretty cool... but I'm thinking in practical application it will turn out to just be different colored faceplates for the iPhone.

[Chef Medeski]

Originally Posted by sPAULj

The laptop would have wireless in it. Why not make simple wireless connectivity to have a constant connection with the keyboard when detached?

If you are going to use BT for the keyboard, why don't you just make all these peripherials BT?

A BT mixer. A BT tactile volume control. It would be impossible to have this and keep a portable semi-rugged laptop that isn't the size of a tank. Yet, its useless. You might as well do the same thing with BT instead of wasting all that money on an interface that is clunky.

Definitely NOT smart.



Think about it a BT espresso machine.

[thejadedmonkey]

Moreover, while the rudimentary mechanical controls typically provide tactile cues (clicks), the more advanced touch sensing devices do not. As such, the user does not know when the device has produced a touch input. In some cases, a simple decal is provided over the touch pad to indicate the location of dedicated touch controls.

http://hrmpf.com/wordpress/wp-conten.../picture-5.png

Look at 610A. It's a mouse pad with two buttons. I'd say, one physical button, but touch sensitive so it knows which side was pressed.

So it's cool, I'm guessing it's really a lot of mumbo-jumbo to hide their new laptop mouse button.

Remember, if they can run XP now, they need two mouse buttons. plus, for people who only like one button, it's still just one button.