Optimus-like OLED Apple Keyboard?

MacRumors · 10:51 AM

A newly revealed patnent application (March 13, 2007) from Apple which describes dynamically changing keys using OLED (organic light emitting diodes) on each key face. This is similar to the widely-publicized (but not yet shipping) Optimus keyboard:

By modifying the key faces, keys could reflect the current functionality, rather than relying on memorizing shortcuts. When introducing the iPhone, Apple boasted that the lack of physical keys meant that the user interface was entirely flexible.

Article Link

kainjow · Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM

How about Apple patents ideas that are theirs, not someone else's

CWallace · Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM

I believe Apple is also working on an "Optimus Tactus" style multi-touch display keyboard.

Yankees 4 Life · Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM

very nice concept

krye · Jan 3, 2008, 10:45 AM

Cool, and unlike Art Lebedev, Apple actually has the cash to pull this off and make it affordable to the masses

Infinity · Jan 3, 2008, 10:45 AM

Art Lebedev, Look out, you better ship your overpriced/over-publicized soon to be-but-not-yet-shipped keyboard sometime this decade.

Actually scrap that last paragraph. Bring it on Apple!

krye · Jan 3, 2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinity

Art Lebedev, Look out, you better ship your overpriced/over-publicized soon to be-but-not-yet-shipped keyboard sometime this decade.

Yeh, maybe the people that bought the Axiotron ModBook will find this keyboard handy! Ha!

jakebot · Jan 3, 2008, 10:47 AM

yeah...well, macrumors says "new patent application" where as the article says the patent has "recently surfaced" so (not knowing much about patent applications) couldnt that mean they have patented it a while back? maybe something different than what Optimus has done.

If they got it to a decent price, it would be AMAZING. I use so many pro applications where I need custom keyboards for each. This would greatly help workflow. I've been dreaming of having a product like this for so long.

synth3tik · Jan 3, 2008, 10:48 AM

OMG. I love the Optimus. I also think OLEDs are one of the coolest concepts.

I can not believe I said OMG.

JFreak · Jan 3, 2008, 10:49 AM

I'd buy such a keyboard in a heartbeat if Apple can make it just right as they usually do. This one looks bulky but Apple's is most likely a beautiful clean glass board.

xBerserker · Jan 3, 2008, 10:49 AM

Very cool. I'd get one if it wasn't to pricey.

longofest · Jan 3, 2008, 10:51 AM

In a word: yes.

If anyone could bring this lickable keyboard to fruition, Apple could.

Rychiar · Jan 3, 2008, 10:51 AM

how bout a new mouse...ya know one that doesnt have a trackball on top that becomes useless when you touch it for a month...grrr

arn · Jan 3, 2008, 10:52 AM

The patent application was filed March 13, 2007

arn

srobert · Jan 3, 2008, 10:54 AM

If this is ever turned into a real product, I hope Apple include a security lock slot on the keyboard.

Desirable + Expensive + easy to carry + left alone at work = danger ^_^

Slip · Jan 3, 2008, 10:55 AM

As long as its under a hundred notes Im game. Would be nice to be able to dim the keys at night/have them illuminate gently.

ejbenjamin · Jan 3, 2008, 10:57 AM

This would be a great keyboard for Final Cut users. I've used some Avid systems that have keyboard overlays, but a dynamic keyboard would be so much better. I want the icons to change with context-- e.g., if a key's function changes when I hold down the Shift key, I want the image on the key to change accordingly.

JFreak · Jan 3, 2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xBerserker

Very cool. I'd get one if it wasn't to pricey.

Exactly. Currently the wireless keyboard that costs 78 euros and offers nothing new is overpriced; however, if this would be added to it, the price would be just perfect.

AmbitiousLemon · Jan 3, 2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kainjow

How about Apple patents ideas that are theirs, not someone else's

Maybe Apple is patenting a version of this idea that actually works

Quote:

A corresponding key and manufacturing method, as well as a computer system including one or more such keys are also

This makes it sound like Apple is patenting the whole solution top to bottom, which might get them around the prior art requirement since their whole solution might be considerably different even though the end result is the same. This would also mean though that the scope of the patent would be limited to their implementation.

Mydel · Jan 3, 2008, 11:04 AM

New wireless keyboard is 79$. Now I dont even wanna think how much would that OLED be...

Art Lebedev is over 1000$ if Im correct. I guess that it would run 300$ +....at least

JFreak beat me by 3 min

r88my · Jan 3, 2008, 11:04 AM

A keyboard like this on the macbook pro would be awesome

Mydel · Jan 3, 2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r88my

A keyboard like this on the macbook pro would be awesome

I think that it would not be build in. Just an external. Do you really use your laptop keyboard all that much?

Gelfin · Jan 3, 2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kainjow

How about Apple patents ideas that are theirs, not someone else's

Patent law is a lot more subtle than this. Take a look at the specific claims they make and realize that a patent examiner might reject some of the earlier claims based on the prior art described for the Optimus and allow later ones that build on them to stand. There are some novel innovations in there not described in the Optimus literature, but more than that when filing a patent this scattershot approach is really the only sane way to go.

For that matter, the examiner must determine how "real" the Optimus is. Patents aren't for ideas; they're for ideas reduced to practice. The fact that science fiction authors have written about FTL drives won't stop you from receiving a patent should you invent one.

r88my · Jan 3, 2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mydel

I think that it would not be build in. Just an external. Do you really use your laptop keyboard all that much?

All the time - I don't have an external keyboard. Something like this would prob be too expensive to justify buying for notebook owners.

diamond.g · Jan 3, 2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejbenjamin

This would be a great keyboard for Final Cut users. I've used some Avid systems that have keyboard overlays, but a dynamic keyboard would be so much better. I want the icons to change with context-- e.g., if a key's function changes when I hold down the Shift key, I want the image on the key to change accordingly.

The Optimus does that, if you go to the site and mess with the demo, you would see how awesome of an idea this is...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mydel

New wireless keyboard is 79$. Now I dont even wanna think how much would that OLED be...

Art Lebedev is over 1000$ if Im correct. I guess that it would run 300$ +....at least

JFreak beat me by 3 min

Optimus is only 430USD so I would figure Apple could do one for half price if they make a whole lot of them.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:39 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Optimus-like OLED Apple Keyboard? A newly revealed patnent application (March 13, 2007) from Apple which describes dynamically changing keys using OLED (organic light emitting diodes) on each key face. This is similar to the widely-publicized (but not yet shipping) Optimus keyboard: By modifying the key faces, keys could reflect the current functionality, rather than relying on memorizing shortcuts. When introducing the iPhone, Apple boasted that the lack of physical keys meant that the user interface was entirely flexible. Article Link Last edited by arn : Jan 3, 2008 at 10:51 AM.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM	#4
Yankees 4 Life macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: College Station, Tx	very nice concept __________________ That thing is the most expensive phone out there! $599 for a phone? It won’t even sell enough to break even!-Steve Balmer “An A-Bomb, From A-Rod”

Jan 3, 2008, 10:47 AM	#8
jakebot macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada	yeah...well, macrumors says "new patent application" where as the article says the patent has "recently surfaced" so (not knowing much about patent applications) couldnt that mean they have patented it a while back? maybe something different than what Optimus has done. If they got it to a decent price, it would be AMAZING. I use so many pro applications where I need custom keyboards for each. This would greatly help workflow. I've been dreaming of having a product like this for so long. __________________ Mac Pro 2.8ghz 8 core \| 2ghz c2d macbook \| iPhone

Jan 3, 2008, 10:48 AM	#9
synth3tik macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN	OMG. I love the Optimus. I also think OLEDs are one of the coolest concepts. I can not believe I said OMG. __________________ Come check out my music! http://www.batteriesarentfood.com http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BatteriesarentFood

Jan 3, 2008, 10:49 AM	#10
JFreak macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tampere, Finland	I'd buy such a keyboard in a heartbeat if Apple can make it just right as they usually do. This one looks bulky but Apple's is most likely a beautiful clean glass board. __________________ what we do in life, echoes in eternity.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM	#2
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	How about Apple patents ideas that are theirs, not someone else's

Jan 3, 2008, 10:43 AM	#3
CWallace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA	I believe Apple is also working on an "Optimus Tactus" style multi-touch display keyboard.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:45 AM	#5
krye macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA	Cool, and unlike Art Lebedev, Apple actually has the cash to pull this off and make it affordable to the masses

Jan 3, 2008, 10:45 AM	#6
Infinity macrumors member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Perth, Australia	Art Lebedev, Look out, you better ship your overpriced/over-publicized soon to be-but-not-yet-shipped keyboard sometime this decade. Actually scrap that last paragraph. Bring it on Apple!

Jan 3, 2008, 10:49 AM	#11
xBerserker macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SLC, Utah	Very cool. I'd get one if it wasn't to pricey.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:51 AM	#12
longofest Demi-God (Editor) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Falls Church, VA	In a word: yes. If anyone could bring this lickable keyboard to fruition, Apple could.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:51 AM	#13
Rychiar macrumors regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waterbury, CT	how bout a new mouse...ya know one that doesnt have a trackball on top that becomes useless when you touch it for a month...grrr

Jan 3, 2008, 10:52 AM	#14
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	The patent application was filed March 13, 2007 arn

Jan 3, 2008, 10:54 AM	#15
srobert macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada	If this is ever turned into a real product, I hope Apple include a security lock slot on the keyboard. Desirable + Expensive + easy to carry + left alone at work = danger ^_^ __________________ Zapp: The alien mothership is in orbit here. If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.

Jan 3, 2008, 10:55 AM	#16
Slip macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wiltshire, England	As long as its under a hundred notes Im game. Would be nice to be able to dim the keys at night/have them illuminate gently. __________________ Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired. SR MacBook\|2GHz\|4GB RAM\|250GB HDD

Jan 3, 2008, 10:57 AM	#17
ejbenjamin macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2005	This would be a great keyboard for Final Cut users. I've used some Avid systems that have keyboard overlays, but a dynamic keyboard would be so much better. I want the icons to change with context-- e.g., if a key's function changes when I hold down the Shift key, I want the image on the key to change accordingly.

Jan 3, 2008, 11:04 AM	#20
Mydel macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sometimes here mostly there	New wireless keyboard is 79$. Now I dont even wanna think how much would that OLED be... Art Lebedev is over 1000$ if Im correct. I guess that it would run 300$ +....at least JFreak beat me by 3 min

Jan 3, 2008, 11:04 AM	#21
r88my macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester UK	A keyboard like this on the macbook pro would be awesome

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