Optimus-like OLED Apple Keyboard?

[MacRumors]

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]

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

 

[CWallace]

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

 

[Yankees 4 Life]

very nice concept

 

[Infinity]

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]

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

 

[krye]

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]

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]

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

I can not believe I said OMG.

 

[JFreak]

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]

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

 

[longofest]

In a word: yes.

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

 

[Rychiar]

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]

The patent application was filed March 13, 2007

arn

 

[srobert]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

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]

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]

A keyboard like this on the macbook pro would be awesome

 

[Mydel]

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]

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]

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]

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...

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.