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iSlate Input Alternatives: Handwriting Recognition Without a Stylus and Much More
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I am really hoping for stylus based handwriting recognition (as well as other input forms). I saw this replacing my paper notebook at work. I go to meetings, take hand written notes and then have to type them up for filing etc. It would be great if I could write the notes on the slate as I would a normal notebook, convert them to an acceptable document format and then file that as required.
I also think that a stylus would be better for sketching, marking up maps/images etc.
The problem with the finger for drawing is the drag - a stylus is much smoother.
I also think that a stylus would be better for sketching, marking up maps/images etc.
The problem with the finger for drawing is the drag - a stylus is much smoother.
Thanks! Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I have about 90% accuracy with my Apple predictions!
I must say that while I certainly don't have any better ideas as far as input methods go, the idea of writing with a pretend stylus just seems awkward and a bit...embarrassing. Imagine sitting on a train doing that, and admit that you'd feel at least a little bit self-conscious. Imagine being in a restaurant and the waitress is using one to take your order....I think people watching (and people will be at least to begin with) would be silently giggling under their breaths.
Anything that makes the user feel self-conscious like that will never get off the ground. They may release it, but damn I hope for something more impressive.
Remember one of the rumors said SJ was very happy with this thingy. If that's the case, I suspect we'll be pleased too. I'm now more curious than guessing.
I remember the UMPC being hyped up around 2004-2005 and was planning to buy one. I realized the interface was an afterthought, the device was expensive for being basically a netbook with no keyboard, so I ended up buying a Fujitsu tablet PC instead, which I found very useful
I don't think a stylus is a bad thing given we all learned to write and draw using pencils and a tablet is a natural extension of that - digitizing the pad and pencil. The only drawback is a stylus can be lost and as far as Apple engineering, it doesn't fit into their design methodology of making things simpler and sleeker.
Like everyone else, I'm wondering what Apple's vision for their tablet is
I remember being able to do something like this on Windows XP Tablet
In 2006 Apple applied for a patent that shows something similar to Dialkeys, the "big" difference being that the whole keyboard is on the same "arc".
From the patent:
I wonder if having the whole keyboard on a single arc instead of splitting it in two is a big enough difference to get that patent accepted and avoid getting sued by the Dialkeys patent holders.
You can take a look at the rest of the patent here: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph....PGNR.&OS=DN/20060085757RS=DN/20060085757&RS=
(Note, support for TIFF images is broken in Snow Leopard's Quicktime plug-in)
From the patent:
I wonder if having the whole keyboard on a single arc instead of splitting it in two is a big enough difference to get that patent accepted and avoid getting sued by the Dialkeys patent holders.
You can take a look at the rest of the patent here: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph....PGNR.&OS=DN/20060085757RS=DN/20060085757&RS=
(Note, support for TIFF images is broken in Snow Leopard's Quicktime plug-in)
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Steve may "dislike styluses" but I guarantee you he does not sign contracts, with finger paint.
Which is the whole problem, with his disdain for the stylus, precision.
I have yet to see anywhere near the precision one can get with even the cheapest Wacom tablet, not to mention ergonomic comfort with finger touch.
The coating on the current ipod touch while mayby helping with smudging. often drags my finger, making any sort of drawing or other precision, non existent on the touch.
personally I would love to see both, finger for basic commands, with the option of stylus for precision work such as artwork, signature, or hand written or jotted notes.
The patent examiner has issued a rejection in light of US5,627,567, an old HP patent. Currently awaiting PTO's response to the most recent amendment/traverse.
Hmm interesting info cmaier!
Though, looking at the patent closely, it seems that it wasn't really about the arc-shaped keyboard itself, but rather about methods to improve detection of touch presses on buttons. The arc-shaped keyboard was just an example in Apple's patent.
So the question remains, could Apple include a single arc-shaped keyboard on the tablet without being sued by the Dialkeys patent holders?
Do you know the patent number for the dialkeys patent? I can't seem to find anything assigned to dialkeys.
I just did some research. Dialkeys is a product from a company called Fortune Fountain which seems like a small company. Its CEO/Product Manager is Steve Van der Hoeven.
Searching for patents from him led me to patent US 7555732 "Apparatus method and system for a data entry interface" and it looks like the Dialkeys patent, featuring images of arc-shaped keyboards (on an iPod-like device?). You can take a look at the patent here: http://www.google.com/patents?id=qZnHAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q=&f=false
The patent seems to describe specific methods of detecting finger inputs on arc-shaped buttons.
But I just remembered, it's very hard to patent a shape (you can patent methods to produce a shape, but not the shape itself), and this patent is not about the shape of the keyboard itself. Apple has its own set of patents for methods to detect finger input using multi-touch screens, and these can probably be adapted to any shape, including an arc-shaped keyboard...
IANAPL (I Am Not A Patent Lawyer), but I think that Apple could implement it on the tablet without any fear of being sued for the shape itself.
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In fifty years....
....kids will say Grandpa, you used to use a pencil? What's a pencil? Is it that stick thingy that we saw in the museum?
....kids will say Grandpa, you used to use a pencil? What's a pencil? Is it that stick thingy that we saw in the museum?
I certainly hope it is not going to be a largely passive device. That does not sound like the Apple way.
Many people write on the move, (e-mails, blogs, status updates), and are creating content all the time. I'm hoping for a good solution for quick text input, whatever that may be.