Apple patents dyamically-lit keyboard concept

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A second Apple patent application, published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office, shows a new keyboard design that may change how some future Macs operate. Each key in the new layout has multiple OLED lights, which are tied to application-specific integrated circuits; the lights can form symbols specific to a command, and may in some cases be animated, across individual individual keys as well as whole groups. An unspecified form of tactile feedback may also be present. The concept bears a resemblance to Art Lebedev's Optimus Maximus keyboard, which has yet to be released, but which also features dynamic OLED lights that respond to different program contexts. Were Apple to follow in Lebedev's tracks, users would, for instance, be able to hit keys specifically tailored to functions in Final Cut Pro, or switch between languages and see the results displayed in front of them. The current problem with Lebedev's keyboard is cost however, as it is on pre-order for $462. Apple would likely have to use a much cheaper implementation in a mass-marketed product.

Hope to see this soon? Some would say that the 'different' style backlit keyboard could be very practical, while others say it could be just a goof-off. This may just be what video editors, photo editors, and plain old consumers alike have been waiting for.

Source; MacNN

#486003

Now that would be cool.

But in typical Apple fashion, you know it ain't gonna be cheap.

#486006

Yeh... apple premium cost. But it would be interesting to see if they make it, can they make it cheaper than Art.LabeDev's Optimus Maximus Keyboard!!

Which, already is costing around $1500+ for all-key (means all active OLED keys) configuration.

EDIT : Check their demo as well, this is something Apple's patent intend to do

#486027

I checked the demo... the idea is great, however... I don't look at the keyboard while I type it would be too slow. I just type and check I typed right by just looking at the screen. It would be *a lot* cheaper -indeed it could be freeware- to have such keyboard feedback directly in the screen (at least to me)

Edit: now I noticed the keys on the left (Firefox, Mail, etc...). A good idea which I'm not seeing in the demo would be to have a set of keys with OLED screens which would change depending on the app, I mean, suppose there are about 6 of these keys... then when running Winamp they could show up symbols like |<, <<, >, >>, >|; instead while reading mail they could show something like <-, ->, X, RE, FWD.

#486030

Yeh... apple premium cost. But it would be interesting to see if they make it, can they make it cheaper than Art.LabeDev's Optimus Maximus Keyboard!!

Which, already is costing around $1500+ for all-key (means all active OLED keys) configuration.

EDIT : Check their demo as well, this is something Apple's patent intend to do

$1500???

It says "approx. 462.27 US$"

Still too pricey for a keyboard.

Wonder what happens when you spill your coffee on it?

#486033

Oh, nothing, you just bought a 462.27 dollars coffee cup.

#486039

Ahh... never mind... the "cheap one" only has 1 active key.

The full blown board at $15k... NOT!!!

That would buy way too many nice guitars for that kind of cash.

#486040

ooh this is gonna be cool. knowing apple, they'll make it good.

this technology is nothin new tho... but then again, neither was multi touch and look what its done in the iphone.

#487503

A simple chip that controls different LEDs under keys in the keyboard....I never really understood why it would cost soo much :slant:

#487555

I never really understood why it would cost soo much

Not just simple chip.... each key with it's own OLED display, which by the way... is removable easily for cleaning purposes. To engineer such detachable device is itself is quite a work. Plus software/drivers to interact with said chip... ability to create customizable profiles for different applications.

Besides, Art.Lebdev isn't a huge corporation like Apple... so creating each keyboard costs them much more. Apple can cut lot of costs on the same due to the sheer volume they can make it with. Plus Apple has lot of money to invest in research and development, to find out cheaper materials and ways to achieve the same result at lesser costs. Keeping the end product costing much lesser than what Art.Levbev can offer... while still making profit on it.

I hope now you understand..

#487561