Laptops that turn into tablets, tablets with detachable keyboards… the line between tablet, 2-in-1 and laptop is getting blurrier all the time, and a new patent recently filed by Apple suggests the trend for versatile devices is unlikely to go away any time soon.
We’re not talking about a touchscreen display here – we’re talking about a touchscreen keyboard underneath the display. Haptic feedback would be used to let you know when you’ve hit a key, though you’d just be hitting a flat surface with your fingers.
It’s essentially an iPad-style on-screen keyboard for your laptop: something Apple is dubbing “zero travel” (because your fingers don’t actually travel anywhere). No doubt the MacBook would be able to get even thinner as a result.
Keyboard evolution
While keyboard-lovers would be up-in-arms if the MacBooks adopted this new system, it would allow for flexible, custom keyboards just like those on iOS. The keyboard layout could change depending on the application being used.
Presumably battery life could be improved as well, which may help to sell the idea to MacBook buyers. Ultimately, Apple is unlikely to ditch the physical keyboard altogether – this is more likely to be an optional extra rather than something for its entire range.
As seasoned patent-watchers will know, these filings only show the ideas being thrown around behind the scenes, and there’s no guarantee something like this will ever see the light of day – though it’s fun to imagine a flat, touch-sensitive laptop keyboard.
Source: techradar.com
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How would battery life be improved? You're replacing a physical keyboard with another touch screen, which consumes the most battery out of all components. Please clarify.
If this comes out i hope you would rater use that windows setup
Nah The only reason why I chose the macbook air is because the keyboard has the best feedback for me.
yeah it doesn't seem very practical. although knowing Apple, they might use a more energy efficient processor and call it a day..
it is with respect to a "full screen tablet" as your keyboard not passive mechanical keys
no way!
I don't get the point?
The point of a touchscreen keyboard is because you don't have a physical keyboard.
A laptop with physical space for a keyboard but the buttons being haptic instead of physical just seems to be an exercise in less accurate typing without the gains of a less physical footprint a tablet offers.
Nope, touchscreen keyboards is the reason i have a laptop with a real keyboard.
That would be like Windows 7 with a touch screen back in 2010. A bit pointless.
I guess that goes to show how Microsoft has leaped ahead on Apple in terms of OS compatibility across platforms.