Comments on: Future of Mac & iOS Keyboards? Apple Patent Shows Virtual Keyboard with Air Feedback System

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:45:11 +0000

Could have pegs under the holes so when you hit the key they clear it out.

By: Krecci

Krecci — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:24:36 +0000

Very good point, this would not work if these virtual pores clog. Perhaps Apple will utilize a technology or coating which many jackets have that allows air to pass through but moisture to stay out? The problem with these coatings is that they wear off over time, it has to be part of the material like, like snake skin.

By: iOS to Gain ‘Chameleon-Like’ Reactive Environmentally Aware Features & Screen Savers?

Thu, 12 May 2011 22:16:45 +0000

[...] is on a roll today, first finding a patent for futuristic virtual Apple keyboards that puff air to emulate the feel of pressing buttons, and now with this. Pretty impressive stuff, assuming Apple [...]

By: 911

911 — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:28:54 +0000

The dirt on a keyboard was my first thought as well. Seems so obvious, the idea is pretty much dead in the water. Except, I wonder if there would be some sort of thin coating layer above the air jets, and the user would still feel some of the pressure?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:46:07 +0000

Wow, Darian raises a very nasty point.

By: Darian

Darian — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:16:55 +0000

Presumably the micro-perforations will still be larger than water or dirt molecules and dead skin cells, so they would likely get clogged pretty quickly. It would need fairly powerful jets of air to unclog this kind of goo.