The Apple Tablet?s Surprise: Tactile Feedback?

After Wednesday’s barrage of Apple tablet rumors from media outlets big and small, Wired.com is convinced the long-awaited product will see the light of day in 2010. But there is one more thing.

New York Times writer Nick Bilton adds to the rumor frenzy with two sound bites from Apple staff.

“I can?t really say anything, but, let?s just say Steve is extremely happy with the new tablet,? a current senior Apple employee is quoted in Bilton’s post.

Bilton also cites a recently departed Apple employee who said, ?You will be very surprised how you interact with the new tablet.?

Intriguing, especially the second quote. Just how could the interaction method surprise us? In August 2008, a 52-page patent filed by Apple described how a touchscreen tablet might work. The patent described a device that would be able to detect simultaneous touches and gestures from two hands. But that hardly sounds like it would be surprising.

patent-091224-3 Interestingly, AppleInsider spotted a new patent application that was appeared this week in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s database. Filed by Apple, the patent application is titled “Keystroke tactility arrangement on a smooth touch surface.” It describes a tactile-feedback mechanism for a touch surface keyboard to create physical bumps for the user to feel the keys:

One approach is to provide tactile feedback mechanisms, such as dots, bars, or other shapes on all or many keys. In another embodiment, an articulating frame may be provided that extends when the surface is being used in a typing mode and retracts when the surface is used in some other mode, e.g., a pointing mode. The articulating frame may provide key edge ridges that define the boundaries of the key regions or may provide tactile feedback mechanisms within the key regions. The articulating frame may also be configured to cause concave depressions similar to mechanical key caps in the surface. In another embodiment, a rigid, non-articulating frame may be provided beneath the surface. A user will then feel higher resistance when pressing away from the key centers, but will feel a softer resistance at the key center.

Could that be the big surprise? It would certainly be a welcome addition to eliminate the need to stare at the keyboard while typing. And one could imagine it would be a crucial feature on a touchscreen device with a bigger screen.

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