Palm patents raised keys (serious!)

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2005, 08:36 AM

It's not enough that Palm had the ingenious idea of illuminatable hardware buttons; now they strike back with another revolutionary invention: raised keys on a miniature keyboard. According to the patent, the height of the keys are patterned in a way to improve data entry and decrease the chance of depressing multiple keys at a time.

There exists a need for a miniature keyboard that allows the user to accurately and confidently input the desired characters while maintaining a small and compact design that is desired by users and useful for portable applications...by incorporating different key arrangements and alternating the height of the keys, key differentiation and data input accuracy is greatly improved. Key differentiation is improved because better tactile feedback is provided when depressing keys. A point of reference is provided thereby avoiding pressing multiple keys or improper keys.

I'm hoping to wake up to find it's just an elaborate joke.

doctorow · 09-14-2005, 09:52 AM

Having such a keyboard wouldn't be bad. Data input is still the weakest aspect of handheld computing. If the "idea" of raised keys deserves to be patented... remains to be seen.

TadW · 09-14-2005, 10:31 AM

At least they're trying to bring something new to us. You have to give them that. If you look on the other hand what Microsoft has been doing all the while... nada!

Dick Tracy · 09-14-2005, 10:42 AM

Wow, it took four years to obtain the patent.

09-14-2005, 08:36 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Palm patents raised keys (serious!) It's not enough that Palm had the ingenious idea of illuminatable hardware buttons; now they strike back with another revolutionary invention: raised keys on a miniature keyboard. According to the patent, the height of the keys are patterned in a way to improve data entry and decrease the chance of depressing multiple keys at a time. There exists a need for a miniature keyboard that allows the user to accurately and confidently input the desired characters while maintaining a small and compact design that is desired by users and useful for portable applications...by incorporating different key arrangements and alternating the height of the keys, key differentiation and data input accuracy is greatly improved. Key differentiation is improved because better tactile feedback is provided when depressing keys. A point of reference is provided thereby avoiding pressing multiple keys or improper keys. I'm hoping to wake up to find it's just an elaborate joke. Attached Thumbnails

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09-14-2005, 09:52 AM	#2
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	Having such a keyboard wouldn't be bad. Data input is still the weakest aspect of handheld computing. If the "idea" of raised keys deserves to be patented... remains to be seen.

09-14-2005, 10:31 AM	#3
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	At least they're trying to bring something new to us. You have to give them that. If you look on the other hand what Microsoft has been doing all the while... nada!

09-14-2005, 10:42 AM	#4
Dick Tracy Detective Posts: 109 Karma: 4455 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Device: Palm TX	Wow, it took four years to obtain the patent.

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