Inkwell stylus

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
I read this comment over a macosrumors and thought I'd post it over here for discussion.



[quote] When you ponder the purpose of Apple's forthcoming InkWell handwriting-recognition technology, think about the way the trackpad works on PowerBooks and iBooks. Imagine if you could add an inexpensive stylus pen, and enter text much the same way it is done on the trackpad-like area of a Palm handheld or similar device. <hr></blockquote>



Anyone know how viable this is?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    keyboardf12keyboardf12 Posts: 1,379member
    i think there were apple patent pics a while back that showed exactly this.



    hope so.
  • Reply 2 of 11
    ibrowseibrowse Posts: 1,749member
    wait a sec, I don't get something. Does this mean a little pad to write on? Like a graphics tablet jr.?
  • Reply 3 of 11
    Seems like a plausible story, but the trackpad seems a tad small for such a use. Plus, there isn't really the space for resting your hand while writing. Alternatively, there's probably some prototypes of this working at Apple, and it probably would be easy to implement.



    This sounds like the kind of thing that someone "guessed" at, with the hope that Apple will do it and then they will look like they had inside info.
  • Reply 4 of 11
    If you read this in a certain way, it sounds as if Apple will sell you a stylus and the inkwell software, and you can just write all over your iBook or PowerBook's trackpad and it will appear on the screen.



    Am i reading this entirely wrong? Sounds like a cool idea, but it doesn't sound that useful if I am reading it right. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />



    I still reckon that Apple is leading up to another iDevice with this stuff, but it would be an interesesting bonus if it was incorporated into all of the existing laptops as well.
  • Reply 5 of 11
    macmattmacmatt Posts: 91member
    Maybe just flip the keyboard over... That would be cool if they put a pad type thing on the back of the iBook or PowerBook keyboard....
  • Reply 6 of 11
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    I'm telling you that a device with Bluetooth that also is a PDA is perfect for this. If connected to the Mac, it serves as a writing pad. If not, you take it with you for your handheld computing needs.



    It will act like a new peripheral like the mouse does and every Mac that can run 'Jaguar' will be able to use it.
  • Reply 7 of 11
    clonenodeclonenode Posts: 392member
    I don't think the current track-pad surface material is durable enough for stylus use. There has to be something more to this idea. And don't expect it tomorrow or at MacWorld. They won't be doing a major hardware design change on either the iBooks or the PowerBooks that soon. This is probably a leak about something that is due NEXT year.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    costiquecostique Posts: 1,084member
    Probably you would just write directly on the screen. It must be cool.
  • Reply 9 of 11
    david rdavid r Posts: 135member
    Not that I think it's going to happen, but they could always replace the laptop's keyboards for something like this <a href="http://www.fingerworks.com/mini_product.html"; target="_blank">http://www.fingerworks.com/mini_product.html</a>;



    Then the whole surface would be touch sensitive AND you can use a stylus.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    hirhir Posts: 66member
    Something like this would be cool.



  • Reply 11 of 11
    cdhostagecdhostage Posts: 1,038member
    No I don't want to hae to dissassmble and aresambnle my laptop every time I want to take notes.



    What I'd love is if the ENTIRE screen were capable of taing input from the stylus.



    Perhaps the stylus has a tiny magnet the size of a ball in a ballpoint pen. It won't disrupt the electronics, but its motion can be registered by a grid of fine wires behind the screen.



    Hmmm..... perhaps....



    Yeah! The hinge goes all the way around! The display can go from closed to 180 degrees to almost 360 degrees and shut flat against the other side!



    When it exceeds 180 degrees, the keyboarrdturns off and you can use the display as a entry device.



    Of course, with the little magnet idea, there's noway to tell pressure differences....



    I know! The tip is peizoelectric! It touches and generates a tiny electric current which goes through the coils right behind it, simulating a magnet.



    The display will have to be really hard. Hey ! maybe they'll cover it in a diamond film! Cool! The Diamond Powerbook G4!
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