This week, I’ve been on a strange kick with my iPad. Suddenly, touchscreen typing lost its luster for me. Not that it’s bad — in fact, the onscreen keys feel positively spacious compared to the keyboard on my iPhone, of course. But for any long writing sessions, I definitely start missing my computer keyboard.

Well, go figure. I see this nugget from DigiTimes, just after I pick up my new wireless Apple Bluetooth keyboard. (Long story short, I’ll probably sell my keyboard dock. I have lots to say about using these two items in tandem, but more on that another time.) So while I try to make my tablet more like a full-fledged computer (complete with hardware QWERTY), it seems Apple computers may be coming round more to the tablet touchscreen experience.

An onscreen keyboard for an Apple computer? Yeah, apparently it might look something like this:

Rumor has it that Apple is testing touch panels for next-generation iMacs, courtesy of vendor Sintek Photonics. It’s certainly not the first time computers have gone touch screen (indeed, there are some pretty fine products from HP, in fact), but as we iOS users know, sometimes it only takes Apple’s magical touch to accelerate a market — like touchscreen smartphones, App Stores and tablet computers, to name just a few. These existed before Steve Jobs got his hands on them, but somehow only really took off once Apple got in the game.

So it seems the line between tablet and computer is blurring. (Interesting this, in light of the fact that tablet sales are cutting into laptop sales at Best Buy.)

Wait a sec… A fully touch-enabled computer (as large as 20” of display real estate) — intended to be used at an angle, like an iPad on an angled stand? I’ve seen that somewhere before. Hmmm, a quasi-futuristic touch console angled at roughly 45 degrees… Oh yes, that’s right — it’s the Star Trek main bridge computer:

As if to max out the futuristic aspect of this, another patent application involves a Mac desktop display that could register the shapes and identity of objects when pressed against it. Uh, okay. I don’t even want to think about all the lascivious uses this could spur. But let’s keep it grounded in practical usage: Imagine a security system that has users pressing a key to the glass for access. I have to admit, that is kind of cool.

But I draw the line at any Borg-like neural implants. Hear that, Steve? No iBorg, okay?

Via: AppleInsider

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