Microsoft Prototyped Keyboard With 'Touch Bar' Years Ago [Video]

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Posted November 4, 2016 at 2:04pm by Shalom Levytam

Apple has generated a lot of user excitement over its new MacBook Pro keyboard with Touch Bar. Interestingly, Microsoft has been publicly demonstrating a similar concept for years and has been privately working on it for over 15 years.

Described as an Adaptive Keyboard, Microsoft's prototype featured an even larger touch area.

What’s an Adaptive Keyboard? It is a research prototype developed by Microsoft Hardware to explore how combining display and input capabilities in a keyboard can allow users to be more productive. The keyboard incorporates a large, touch-sensitive display strip at the top. In addition, the display continues underneath the keys, allowing the legends to be modified in real time. This lets you do things like change the character set to a different language or display command icons.

When asked why Microsoft didn't release the keyboard, Steven Bathiche, director of research in Microsoft's applied sciences group, said "We did not build computers back then. When we did start, we made computers with touch screens."

Check out Microsoft's Adaptive Keyboard in the video below...

[via Verge]

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tar - November 6, 2016 at 8:50am

and then someone in apple finds it and goes "I have discovered another great innovation for apple" :)

Techno - November 6, 2016 at 7:38am

Microsoft been working on this for 15 years and never release it? Apple improved the concept on a laptop and it works. Way to go Apple.

Guest - November 5, 2016 at 2:59am

Lawsuit. They have always stolen other ideas and claimed them as their own.

ChiChi - November 5, 2016 at 2:34am

"Apple has generated a lot of user excitement over its new MacBook Pro keyboard with Touch Bar." Yeah I'm jumping for join when they announced that innovation @-@.

SICKBOY - November 4, 2016 at 10:10pm

Im sick of Apples lack of innovation. Back in the day one was excited to see a keynote. Today you kind dread them because you just know something you used was going to be taken away. Apple has moved from "THINK DIFFERENT" to "THERES AN ADAPTOR FOR THAT" company.

Kk - November 4, 2016 at 3:58pm

This is nothing like Apple's touch bar.. And it looks aweful

jakeash - November 4, 2016 at 3:55pm

mehh not impressed! the ipad pro keyboard ape job from the surface was much betterrr

D4xM4Nx - November 4, 2016 at 2:30pm

Microsoft will cry rivers of sadness because this concept IF REAL never made it to the public. Attempt to milk on Apple as a patent troll? Anything to hinder the leaders' path if out of competitive products...

Hehe - November 4, 2016 at 2:07pm

apple what is your excuse now? Courage to copy technology from 2010

gamerscul9870 - November 4, 2016 at 2:16pm

Was this ever released? No. Did Microsoft say what their version of the touch bar does? No. What's the copy about then?

SayingWhatEveryonesThinking - November 4, 2016 at 2:21pm

First to market. Apple wins.