this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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BlackBerry's iconic keyboard patent has expired (mobilesyrup.com)
submitted 3 days ago by jqubed@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
169 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I had two BlackBerry devices for work, right about the time they were going away. I'd heard the keyboard was good on earlier models but it seemed like the quality had gotten pretty cheap on the later phones. The BlackBerry 10 OS on my last phone was actually pretty good, and probably would've kept them in the market if they'd launched it 5 years earlier.

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[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 12 points 2 days ago (3 children)

The article is absolute trash for not mentioning this. "Their iconic keyboards..." is the closest it gets to describing them.

Thankfully, there is a link to the patent at the end.

Abstract

A keyboard comprising a plurality of transparent keys. In use, the keyboard is attached to a device such as a mobile device, to overlie a display screen of the device. One or more images displayed on the display screen are made visible to a user through the keys, which may be pressed by a user. User input is determined by identifying a pressed key, and the image or part thereof visible through the key when pressed.

Basically a detachable keyboard of transparent material as a display overlay, providing tactile feedback while the LCD allows for backlit and customizable key labels. I don't remember seeing a practical implementation of this IRL or in media but I might be too young for that.

[–] ShepherdPie@midwest.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That sounds pretty rad. I'm almost 40 and haven't ever seen this either. Perhaps it was just the coke addicted business tycoons of the 1980s and '90s that got to experience this tech.

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 1 points 2 days ago

Even after they stopped producing phones, they could have made a killing licensing the patent to phone case manufacturers.

[–] Usernameblankface@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

So changeable keys on a touchscreen, but with physical buttons on top. Sign me up!

[–] Tiger@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

Wow really I never saw that before, sounds crazy.