Check Out This 'MacBook Pro Touch' Concept [Video]

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Posted August 28, 2018 at 5:13pm by iClarified

Check out this concept for a 'MacBook Pro Touch' that features a touchscreen keyboard and an enhanced Touch Bar.

The concept was created by Furkan Kasap, a student of Industrial Product Design at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.

Check Out This 'MacBook Pro Touch' Concept [Video]

Notably, Apple does appear to be working towards a keyboard without traditional keys. In a patent that surfaced in 2016, Apple proposes a Force Touch keyboard using a light guide layer that provides light through a group of micro-perforations or holes. These holes would be sealed with an optically clear sealant to reduce ingress of debris and/or liquid, while allowing light to pass through.

The WSJ has also reported that Apple is working with Sonder on a MacBook with customizeable e-ink display keys.

If Apple was to go the route of a touchscreen keyboard, Tactus has demonstrated a Tactile Layer component which provides a haptic user interface with real physical buttons, guidelines, or shapes that rise out of the surface (and recede to invisibility) from any touchscreen.

Check out the concept video below and let us know what you think in the comments!

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Ace* - August 29, 2018 at 2:49pm

If Apple was to make their own version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop it would undoubtedly be a killer device. Imagine something like the hardware of the 12.9 inch iPad Pro except running full Mac OS with a super slim removable magnetically attached keyboard. I would absolutely buy one. The ONLY problem is that Apple won’t do this. And the only reason they won’t do this is because it won’t make them as much money as they make selling MacBooks and iPads separately. This is so obvious. Apple is more concerned with making money than they are with creating truly innovative products. It wasn’t always this way.

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Ace* - August 28, 2018 at 6:17pm

Nope. This idea has been thrown around for years but it will probably never become popular because it simply isn’t ergonomically comfortable in any way. It actually exacerbates carpal tunnel syndrome. Eliminating physical moving parts is often a great advancement. An obvious example is ssd vs. hdd. Not in the case or user interface though where ergonomics are crucial. In these cases the technology needs to conform to the physical human body which is going to remain the way it is for millions of years.

PaulieP - August 28, 2018 at 6:10pm

That would be called a tablet. There’s no point to the screen if everything is on the keyboard. Lame video. Make a video with a touchscreen MacBook Pro and that would be interesting

Ace* - August 28, 2018 at 6:22pm

Yeah I agree with this. Hard to believe that Apple has gotten away this long without adding touch capability to the screens of MacBooks. They don’t want to cannibalize the sales of the iPads so they purposefully hold back innovation.

joeyxxx - August 28, 2018 at 6:31pm

Touching laptop screens is stupid

nocci - August 28, 2018 at 7:31pm

You do realize that all the way back in 2010 Steve Jobs flat out mentioned that he and many people he worked with did user testing on touchscreens and guess what? He said it doesn't work because due to ergonometrics and fatigue, it's uncomfortable (hence it's awkward to even try to do).This is why the trackpad has the iPad gestures and as a bonus, the screen stays clean. Innovation just because a screen has touch feature? Nah.

Ace* - August 28, 2018 at 8:21pm

I’m not sure what your argument is. I already said above that virtual keyboards don’t work ergonomically if typing is a heavy activity. The viewing screen is another matter altogether. The viewing screen can ONLY benefit from have touch capability. In its most basic usage it allows for many quick streamlined tasks. In a more extreme use it can be detached and used as a completely autonomous tablet. To argue that it isn’t necessary or beneficial is mind boggling and just shows how much people will blindly defend Apple. Adding touch capability detracts zero from the experience if one chooses not to use it. At this point it wouldn’t even cost much to implement. But like I already said Apple won’t do this because it will cannibalize their market.

robertdes69 - August 28, 2018 at 10:21pm

Windows came out with a touch screen and it useless, hp as well with their stupid touch screen desktop apple keep doing what you do your products are great

nocci - August 28, 2018 at 11:16pm

I was trying to make the point extra clear because someone above mentioned that Apple wasn't innovating by not including a touchscreen and to refer to that video I mentioned about Steve Jobs establishing what you said to show that Apple including a touchscreen would not only be pointless but contradictory as well, but I couldn't agree more about how utter ridiculous this is.