MacBook Pro 2016 Rumors, News and Release Date: New Model Has the Most Innovative Keyboard Ever Built

By Jenn Loro - 13 Apr '16 07:00AM

Apple's latest and slimmest laptop to date, the MacBook Pro, is reportedly arriving with an innovative keyboard mechanism that borders a completely flat touch surface- a logical result of Cupertino-based giant's relentless pursuit to ultrathin perfection.

According to Business Insider, Apple may consider overhauling the entire laptop keyboard mechanism and shift to a 'completely flat touch surface' as stated in patent filed last September. With the 'Zero Travel' patent, the tech giant is likely to take its Force Touch technology a whole new innovative level. The patented innovation is described as a 'configurable, force-sensitive input structure for an electronic device'.

"Instead of just simply clicking, the sensitivity can detect the pressure of the user's fingers and the device will respond with a sensation as if one is really ticking the keyboard," Parent Herald reported.

With a touch-sensitive keyboard, users would be able to configure it based on their set of preferences. In addition, this new type of keyboard will contain micro-perforations for every key in order to minimize the risk of component failure and prevent dust from getting inside the device.

Will this year's MacBook Pro flagship incorporate the recently patented Force Touch technology?

If we look at the direction of Apple's innovation-led entrepreneurial model, then we might see the company effectively killing off the keyboard-based portable device entirely while transitioning to a new era of laptops where level touch surface is a norm rather than an exception.

Of course, patents do not guarantee that it may be turned into an actual product. Nevertheless, it is a stepping stone if Apple desires to keep its hold on cutting-edge technology and innovation.

However, a Bitbag report noted that patent filed on September 28, 2015 may require a lot of time to develop and perfected thereby suggesting that the forthcoming MacBook Pro could not have been possibly tweaked just in time for release in the second half of this year.