Apple's Iphone patent looks like Ken Knowlton's

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ted Nelson <tandm () xanadu net>
Date: August 1, 2007 6:07:50 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Cc: Ted Nelson <tandm () xanadu net>, Ken Knowlton <KCKmosaics () aol com>
Subject: Apple's Iphone patent looks like Ken Knowlton's
Reply-To: tandm () xanadu net

Hi Dave--

Apple's put in a patent application for the Iphone keyboard--
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/31/apple-patent-app-reveals- 
intelligent-keyboard/#comments

I haven't seen the app itself, but changing key displays
 dynamically was patented thirty years ago by a pal of ours.

This appears to be a rework of Ken Knowlton's patent
 3,879,722 (1977), "Interactive Input-Output Computer Terminal with  
Automatic Relabeling of Keyboard."  Also described in Knowlton, K.,  
"Computer Displays Optically Superimposed on Input Devices", The Bell  
Syst, Tech. Journal, 56(3), (March 1977), 367-383.

Whether there's a prior-art clash depends entirely on the
 claims; possibly Apple can wangle claims that are specific
 to the Iphone.  (Or there may be no conflict at all, since
 Ken's prototype used a mirror-- but I'd imagine that BTL
 lawyers would have been smarter than to limit it.)

Best, Ted


--
- NEW XANADU SOFTWARE-- See xanarama.net
- MY SPECIAL LECTURE on 14 non-computer topics--
http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/podcasts/seminars.php

Theodor Holm Nelson
  Founder, Project Xanadu
  Visiting Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute
  Visiting Professor, University of Southampton


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