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RIM gets patent for QWERTY that improves the accuracy of typing on a mobile device

By Alan Friedman

Published: May 09, 2012, 6:20 PM

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RIM gets patent for QWERTY that improves the accuracy of typing on a mobile device

RIM has received a patent on a QWERTY with angled keys

Filed in January 2009 by RIM, the USPTO has granted a patent to the Canadian manufacturer for a physical QWERTY that allegedly improves the accuracy of typing on a mobile device. U.S. Patent 8,175,664 is for an "angular keyboard for a handheld mobile communications device". The keys are angled toward the left and right from the center line of the QWERTY. The idea behind the patent was credited to Joseph Hofer, Roman P. Rak and Jason T. Griffin.

"Referring now to the figures, arranging the keys along the above-described diagonal motion lines allows a user to more naturally strike the keys. Additionally, such arrangement of the keys allows a user to type with increased accuracy and ease. Furthermore, as illustrated in the figures, the keys can be shaped in a manner to provide additional ergonomic and intuitive feel to the keyboard, e.g., the keys can have a semi-cylindrical cross-sectional shape, and/or have trapezoidal and substantiallyparallelogram-type shapes."

Ironically, this patent is granted just when RIM is releasing information about its new BlackBerry 10 OS and the first device to come to market with the new software will not offer a physical QWERTY keyboard. But CEO Thorsten Heins has made it clear that RIM's trademark physical keyboard is not gone forever and that the company is developing a BlackBerry 10 model with a physical QWERTY. It is unknown whether that keyboard will incorporate the angled keys displayed in this patent.

source: USPTO via Engadget

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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