So how soon before Apple acquires this technology, implement it, (and then sues anyone else who comes close to using it?)

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by deedub81.

A link to the official ad was added as well.

Probably after samsung tries first

this will be used for porn

Meh. One more thing that could break. Not a feature but a gimmick.

Sure, feeling the keys would be nice. But to really type at speed you need near instantaneous tactile feedback that a button was pressed. Till then I'll pass.

Personally I'm very happy with Swiftkey on my tablet and phone and would bet on that input being faster and more efficient than trying to emulate one in this way.
But it could be very useful in situations where the device is mounted somewhere and perhaps public terminals.

Neat feature with potential.

1) Can the buttons be raised anywhere? This could potentially improve feedback for the visually impaired, and for controllers in D-pad style games.

2) I don't think it's possible with this, but if it had the ability to create many very small bumps anywhere, it could be used to dynamically convert text to Braille for the blind.

Apple is more likely to steal the technology like they do everything else, then sues anybody who comes close to using it.

Personally, I'd love to have this (although I still want a tablet bigger than 7 inches). Touch typing without tactile feedback is a bitch...

That said, I can't count how many of these "we'll be in production in a year or so" items have turned out to be vaporware. I'll wait to get excited until I can actually buy one at a reasonable price.

Screw keyboards, we need that for a popup d-pad.