Is a keyboard necessary for a tablet?

Answer 1

Some form of keyboard is required for text input, but by design, tablets do not necessarily require a mechanical keyboard.

It is possible to purchase tablets with an integral keyboard, but this is often seen as an extraneous feature. The concept of a tablet is primarily that the screen also provides the major control surface; this facilitates compact design while maximising screen real estate. 'Hard' buttons are usually provided for volume, sleep/wake/lock, power, and miscellaneous other functions for which quick-access would be advantageous, but to provide a 'hard' keyboard would normally compromise the concept.

Further to the concept, operating systems for tablets include software (or 'on-screen') keyboards and input methods based upon the touch-sensitive properties of the screen. This has led to a number of innovations in the layout and functionality of touch-screen input methods, from on-screen keyboards that behave like a typical keyboard, to 'swipe'-style typing, where words may be entered without lifting the finger between the individual letters.

To provide a form of affirmative feedback, input registration can be marked with a beep or click, or on devices that have the necessary hardware, a brief vibration simulating tactile key response to substitute for the mechanical nature of traditional keyboards.

Of course, there are always going to be those for whom on-screen keyboards present a number of usability issues- for some, only a 'real' keyboard will do. This is where Bluetooth keyboards can be very handy. It is possible, for instance, to purchase a compact keyboard with integral mouse for use with the Android operating system, which is simple to connect and install, and with which it is possible to interact with the tablet's interface and applications.

Not all applications are necessarily designed with such input methods in mind, so your mileage may vary.