Keyboard technology
Keyboard technology covers the mechanisms behind keystroke sensing and feedback.
Last updated
The technologies differ in tactile feedback, durability, and resistance to environmental contaminants, but no single source mentions all three characteristics together.[1][2][3]
Quick Facts
- Standard full size keys
- 101 to 105
- Common membrane types
- full-travel rubber dome over membrane, flat-panel membrane
- Reed switch inventor
- W B Ellwood
- Reed switch invention organization
- Bell Telephone Laboratories
- Reed switch invention year
- 1936
Facts from the source article.
How it changed
The IBM Model M, introduced in late 1983, used a membrane buckling spring design to halve the production cost of the earlier Model F.[4] Cherry introduced its MX switch family in the 1980s, which later defined the company's keyboard reputation.[5][6] Hot-swappable keyboards later allowed users to replace switches without soldering, using sockets instead of direct PCB connections.[7] Capacitive keyboards, such as those using Topre switches, combine a rubber dome for resistance with a conical spring for capacitive sensing.[8]
Hall effect switches use magnetic fields, with a magnet inside each switch that changes magnetic intensity when pressed.[9] Flat-panel membrane keyboards saw use in environments where protection from water or leaks was needed.[2] Because optical switch technology lacks metal contacts that can corrode, it provides strong resistance to moisture and debris.[3]
What the maker and period sources say
The Dotkeys account states that membrane keyboards consist of one or several keys within a flat panel.[10] It notes that non-tactile membrane keyboards do not give feedback but can withstand more operations than tactile versions.[10] The same article explains that Cherry's MX switch, first built in the 1980s, came in colored variants like the low-force MX Red and clicky MX Blue.[5] Wong's guide states that mechanical keyboards are more durable than rubber dome keyboards.[6]
It also notes that Cherry MX switches were first released in 1983.[6] Cherry's initial keyboard switch patent, which was part of the M6 line, was granted in 1973 according to a Vice article by Smith.[5]
References
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Keyboards", Ergo (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Dotkeys | Membrane Switches" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Razer's Blade 15 Advanced gets an optical mechanical keyboard", www.engadget.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Rocking switch actuator for a low force membrane contact switch" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Smith, "The Company That Makes Mechanical Keyboards Clack", Vice, 10 July 2018. facts only, no text reused. vice.com
- Wong, "The complete guide to mechanical keyboard switches for gaming", 6 April 2019. facts only, no text reused. pcgamer.com
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Schoon, "The 8 Best Hop Swappable Mechanical Keyboards", Review Geek, 28 June 2021; Porter, "The Keychron Q1 Is an Enthusiast-Quality Keyboard Right Out of the Box", The Verge, 9 September 2021 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wong, "The complete guide to mechanical keyboard switches for gaming", 6 April 2019 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Keyboard technology" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: James, "Keyboards with Hall Effect Technology – Why is it better than other switches?", Keybolab, 21 November 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Dotkeys | Membrane Switches". facts only, no text reused. dotkeys.in
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Keyboard technology (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Computer Keyboards
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Keyboard technology (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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