4 ms·

Dell has created a maglev keyboard it uses in some of the XPS line. They've kept these thin, but apparently the feel is quite good. I've been wondering, couldn

Dell has created a maglev keyboard it uses in some of the XPS line. They've kept these thin, but apparently the feel is quite good. I've been wondering, couldn't a keyboard use magnetic levitation to increase the key travel when the laptop is in use, but then turn off the magnets when folded so they sit flat?

JoshTriplett 7y ago
Providing key resistance with an electromagnet would cost battery. That said, it'd be fun to be able to turn key resistance up or down.
- pedalpete 7y ago
  I would think the battery drain would be negligible compared to your screen. But hey, maybe you could turn it down when not plugged in!?
  - JoshTriplett 7y ago
    > I would think the battery drain would be negligible compared to your screen. I don't know how much battery it would require, but you'd want to provide enough resistance to make a keypress feel substantive and satisfying. That said, with a careful and fast feedback system, the keys could start out with just enough force to hold up the keycap, detect a finger starting to press them, and ramp up the force to that key to provide enough resistance, then stop again when the key has traveled back up. That could reduce the energy usage compared to always providing force comparable to a spring or scissor switch. That same feedback system could theoretically mimic the resistance curve of various other keyboard technologies.
    - pedalpete 7y ago
      That's a really good point Josh, I was reading something about a month ago about one of the gaming keyboard companies which has an adjustable magnetic switch which lets the user change the key travel, which I believe was also done via electromagnets. Hopefully none of this is too far off. I'm not sure how the industry got itself into its current condition of poor experiences due to a desire for the great thinness.

4 ms·

Dell has created a maglev keyboard it uses in some of the XPS line. They've kept these thin, but apparently the feel is quite good. I've been wondering, couldn

by pedalpete 7y ago

JoshTriplett 7y ago
Providing key resistance with an electromagnet would cost battery. That said, it'd be fun to be able to turn key resistance up or down.
- pedalpete 7y ago
  I would think the battery drain would be negligible compared to your screen. But hey, maybe you could turn it down when not plugged in!?
  - JoshTriplett 7y ago
    > I would think the battery drain would be negligible compared to your screen. I don't know how much battery it would require, but you'd want to provide enough resistance to make a keypress feel substantive and satisfying. That said, with a careful and fast feedback system, the keys could start out with just enough force to hold up the keycap, detect a finger starting to press them, and ramp up the force to that key to provide enough resistance, then stop again when the key has traveled back up. That could reduce the energy usage compared to always providing force comparable to a spring or scissor switch. That same feedback system could theoretically mimic the resistance curve of various other keyboard technologies.
    - pedalpete 7y ago
      That's a really good point Josh, I was reading something about a month ago about one of the gaming keyboard companies which has an adjustable magnetic switch which lets the user change the key travel, which I believe was also done via electromagnets. Hopefully none of this is too far off. I'm not sure how the industry got itself into its current condition of poor experiences due to a desire for the great thinness.