The Evolution of Mechanical Keyboards: Past, Present, and Future

 Keyboards have evolved a lot throughout the years and understanding the essentials of a basic mechanical keyboard design, gives you a better insight to enhance your usability and typing speeds.

You might be blown away to see the very many types of keyboard designs, models, shades, types, and sizes that are currently being sold online. So, what would suit you the best? Is it the mechanical designs or the electrical designs? An array of technologies that hide inside that plastic shell are often not evident for buyers. To shed some more light for them to grasp the technology and make informed decisions while buying a keyboard, here we begin from the square one.

 

Evolution of the mechanical keyboard

 

Past mechanical keyboard models

 

The aboriginal keyboard we knew was actually part of the typewriter. The popular QWERTY-layout was introduced first in the year 1870. The most commonly used characters that are easy for the fingers to access while typing forms this QWERTY layout. Mechanically, to prevent the metal bars underneath the keys from mashing and grinding with one another, this key arrangement was the best combination.

 

In due course of time, improvisations of this layout came in. Dvorak, Colemak, and many other layouts introduced later were improvised versions of this QWERTY layout. So, moving on from typewriters to personal desktop computer keyboards with advanced technologies of other kinds, we are using some of the modified forms of QWERTY-based layouts.

 

Alps SCB1A163- Year 1960s and 1970s

 

Key-switches in this cute mechanical keyboard of yesteryear are made of high-quality plastic material with high manufacturing tolerances. This design was aimed at reducing the noise while typing so as not to distract the focus or attention of the co-workers in the official curriculum. Mechanical reed switches are used in this type of mechanical keyboard, and the switches are hermetically sealed too. These switches have an interesting delicate design that it is easy to pull out the switches with hand. You can see those metal reeds inside these switches that are meant to ensure the best endurance for thousands of key presses.

IBM 3276 – Year 1980s

 One antique keyboard that is most likely not possible to replicate in the modern era and the most expensive of all the keyboards made so far in history, would just be this IBM 3276 model. This machine was not meant to be mass manufactured, as the cost of making it in the 1980s was about $1500. Today, the equivalent would exceed more than $7900. It means, practically, that you can't find a market for such an expensive but cut-down mechanical keyboard today. Shift keys are located even lower than the other models, and the weight of this mechanical keyboard from IBM exceeds 10 pounds. Solenoids were used underneath the key switches to reduce the noise while typing.

µTron -Year 2000

The capacitive switch mechanism is the highlight of this ergonomically designed Japanese mechanical keyboard type. It is one of the most compact designs that is designed to suit the average hand size of the Japanese populace. LED-shining, hand-made, cute mechanical keyboard models of this kind are available today for a price of $500. Launched in the year 2000, this is the most ergonomically suitable design for typists to work for long hours. The best part is that the mechanical keyboard offers tenting mechanisms for you to align the board at any angle you wish. This reduces the strict posture while typing, unlike the conventional models. You don’t have to curl your thumb to type, and that is a sigh of relief for the data entry operators.

Present mechanical keyboard models

So, with the so many modifications, improvisations and the significant benefits for the users, these mechanical keyboard models are exploding in popularity even today. Registering key presses, swiftly, is possible while using these mechanical switches. Typing sensations and the sound can be varied as per the needs by choosing the right type of switches. There are 3 types of mechanical switches that you can pick from. That includes,

 

• Tactile switches
• Clicky switches
• and the linear switches 

After testing too many types of boards for research, study, and analytical purposes, some were found to be valuable and are listed below. High-quality construction is the highlight of most of these current models that are impressive. Moreover, typing quality is supreme. In most of these designs, rubber shock-absorbing pieces are also provided. The gasket-mounted design makes typing feel like a smooth ride.

Added benefits:

v  Lightweight mechanical keyboards like this leave a smaller footprint. It means you can use it for workstations that are not comfortable.

v  Multi-device pairing options are available and suitable for gamers. This is good for programmers, so it is used most often in the official curriculum.

v  The printed circuit board inside is swappable, so you could change the switches easily and quickly without having to solder anything. That enhances the durability of this board as well.

v  You can replace the stock switches to suit your feel and sound.

v  Battery life is better for this type of modern keyboard. Pairing up to three devices is possible through Bluetooth.

Likewise, there are more options today, as listed below.

• The best mechanical keyboards,
• Best mechanical keyboards for gaming,
• Best budget options for mechanical keyboards
• Best midrange mechanical keyboards
• The best mechanical keyboards of the expensive kind and much more 

Just because of the colorful switches, shining LED lights, cartoons, and layout, these keyboards are known to be kawaii keyboard models. It means cute boards. The aesthetic appeal of these types of boards attracts youth gamers most often. That is the reason why you see the Kawaii keyboard models as one of the favorites among gamers across the world.

Future keyboards

Virtual keyboards and laser projection keyboards are futuristic. The new-age technology of holography was used in the laser projection keyboards. It is possible to project the keyboard onto a flat surface to type. On the other hand, the virtual keyboards enable the user to view the keyboard using smart glasses. Smartwatches are used for this purpose.

To wrap up,

However, none of these technologies can stand up to the speed and ease that a conventional mechanical keyboard offers. As advancements keep coming, the potential for these futuristic keyboard technologies might evolve in ease, speed, and accuracy too.