Mechanical Keyboard Design and Functions

As people transition to a remote work environment, there are more flexibility in constructing a personal space to what you as a person need for your job. There have been modifications to objects like desk and sound system to better improve the experiences of working without the fear of accommodating to other in your workspace. This opportunity leads way to an aesthetic approach to a workspace design with the niche hobby of custom mechanical keyboards. /The hobby has been around since the early introduction of personal computer where each part of the keyboard can be modified and replaced to cater a user needs like adding more weight to the keys to adding more key commands to accommodate a specific task. The hobby of mechanical keyboard making has become even more prevalent with folk wanting to express their self and better equip their need to a single object, specifically a keyboard.

So let begin by figuring out what are the component of a keyboard. Each component of a mechanical keyboard can enhance the experience and use of the tool to boost productivity for computer workers. If we were to breakdown the component of mechanical keyboard, they would be the Cap profile, case type/height, keycaps design, and switches.

Keycap profile has expanded to a wide arrange of different sizes and height that were design to fit users finger lengths, hand size, and typing style. Below is a list of different keycap profile that have been on the market. Some of these designs have become proprietary which they can be replicated unless they are from that specific company or designer. So, products that are specially made can have limited supply and with large demand, making the product prices difficult to justify for customers to buy. Other keycap profile that are commonly used like the Chery Profile had been mass produce and have more availability to the large market.

From profile we move to the switches. The switch is the piece that communicate to the keyboard circuit board that an action has been done and to execute the action of the assign key. So, I you hit the command key, the switch below the keycap will be push tot eh circuit board to tell the computer that you have hit the command key. Switches are categories by three different types of switches. They are clicky, tactile, and Linear, and everyone has a different purpose or reason for user to apply them to the keyboard. Some switch like the linear provide a quick and light response to typing, which become apparent of competitive gamer, who need fast response time during a game. Other switch like clicky is for those that feel nostalgic for the sound of an old mechanical keyboard but are judged by those around them because of the annoying sound. The last switch is the tactile, while are the most common ones that have a reasonable weight and sound that is closer to the most Logitech keyboards.

Next component is the case material and height. People have different hand size and way of typing that can be adjusted by the angle of a keyboard that can either strain or improve the type of speed of a user. The material of a case also factors to whether this is keyboard portable or is stationary. There also whether the keyboard is a full size that has all 110 keys or a board that only need 60 keys. So those that might be working in remote areas they might want a smaller and lighter board to carry around to any locations. Other might want the full board because their job requires more key command than other positions.

Lastly is the board design. The part that is subjective to the user and have been the made driver for people to create their own keyboard. Some of the boards are specialty made to express the user interested and hobbies. So, form these components we have user constructing their own personal board boost productivity and enjoy their experience in front to f a computer.

Links

https://youtu.be/s9MGfP

https://switchandclick.com/ultimate-guide-to-picking-a-keycap-set-for-your-mechanical-keyboard/

https://thekeeblog.com/overview-of-different-keycap-profiles/

https://switchandclick.com/keyboard-sizes/

https://switchandclick.com/low-profile-vs-normal-keyboards/

https://matt3o.com/anatomy-of-a-keyboard/

https://www.pcgamer.com/best-mechanical-switches-for-gaming/

https://uxdesign.cc/fascinations-on-mechanical-keyboard-228e04a535cc

https://www.businessinsider.com/mechanical-keyboard-switches

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/mechanical-keyboard-switches-explained/

https://www.sitepoint.com/best-mechanical-keyboards/