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Only buy a magnetic keyboard for gaming

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90 points amichail | 5 comments | 18 Nov 24 22:00 UTC | HN request time: 0.209s | source
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bdunks ◴[21 Nov 24 13:53 UTC] No.42204303[source]▶
Does anyone have experience if these provide tactile feedback?

There’s lots of discussion about the actuation point, but is there a “click” feel?

I’ve had a lot of wrist strain issues over the last 20 years. I tried many “ergonomic” keyboard layouts, but ultimately switching to a standard ikcb CD108 with Cherry MX brown fixed my issue. The click stops me from mashing the keys too hard, which seems to be the primary root cause (for me).

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1. bluGill ◴[21 Nov 24 14:13 UTC] No.42204488[source]▶
You can't easially do adjustable actuation points and a click feel so I doubt it. They can put a click in someplace, but that is a mechanical operation which means either it is fixed at the factory or you need to take a screwdriver (or something) to each key to adjust. The nice thing about hall effect switches is you can choose the actuation point(s!) in software making it quick and easy to change until you find what works, but software cannot adjust a mechanical click.

I can think of a couple ways to adjust a mechanic click from software. You could put gears and a stepper motor in the keyboard to adjust where the click is (you of course need to design a click mechanism as the keys don't have it) - this would be complex, fragile, and expensive (likely large as well). You could put a coil under each switch and fire that when the key actuates to provide a force change. There are probably others. I have no idea how practical anything is, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it if you are interested - it sounds like a fun project (of the type I don't have time for)

This article is about GAMING keyboards. Magnetic keyboards seems to offer some nice features gamers will use. However for general typing a traditional mechanical keyboard may well be better: do not feel bad about using Cherry MX browns if they work for you (I use them myself, but I'm trying to figure out if my budget allows for a model F) - the only downside is in competitive games you may lose to someone who has a keyboard that can do things yours cannot.

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2. datadrivenangel ◴[21 Nov 24 15:41 UTC] No.42205418[source]▶
Could use mobile phone haptic feedback technology in the keycaps, or maybe in the body of the keyboard?
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3. bluGill ◴[21 Nov 24 16:06 UTC] No.42205675[source]▶
Maybe, might be worth a shot. It won't be as easy on a phone because you need to feel the feedback only in the key your pressed and not all the other keys your fingers might be one (potentially starting to press but not yet activated).

Something else for someone who has time to work on. Have fun.

4. mechanicum ◴[21 Nov 24 17:12 UTC] No.42206382[source]▶
Some old IBM keyboards had a solenoid built in, thumping the inside of the case with every key press to provide feedback. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qw6ebySet0&t=906s

Probably the most practical DIY option.

5. vimax ◴[21 Nov 24 20:00 UTC] No.42207998[source]▶
I’ve done a project connecting hall effect sensors to vibration motors. You could put a tiny vibration motor in each key cap and set different vibration intensity and timing patterns based on the hall effect readings. You could have the intensity slowly rise as you approach an activation point, then suddenly drop off right before and at activation to mimic the resistance of a physical switch.