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geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: crowstar on Sat, 19 March 2011, 05:54:02

Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: crowstar on Sat, 19 March 2011, 05:54:02
Wondered this, it isn't clicky for sure. Is it tactile, are there differences. Force diagrams? Would be interesting to see.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 19 March 2011, 06:51:57
Piano keys are linear (or some curve that is close).
Key travel is usually up to 1/2".
Actuation and break is usually at the middle of the stroke -- but it actuates only if you press hard enough, as the hammers move only from the force of your strokes.

Usually ...
There are several types of mechanisms for both vertical and horizontal pianos. Some pianos have hysteresis.
There are some diagrams on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano).
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: panda-R on Sat, 19 March 2011, 12:39:09
I'll go with Cherry Reds.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: crowstar on Sat, 19 March 2011, 16:00:42
Quote from: panda-R;314401
I'll go with Cherry Reds.


LOL, you know what I mean!
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 19 March 2011, 16:17:54
Heh, piano keys are interesting. The more force you press on the key, the stronger the tactile "bump".
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Fwiffo on Sat, 19 March 2011, 16:25:39
It would be interesting if keyboards worked more like pianos. You could produce capital letters or perhaps a larger font by striking the keys more forcefully or bottoming out.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: HaaTa on Sat, 19 March 2011, 16:29:54
Yeah, that would be interesting. Some sort of accelerometer equiped key switch could probably do it, with layered digital or analog outs.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Amp on Sat, 19 March 2011, 17:17:32
Quote from: Fwiffo;314492
It would be interesting if keyboards worked more like pianos. You could produce capital letters or perhaps a larger font by striking the keys more forcefully or bottoming out.


Quote from: HaaTa;314494
Yeah, that would be interesting. Some sort of accelerometer equiped key switch could probably do it, with layered digital or analog outs.


The original Street Fighter (or Fighting Street, if you're confused) arcade cabinet featured pressure sensitive buttons that determined the "strength" of your attack.

All this ever resulted in was that the buttons would work precisely once, for one good game, then the second person to come to the arcade cabinet had broken buttons.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 19 March 2011, 17:32:39
Quote from: Fwiffo;314492
It would be interesting if keyboards worked more like pianos. You could produce capital letters or perhaps a larger font by striking the keys more forcefully or bottoming out.

Font size by key pressure has been tried. The result from normal typing looked like a child had written it by hand, with each letter in a different size.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 19 March 2011, 18:27:49
Quote from: Fwiffo;314492
It would be interesting if keyboards worked more like pianos. You could produce capital letters or perhaps a larger font by striking the keys more forcefully or bottoming out.


IBM had patents for keyswitches where it would only repeat if you pressed the key down all the way. Obviously it was decided that this was unnecessary.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: panda-R on Mon, 21 March 2011, 16:44:05
ripster stop
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: panda-R on Mon, 21 March 2011, 16:44:36
trolling the
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: panda-R on Mon, 21 March 2011, 16:45:17
keyboard forum.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Moneyless on Mon, 21 March 2011, 19:39:09
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w204/moneyless27/geekgirltrollface.png)
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: panda-R on Mon, 21 March 2011, 21:13:33
I did not have sexual relations with that headphone.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: BucklingSpring on Tue, 22 March 2011, 16:52:51
Quote from: Fwiffo;314492
It would be interesting if keyboards worked more like pianos. You could produce capital letters or perhaps a larger font by striking the keys more forcefully or bottoming out.


It actually makes sense. :-)

Go and register a pattend for it. You might get rich one day.
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: Dr.Pepper on Wed, 23 March 2011, 06:14:59
I type with uneven pressure, it would be a pain in the ass for me to use. Although it does sound cools, I don't think that I could ever get used to such a thing. :-(
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 23 March 2011, 19:23:37
I can't believe you have nearly 30k posts...
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 23 March 2011, 19:32:18
I wouldn't trade any of my 82 memes for your posts ;)
Title: What type of keyswitch is a piano key?
Post by: keyboardlover on Wed, 23 March 2011, 19:48:31
Nope...not worth possibly losing a free Filco over :D