[Idea] Mechanical key switch with toggle-able tactility

[xelu]

 

So, tactile switched have that little metal leaf on the left giving the switch its tactile feel.

Would it be possible to add an electromagnet in the switch to manipulate that little piece of metal on demand through software?
That would allow you to toggle the tactile-ness on the fly, even key-independent if needed, so blue switches would basically have a toggle-able "Silent Mode", which would be a pretty huge selling point.
 

I know keyboards already have around 5v routed for RGB already, Is this pure fantasy or do-able?

[CheeseGaming43]

2 minutes ago, xelu said:

 

So, tactile switched have that little metal leaf on the left giving the switch its tactile feel.

Would it be possible to add an electromagnet in the switch to manipulate that little piece of metal on demand through software?
That would allow you to toggle the tactile-ness on the fly, even key-independent if needed, so blue switches would basically have a toggle-able "Silent Mode", which would be a pretty huge selling point.
 

I know keyboards already have around 5v routed for RGB already, Is this pure fantasy or do-able?

This would be really nice and a huge step forward, but the closest thing I've ever seen to it what the steelseries Apex Pro where you can a adjust the switches. 

[seon123]

That metal leaf is also the contact point, so that would just make it never actuate. Afaik, keyboards that don't respond to key presses are less functional than those that do. 

 

Even for optical switches, all you would achieve is having a loose piece of plastic inside the switch, and it would still be far from quiet, from the clack from downstroke and upstroke. 

 

I also don't see why you would want to change the tactile feel of the switch on the fly?

Edited December 3, 2020 by seon123
Something something

[xelu]

5 minutes ago, seon123 said:

I also don't see why you would want to change the tactile feel of the switch on the fly?

Someone sleeping or watching something in the same room with you

[seon123]

Just now, xelu said:

Someone sleeping or watching something in the same room with you

The tactility refers to how it feels to press down. It is completely unrelated to the sound of the switch. 

 

If you want a quiet switch, why not just get a keyboard with a quiet switch? E.g. silenced Topre, Tacit, Gazzew Boba, Outemu Sky, Healios/Roselios/Sakurios, Zilents, Durock/JWK silent linears (e.g. Silent Alpaca or straight from Durock), Aliaz etc etc. 

[geo3]

6 hours ago, xelu said:

Someone sleeping or watching something in the same room with you

Well that's why you get 2 (*coughor8cough*) separate keyboards.