A Hall Effect Keyboard Is Nigh Thanks To Grassroots Effort

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The Hall Effect is back.

Primary among keyboard innovation is the varieties and types of switches that are available. Many keyboard enthusiasts are poking at technologies that would look beyond the widespread Cherry MX switches and their clones. We’re seeing people and companies experimenting with optical switches and analog controls, but a surprise is the impending return of the Hall Effect switch.

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Seth Colaner
Seth Colaner

Seth Colaner previously served as News Director at Tom's Hardware. He covered technology news, focusing on keyboards, virtual reality, and wearables.

13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • anbello262
    If all the benefits turn out to be true, we could be seeing the start of a mechanical keyboard replacement. If not, well, it will be a great gadget to show off.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Before ordering white on bamboo, give some thought to how it will age.

    I used to pop off the keycaps and clean my keyboards once every year or so. Lately, I can't be bothered. Dust & dirt gets on the sides of the keys, even though I'm pretty clean and rarely eat at my PC.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    I'll be keeping an eye on these when they come out with a tactile variant.
    Reply
  • mikeebb
    Interesting. Early Radio Shack (Model 1, possibly also early 2 and 3) had Hall-effect keyswitches. They *did* require debounce routines - early ROMs didn't have one or a good one, resulting in keybounce unless an add-on routine was used. Permanently fixed in the ROM replacement that provided upper/lower case, and in the DOS's.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    18891401 said:
    Interesting. Early Radio Shack (Model 1, possibly also early 2 and 3) had Hall-effect keyswitches. They *did* require debounce routines - early ROMs didn't have one or a good one, resulting in keybounce unless an add-on routine was used. Permanently fixed in the ROM replacement that provided upper/lower case, and in the DOS's.

    I thought bounce was an issue mostly with mechanical switches and relays (some designs more than others). Where the metal contacts physically strike and "bounce" away from each other briefly, chattering and causing extremely brief intermittent contact until they settle. This can be filtered or multi-sampled out.

    I can't see this sort of thing being an issue with a hall effect switch. Are you SURE the keyboards you're talking about weren't mechanical?
    Reply
  • mikeebb
    18894976 said:
    18891401 said:
    Interesting. Early Radio Shack (Model 1, possibly also early 2 and 3) had Hall-effect keyswitches. They *did* require debounce routines - early ROMs didn't have one or a good one, resulting in keybounce unless an add-on routine was used. Permanently fixed in the ROM replacement that provided upper/lower case, and in the DOS's.

    I thought bounce was an issue mostly with mechanical switches and relays (some designs more than others). Where the metal contacts physically strike and "bounce" away from each other briefly, chattering and causing extremely brief intermittent contact until they settle. This can be filtered or multi-sampled out.

    I can't see this sort of thing being an issue with a hall effect switch. Are you SURE the keyboards you're talking about weren't mechanical?

    At this remove (Model 1 era was late 1970s) it's hard to be absolutely sure. I don't know where to find the manufacturing data if in fact any were kept. But I was told at the time that they were Hall-effect keyswitches, and in more than 10 years I only had to replace one (became mechanically sticky after about a year - yes, keyswitches were individually replaceable, and this was probably infant mortality). I suspect the keybounce in early machines (mostly Level 1, I never really had it in Level 2 BASIC) was related more to poor software than the switches, and once we moved to (TRS-, L-, New-, etc.)DOS there was never a keyboarding issue. Should also note that they were not "clicky" at all. Simple thunk on reaching the end of the (rather long) key travel.
    Reply
  • GeoffCoope
    Without sounding like a bug bear, what are the real world benefits of using this?. Saying it is "really fast" has no meaning without statistics. Is it a gamers keyboard in this respect? What about simultaneous key presses? Thanks.
    Reply
  • Chyrosran22
    18895448 said:
    18894976 said:
    18891401 said:
    Interesting. Early Radio Shack (Model 1, possibly also early 2 and 3) had Hall-effect keyswitches. They *did* require debounce routines - early ROMs didn't have one or a good one, resulting in keybounce unless an add-on routine was used. Permanently fixed in the ROM replacement that provided upper/lower case, and in the DOS's.

    I thought bounce was an issue mostly with mechanical switches and relays (some designs more than others). Where the metal contacts physically strike and "bounce" away from each other briefly, chattering and causing extremely brief intermittent contact until they settle. This can be filtered or multi-sampled out.

    I can't see this sort of thing being an issue with a hall effect switch. Are you SURE the keyboards you're talking about weren't mechanical?

    At this remove (Model 1 era was late 1970s) it's hard to be absolutely sure. I don't know where to find the manufacturing data if in fact any were kept. But I was told at the time that they were Hall-effect keyswitches, and in more than 10 years I only had to replace one (became mechanically sticky after about a year - yes, keyswitches were individually replaceable, and this was probably infant mortality). I suspect the keybounce in early machines (mostly Level 1, I never really had it in Level 2 BASIC) was related more to poor software than the switches, and once we moved to (TRS-, L-, New-, etc.)DOS there was never a keyboarding issue. Should also note that they were not "clicky" at all. Simple thunk on reaching the end of the (rather long) key travel.
    I could identify the switch if you gave the precise model name or especially a picture of the keyswitch. Actually, even just a picture of the back of the PCB would do in this case. I ask because I'm not completely sure what model you're referring to. If you mean the TRS-80 Model 1, that didn't come with Hall effect switches (it used SKCC conductive switches).

    Reply
  • RomeoReject
    Durability and feel would be the two universal benefits. The speed is a niche benefit for gamers.
    Reply
  • Chyrosran22
    18895739 said:
    Without sounding like a bug bear, what are the real world benefits of using this?. Saying it is "really fast" has no meaning without statistics. Is it a gamers keyboard in this respect? What about simultaneous key presses? Thanks.
    The benefits are all derived from the Hall effect sensing mechanism. Because this doesn't require physical contact between most of the parts, there is less friction, and you get a smoother switch action, and because it's the closest you can get to solid-state switching and the parts (basically just a magnet) are super-reliable, the keyboard becomes extraordinarily durable in theory.

    Reply