Hall-effect keyboards

In short: Hall-effect keyboards use magnets and sensors to measure how deeply a key is pressed. This makes actuation point and sensitivity adjustable.

In more detail: Instead of a mechanical contact, each key has a magnet below, and a sensor measures the changing magnetic field. The keyboard thus knows the exact depth of press.

In Depth

• Adjustable actuation point: For example 0.1 to 4 mm. Shallow for fast games, deeper against accidental input when typing.
• Rapid trigger: The key releases immediately on letting go and actuates again at the slightest press, without a fixed reset point. Very fast direction changes in shooters.
• Analogue input: Like a gamepad stick: the deeper the key, the stronger the movement.
• Durability: No contact wear, no bounce, switches often last 100 million keystrokes or more.
• Disadvantages: More expensive, magnets can be sensitive to metal nearby, software required, and at tournaments some features (rapid trigger) are allowed or banned depending on the organiser.
• Contrast: Classic mechanical switches, see mechanical switches.

See also: mouse sensor and polling rate