Omron Funds Neurological Research on Keyboard Switches

[joebeazelman]

I stumbled upon an interesting research funded by Omron on the mechanical parameters of keyboard switches and how they influence the user's neurological states such as attention and reaction time. The objective is to develop and evaluate methods for gathering scientific data in order effectively to design, manufacture and market keyboard switches as described by this creepy excerpt:

Given the relevance of brain state information for the objective evaluation of products in neuromarketing, its measurement may be useful for evaluating the mechanical parameters of industrial products. In particular, we focused on incorporating brain states into the evaluation of the mechanical parameters of mechanical keyboard switches.

Given how out-of-touch the general industry is about keyboards, it's encouraging to know it's getting enough attention to merit formal research. This study, however, still shows the industry's cluelessness. It focuses on gamers instead of hobbyist, typists and enthusiasts. Omron would have been better served by the massive wealth of information on this site without the expense of a study.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 44449/full

[Muirium]

Loaded link, expecting to see date in the 1980s… 2021!??! Surprised!

Wonder what they're up to? (Bring back Omron keyswitches!)

[joebeazelman]

No. Bring back a proper Alps SKCM clone. LOL!

[hellothere]

(Bring back Omron keyswitches!)

Done.

[SK-8K]

They will get mediocre results unless they test their old B3G-S switches.

[Hak Foo]

I suspect they target "gamer" because it's a marketable demographic. "Oh,Steve's a GAMER, I'll buy him this $130 ball of RGB and mediocre switches as a holiday gift!"

"Professional keyboard jockeys" -- writers, programmers, secretaries, etc.-- are seen as an unaddressable market. Many of them are at the whims of corporate IT and provisioning policy, which boils down to "Dell included a $3 rubber-dome in the box, isn't that good enough?

I wonder if this will change in a post-Covid economy, because many people got spoiled by being able to use personal kit when working from home. I could see "make my workspace as comfortable as it is at home if you want me back in the office."

[Muirium]

Most typists don't care what they type on. That's always been the problem. Gamers take their "rig" as more a part of their identity, so are a ripe market for garish glowing doohickeys, in "muscular" designs, covered with GAMERFONT. Not all gamers, but plenty enough, as we all see when looking at new to market mechs.

Are those new Omron switches any good? Certainly explains their interest in a bit of (marketing) research like this.

[davkol]

(Bring back Omron keyswitches!)

Done.

There's that and Romer-G… Omron B3K series

[Muirium]

Vaguely remember hearing about those. Any good either?

Of all the old firms still around in this game, Omron has the mechanical chops to make good switches again. If they maybe aimed a little higher than the backlit zombie apocalypse keyboard set.

[SK-8K]

Are those new Omron switches any good? Certainly explains their interest in a bit of (marketing) research like this.

Feels like MX Brown, chatters, no keycap availability.

[Elrick]

Of all the old firms still around in this game, Omron has the mechanical chops to make good switches again. If they maybe aimed a little higher than the backlit zombie apocalypse keyboard set.

The downside is that they will build and market, specific Key-caps that shall only fit their own switches. Just look at their previous Romer-Gs.

Omron won't have the desire to launch a REAL typist keyboard here because there's next to no profit in it for them.

Gamer-junk has a potential to fill their bank accounts easily. Afraid, most of that money shall be put forth into PR exclusively and produce another useless keyboard design, for the Gamer-masses.

[Muirium]

Yeah, alright, they’re off in the other direction entirely. Pity. It won’t pay off like they expect. Lots of stiff Chinese competition in the radioactive turd business.

[Elrick]

Lots of stiff Chinese competition in the radioactive turd business.

As long as it blinks and changes colour for these companies, they might as well start printing the money - 24/7.

Like elsewhere on Earth.