Darfon's Maglev Keyboards To Make Future Laptops Super Thin

Your future laptops could become super thin and occupy comparatively less space, thanks to a system called Maglev that promises to make laptop keyboards thinner.

The Maglev keyboards, manufactured by Darfon, use magnets for the upward/downward movement of keys, instead of the conventional rubber cups that push keys in traditional keyboards.

According to a report on Cnet, Darfon's super thin keyboard prototype uses magnetic energy to put the keys back in place after they are pressed by the user. Naturally, with magnetic action involved, the depressing and release of keys should become easier.

Also, with embedded magnets replacing rubber, the overall area of the keyboard reduces. The Cnet report states that the resistance of the keys is electronically fine-tuned in such a way that these are equipped to handle varying degrees of pressure applied on them by users.

With magnets embedded, the Maglev keyboards are not designed to look like traditional mechanical keyboards.

However, nothing is officially known about how many more clicks can be handled by the new-age ultraslim keyboard. According to a Geek report, the Maglev keyboards could take 50% more key presses compared to mechanical keyboards.

Maglev keyboards are also reportedly said to be capable of withstanding approximately 15 million keystrokes. The overall life of the ultraslim keyboard is said to be comparatively longer than their mechanical counterparts.

Darfon is expected to begin commercial operations of its Maglev keyboards by late 2014, and the company is said to be contemplating releasing Maglev keyboards for tablets as well.