Razer Purple optical keyswitch details emerge

by Mark Tyson on 23 August 2017, 12:14

Tags: Razer

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Razer is currently working on optical keyboard keyswitches which are, for now, dubbed Razer Purple keyswitches. These first optical switch technology developments come as the company grows in confidence. Razer started by effectively cloning other well-know mechanical gaming keyswitches for its own range of gaming keyboards before fine tuning its range of switches, gaining dedicated keyswitch production facilities, and innovating with tech such as mecha-membrane keyboards, and ultra-low profile mech switches last year.

Tech site Tom's Hardware has the first details about the work being done on Razer's optical switches. It says the development will see its first fruits around the end of this year / early next. Razer is said to be working on fine tuning its optical keyswitch characteristics, actuation, reset, consistency, tolerance, feel, bounce/return, and other experience parameters right now.

In the longer run, optical keyswitches open up new possibilities but the first generation Purple switches from Razer are expected to focus on getting the basics right, for traditional gaming keyboard use.

Future plans could make use of the optical switch's unique characteristics which can facilitate analogue input on mechanical keyboards. Tom's Hardware thinks that Razer will initially market the optical switches as 'faster', thanks to the inherent optical qualities and the lack of mechanical bounce/return delays. Optical switches in the keyboard platform have potential for hot-swappable keyswitch feel types (clicky, linear, etc), the ability to work when submerged, and more.

Razer Purple keyswitch renders via Tom's Hardware

With its newfound development confidence and backing of substantial investment funds we hope Razer will be able to deliver some truly innovative optical keyswitch equipped gaming keyboards sooner rather than later.



HEXUS Forums :: 9 Comments

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That's it. I'm going to buy in a load of laxatives, paint the bottle bright purple and market it to gamers as “gamer go go juice” that'll make you game “faster” in some pointless, theoretical but immeasurable way.
philehidiot
That's it. I'm going to buy in a load of laxatives, paint the bottle bright purple and market it to gamers as “gamer go go juice” that'll make you game “faster” in some pointless, theoretical but immeasurable way.
I know what you mean, the marketing spiel is often a load of bollocks with neglible benefits but this new tech looks interesting no matter how they market it; being able to have how hard you press on a key measured opens up interesting possibilities.
I think perhaps mouse buttons would benefit from pressure sensitivity much like “force touch” or whatever it is on the iphone. I'm not sure a keyboard knowing how hard I'm pressing the keys will do anything more than tell it how pissed off I am at the current time.

Right now I'm quite grumpy.
This is the usual razer marketing crap unless they are actually planning to use optical cables to send the signal to the PC. And even then is this highly questionable. Nothing closes a circuit faster than actually bridging the gap with a conductor. That piece of metal also gives a perfectly timed feedback. They are trying to re-invent the wheel… but as a triangle.
philehidiot
I think perhaps mouse buttons would benefit from pressure sensitivity much like “force touch” or whatever it is on the iphone. I'm not sure a keyboard knowing how hard I'm pressing the keys will do anything more than tell it how pissed off I am at the current time.

Right now I'm quite grumpy.

That plus in games it could determine how high you jump or fast you walk. That would rely on games supporting it though.

You never know, there could be a font which changes size so we'd all know how grumpy you are!