If you’re looking to buy keypads for your business’s operations, you should consider choosing silicone rubber keypads. Like all keypads, they consist of multiple switches, each of which can be opened or closed by pressing a button on the top layer. Silicone rubber keypads, however, are designed with silicone rubber webbing material that distinguishes them from their counterparts. Below are five reasons to choose silicone rubber keypads over other types of keypads.
#1) Tactile Feedback
You can “feel” a silicone rubber keypad respond to your key presses. A phenomenon known as tactile feedback, it’s a native found in silicone rubber keypads. When you press a button, the silicone rubber webbing material will deform. Releasing your finger from the button, on the other hand, will cause the webbing material to spring back up. This motion creates a physical sensation in the form of tactile feedback.
#2) Moisture Resistance
You’ll often find silicone rubber keypads used in humid environments, such as restaurants as well as the outdoors, because they are resistant to moisture. As previously mentioned, they are designed with silicone rubber webbing. The use of silicone rubber webbing allows them to withstand moisture without succumbing to damage.
#3) Inexpensive
Another reason to choose silicone rubber keypads is the price. While the exact price varies, most silicone rubber keypads cost less than other switching solutions, including plastic keypads. If you’re only buying a single keypad, price may not be a concern. If you’re buying several keypads, though, opting for silicone rubber could save you a substantial amount of money.
#4) Backlighting
Silicone rubber keypads support the use of backlighting. Light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting, for example, can be installed behind the silicone rubber webbing where it illuminates the keypad’s buttons. Alternatively, electroluminescent (EL) backlighting can be used in silicone rubber keypads.
Backlighting solutions such as these can even be enhanced with the addition of optical fiber or light guides. Optical fiber and light guides don’t create light. Rather, they distribute the light produced by the LED or EL backlighting to achieve a more uniform level of brightness.
#5) Ergonomics
With their unique webbing material, silicone rubber keypads are comfortable and ergonomic to use. If you’ve ever used a plastic keypad before, you may recall how its hard and rigid buttons. While plastic keypads offer a reliable switching solution as well, they lack the ergonomics of silicone rubber keypads. These are just a few reasons to choose silicone rubber keypads over other types of keypads.