Abstract
The tactile feel of a computer key is the composite of static and dynamic components, which include stiffness and damping. A computer-controlled test rig that can measure computer key displacement, velocity, and contact force was designed and constructed and used for testing of computer keys. The hypothesis of this study is that mechanical damping of computer keys occurs (i.e. contact force is a function of travel speed), thereby possibly playing a significant role in explaining the association between computer keyboard usage and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Preliminary results show that a computer keyboard key with a rubber dome mechanism dissipates energy during a depression-return stroke as the velocity of travel increases, indicating the presence of mechanical damping.
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