Butterfly keyboard on 1995 IBM ThinkPad 701c - GIF

[Scotsman Hosie]

The single biggest breakthrough in reliable keyboard/keypad functioning, was the development of the scanning keyboard, by Cherry Keyboard co. No more holding your mouth just right, to avoid getting a short line of repeated characters, due to key bounce. No more trying to time a sampling strobe, to get a 'clean read.' Keypad switches were free to bounce all they wanted, once the matrix latches set, and the comparative counter took off running. Amazing how such an obvious solution – after the fact – eliminated the heartache of keyboard entry, for an entire industry.