A chiclet keyboard is slang for a computer keyboard built with an array of small, flat rectangular or lozenge-shaped rubber or plastic keys that look like erasers or pieces of chewing gum. The term comes from "Chiclets", the brand name of a variety of chewing gum. A computer keyboard is a peripheral modelled after the typewriter keyboard. ... Alternate uses: Eraser (disambiguation) Regular eraser An eraser (American English) or rubber (British and Commonwealth English) is an article of stationery that is used for removing pencil writings. ... Chewing gum Chewing gum is a type of confectionery which is designed to be chewed, not swallowed. ... Chiclets are a brand of candy coated chewing gum made by Cadbury Adams. ...

Vendors unanimously liked the chiclet keyboard because it was cheap to produce, and many early home computers—notably the ZX Spectrum—, portables and laptop computers were launched with it. However, consumers rejected it with almost equal unanimity, even though it was not quite as unpleasant to work with as the membrane keyboard. After 1985, chiclet keyboards were not often seen other than on some digital calculator watches, small handheld calculators, and cheap, nonexpandable PDAs. The home computer is a consumer-friendly word for the second generation of microcomputers (the technical term that was previously used), entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s. ... The Sinclair ZX Spectrum was a small home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research. ... A membrane keyboard is a computer keyboard whose keys are not separate, moving parts, as with the majority of other keyboards, but rather have only outlines and symbols printed on a flat, flexible surface. ... A calculator is a device for performing numerical calculations. ... Palm IIIxe PDA Personal digital assistants (PDAs or palmtops) are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organizers, but became much more versatile over the years. ...

The expression 'chiclet keyboard' is not common to every country. For example, in the UK (where Chiclets gum is not sold), it is more often referred to as either a dead-flesh keyboard (from the feel of the keys) or simply a rubber-keyed keyboard.

How it Works

In many (but not all) versions of the chiclet keyboard, the bottom three layers are essentially the same as those in the membrane keyboard. In both cases, a keypress is registered when the top layer is forced through a hole to touch the bottom layer. For every key, the conductive traces on the bottom layer are normally separated by a non-conductive gap. Electrical current cannot flow between them; the switch is open. However, when pushed down, conductive material on the underside of the top layer bridges the gap between those traces; the switch is closed, current can flow, and a keypress is registered. A membrane keyboard is a computer keyboard whose keys are not separate, moving parts, as with the majority of other keyboards, but rather have only outlines and symbols printed on a flat, flexible surface. ... It has been suggested that Conductor (power engineering) be merged into this article or section. ... In electricity, current refers to electric current, which is the flow of electric charge. ... Electrical switches. ...

Unlike the membrane keyboard, where the user presses directly onto the top membrane layer, the chiclet keyboard places a set of moulded rubber keys above this. The user pushes the key, and under sufficient pressure the rubber is distorted enough to force the top membrane layer against the bottom layer. This provides a greater feeling of movement than a simple membrane keyboard. Molding is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a mold. ... Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer which occurs as a milky emulsion (known as latex) in the sap of a number of plants but can also be produced synthetically. ...

The following stylised diagram illustrates this:-

Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

(The thickness of the bottom three layers is exaggerated; in reality they are not much thicker than paper.)

Some versions of the chiclet keyboard omit the upper membrane and hole/spacer layers; instead the underside of the rubber keys themselves have a conductive coating. When the key is pushed, the conductive underside makes contact with the traces on the bottom layer and completes the circuit.

The dome switch keyboard used in a large proportion of modern PC keyboards is similar to the chiclet keyboard; in this, the rubber keys are replaced with rubber domes, and hard plastic keytops rest on top of these. There are several types of keyboard, usually differentiated by the switch technology employed in their operation. ... Plastic is a term that covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization products. ...

List of home computers with variations of chiclet keyboards

• Cambridge Z88 (arguably a mix between a membrane and chiclet keyboard)
• Commodore PET 2001 (the original 1977 PET)
• Commodore 116 (version of the C16 sold only in Europe)
• IBM PCjr
• Jupiter ACE
• Mattel Aquarius
• Multitech Microprofessor I (MPF 1) and MPF 2 (the latter an early Apple II compatible)
• Oric 1
• Panasonic Toughbook eLite
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16/48K (later models had slightly improved keyboards)
• Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer I (later 'CoCo's had full-travel keyboards)
• Tandy TRS-80 MC-10 and its French counterpart, the Matra Alice
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4 (predecessor of the TI-99/4A, which had a full-travel keyboard)
• Timex Sinclair 1500 (U.S. ZX81 derivation)
• Timex Sinclair 2068 (U.S. ZX Spectrum derivation)
• VTech Laser 200

The Cambridge Z88 was an A4-size, lightweight, portable Z80-based computer with a built-in combined word processing/spreadsheet/database application called Pipedream, along with several other apps/utilities, such as a Z80-version of BBC BASIC. Despite the lightness of the machine, its construction was surprisingly robust, including... The PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was a home-/personal computer produced by Commodore starting in the late 1970s. ... The Commodore 16 was a home computer made by Commodore with a 6502-compatible 7501 CPU, released in 1984. ... The IBM PCjr was a relatively inexpensive home computer of the 1980s, and it was IBMs first attempt to enter the educational and home computer markets. ... The Jupiter ACE was a British home computer of the 1980s, marketed by a company named Jupiter Cantab. ... Aquarius was a very simple early home computer from Mattel in 1983. ... Acer is one of the worlds top five branded PC vendors. ... Microprofessor I (MPF 1), introduced in 1981, was Acers first branded computer product and probably one of the worlds longest selling computers. ... The Oric Atmos was a home computer marketed in 1984, mostly in the United Kingdom. ... Panasonic is principal sponsor of the Toyota F1 team Panasonic is the global brand name for consumer electronics and other electric products manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. ... The Sinclair ZX Spectrum was a small home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research. ... Tandy Corporation is the former name of the parent company of RadioShack Corporation, a Fort Worth-based company best known for its RadioShack electronics stores. ... TRS-80 Color Computer II The Radio Shack TRS-80 color computer (also called Tandy Color Computer, or CoCo) was a home computer based around the Motorola 6809E processor and part of the TRS-80 line. ... Tandy Corporation is the former name of the parent company of RadioShack Corporation, a Fort Worth-based company best known for its RadioShack electronics stores. ... The TRS-80 MC-10 The TRS-80 MC-10 microcomputer is a lesser-known member of the TRS-80 line of home computers, produced by Tandy Corporation in the early 1980s and sold through their RadioShack chain of electronics stores. ... Mécanique Avion TRAction or Matra is a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to aeronautics and weaponry which today operates as the Lagardère Group. ... The Matra Alice The Matra Alice was a home computer sold in France beginning in 1983. ... The Texas Instruments TI-99/4 was the first 16-bit home computer. ... The TS1500 was a slightly-upgraded development of the Timex Sinclair TS1000. ... The Timex Sinclair 2068 (TS2068), released in November 1983, was Timex Sinclairs fourth and last home computer for the U.S. market. ... The VTech Laser 200 was an early 8-bit home microcomputer from 1983, also sold as the Salora Fellow, the Texet TX8000 (in England) and the Dick Smith VZ 200 (in Australia). ...

See Also

• Keyboard technology

There are several types of keyboard, usually differentiated by the switch technology employed in their operation. ...

External links

• Google Image Search for Chiclet Keyboard