Custom keypads are equipment-user interfaces that are specially designed for use with electronic devices. Keypads are essential components of all kinds of electronic devices and are employed in countless industrial, commercial and consumer product contexts. Any kind of automated industrial machinery requires an interface through which technical staff can give commands or program settings.
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Keypads are important components of industrial facilities' IT systems; they are important for the communication of orders and general messages throughout a facility. In commercial settings, keypads can be found on personal electronic utilities like telephones, calculators and on many other kinds of equipment. Keypads are necessary for changing the performance of industrial, commercial and consumer utilities like heating and cooling systems, garage doors, lighting, telecommunications and entertainment utilities and a wide variety of electronic devices. Membrane keypads, rubber keypads, touch screens and many other kinds of user-equipment interfaces are available for the many instances in which people must communicate with their machines. Some of those instances are specialized enough to merit the construction and application of custom keypads. In settings where a standard keypad provides too few options, the wrong options or is otherwise inappropriate, custom keypads give people the opportunity to enter exactly the right commands into their devices in exactly the right way.
Technological development exceeds the capacity of industry and commerce's accommodation. For every attempt at innovation in response to a new breakthrough in technology, ten new developments emerge. New utilities like smartphones and tablet computers emerge on yearly or semi-yearly bases, and each variety features its own specific user interface. Third party service companies develop their own accessories, which further increases the number of interface possibilities. There are three main popular types of keypads, all of which may be customized to fit specific needs and functions. Non tactile keypads provide no tactile feedback, meaning when they are pressed, no sound or sensation produced. They are used in applications where the life of the keypad must last a long time and money is a factor, as they are the least expensive to produce. They last more than 500 million uses and are popular in data entry. Dome keypads are an inexpensive tactile option. Underneath the graphic overlay is a small, usually plastic dome that can be depressed; these survive over one million uses. Metal dome keypads feature a small metal dome between the graphic overlay and lower circuit. This provides a "clicky" feeling and sound when pressed. They last over one million uses but are more expensive because they are more labor intensive to produce. Despite the cost, metal dome keypads are a very popular custom keypad option. Measuring trends in custom keypad manufacturing can be difficult because of the wide variety of contexts in which they are applied, but one thing is clear about custom keypads; as long as technology continues to advance, the need for custom keypads will advance as well.
