Apple looked at using single glass panels and touch-sensitive membranes when it was trying to solve its MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard problems, but the now newly-patented technology also solves dust and wear issues.
A glass keyboard could be flexible, and also have a display underneath
A glass keyboard could be flexible, and also have a display underneath
Due to their design, keyboards are able to be affected by elements gumming up the mechanism, preventing the keys from smoothly lowering and raising when pressed.
While old-fashioned keyboards are less susceptible, the chiclet-style notebook keyboards, like the ones used in the MacBook Pro lineup, may be prone. They can easily be stopped from working efficiently if dust, crumbs, or liquids enter under the keys and impact the mechanism.