This new keyboard built with switches also used in ATMs across Japan has led me down a rabbit hole of typing championships where contestants compete for a golden keyboard

pcgamer.com:

There's a new Topre keyboard in town. That either makes you very excited or you have no idea what I'm talking about. Whichever camp you fall into, let me explain.

This is the RC1 from Realforce, as noted over at Gigazine. It's a compact, tenkeyless design with a two-tone grey finish across the keycaps. It's what I'd call a very minor departure from the usually quite boring-looking Realforce boards we're used to—though only a little. It's still a pretty plain-looking design compared to some mechanical keyboards these days.

The two-tone grey keycap set and smaller frame might make this keyboard a little more attractive to your average PC gamer, anyways.

If you're wondering what the fuss is about, here's the crux of it. This keyboard uses switches designed by the creator of the Realforce brand, Topre. The Topre Corporation, a Japanese company, specialises in air-conditioning equipment, pressed automobile parts, and, most importantly, fantastic non-capacitive keyboard switches.

The same switch found in the RC1 is reportedly also used inside Japanese Seven Bank ATMs. I'm not sure if that's useful information but I wanted to mention it anyway. The bank's latest ATM buttons do look a lot better than the metal ones we get here in the UK, at least.

It's tough to explain why a Topre switch is good in words. Trust me, I've tried many times to people that don't really care.

The issue is if you look at what a Topre switch most closely resembles… it's a membrane switch. Though it's not really that similar, just in the plunger and rubbery bit. But it's much more than a squishy, flaccid membrane (sorry, membrane switch fans). A Topre is a quiet switch with a satisfying response—that's why I rated the Realforce R2 I have at home as the best mechanical keyboard if you want something quiet. It can have an adjustable actuation too.

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Altogether, Topre switches are well-suited for rapidly