A Membrane Keyboard is a computer keyboard with keys that do not have separate moving parts like other keyboards; instead they have keys rather like pressure pads that have outlines and symbols printed on a flat flexible surface. Very little if any tactile feedback is felt when using such a keyboard, blind typing is also difficult and often results in mistakes being made. They work when electrical contact between the keyboard surface and the underlying circuits are pressed. They were used with some early 1980s computers, and have been much used since. These keyboards are inexpensive to mass produce and are more resistant to dirt and liquids than other keyboards, but because of the low tactile feel most people find difficulty typing with them. Membrane based QWERTY keyboards are used in some industrial computer systems and are also found in portable and pocket computing devices. Typical membrane keyboards have only a few numerical and control keys for simple applications such as could be found on a microwave oven.
