Touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness

A keyboard comprising:

• a plurality of keycaps, each keycap of the plurality of keycaps having a first face configured to be pressed by a user and a second face comprising a first guide feature;
• a keyguide configured to guide keycap motion, the keyguide comprising a plurality of second guide features, wherein each second guide feature of the plurality of second guide features configured to operate with the first guide feature of an associated keycap to define an associated path traveled by the associated keycap in response to press input applied to the associated keycap by a user, and wherein each second guide feature is further configured to operate with the first guide feature of the associated keycap to keep the associated keycap substantially level as the associated keycap travels along the associated path;
• and
• a non-elastomeric tactile feedback mechanism operatively associated with the keycap, the tactile feedback mechanism configured to provide a resisting force in response to the press.

A method of operating a key assembly comprising:

• resisting a press input applied by a user to a keycap of the key assembly;
• effecting translation of the keycap along a path while keeping the keycap substantially level in response to the press input, the translation having a planar translation component;
• returning the keycap to an unpressed position in response to a release of the press;
• sensing a variable capacitance defined by motion of the keycap along the path;
• and
• determining an actuation state of the keyswitch in response to a value of the variable capacitance.