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For those who hate "Blister Button Switches," e.g. those on Nova's, etc.

Joined
Sep 13, 2018
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Location
Wimberley, Texas
Hi,
For all who suffer from "Blister Button Switches," there is a reprieve. My X-wife is blind and uses numerous appliances, etc. that have these cursed switches. But, the blind community has long used small, self-adhesive plastic pieces called "Bump Dots" which allows them to both locate and actuate the appropriate switch(es) on said appliances. They are relatively soft. come in various sizes and colors and are available on Amazon, Blind accessories markets, and probably in many department and craft stores as well.
If you search for "Bump Dots" on Amazon you will find them in various quantities and one purchase of $10 or so may supply a relatively large club with all they need.
Hope this made your day
Don...
 
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
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La Grange, IL
@Don Bomer, these are a brilliant solution.

For those interested I was able to find these on the shelf at Bed Bath and Beyond as well as at various on line suppliers, generally under the name bumpers. They come in various sizes and forms. You can try the buttons on your switch before removing the adhesive backing. The fat round ones are easiest to feel, but were not flexible enough to acctuate the switch. The soft flat ones seemed to work best.
20190129_143518_HDR.jpg 20190129_143551.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
1,948
Likes
996
Location
La Grange, IL
@Don Bomer, these are a brilliant solution.

For those interested I was able to find these on the shelf at Bed Bath and Beyond as well as at various on line suppliers, generally under the name bumpers. They come in various sizes and forms. You can try the buttons on your switch before removing the adhesive backing. The fat round ones are easiest to feel, but were not flexible enough to acctuate the switch. The soft flat ones seemed to work best.
View attachment 28037 View attachment 28038


Since the topic has come up recently in other posts I thought I would bump this discussion of bumpers and bump dots.

For a long time I was using the soft flat plastic dots. These worked, but not always on the first press/poke. The pack I bought included some foam rubber dots which I originally discounted as being too soft to work. But it turns out that they actually work the best. Not sure why, but I think soft foam allows you to better focus your finger pressure on the blister button. I am impressed with these enough to consider them a satisfactory solution to the problem.
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2019
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Lebanon, Missouri
It may have to do with the bottom diameter. I had some flat and some dome bumpers. The dome design had a smaller bottom diameter, and work pretty well. I have one fall off occasionally, so you need to have extras.
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
1,173
Likes
611
Location
Evanston, IL USA
Hi,
For all who suffer from "Blister Button Switches," there is a reprieve. My X-wife is blind and uses numerous appliances, etc. that have these cursed switches. But, the blind community has long used small, self-adhesive plastic pieces called "Bump Dots" which allows them to both locate and actuate the appropriate switch(es) on said appliances. They are relatively soft. come in various sizes and colors and are available on Amazon, Blind accessories markets, and probably in many department and craft stores as well.
If you search for "Bump Dots" on Amazon you will find them in various quantities and one purchase of $10 or so may supply a relatively large club with all they need.
Hope this made your day
Don...
What is a "Blister Button Switch"?
 
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
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996
Location
La Grange, IL
Yes, as in microwaves. They're also called membrane buttons.

I think the allure for manufacturers is that the mechanism is tightly sealed against dust. But the implementation matters. Sometimes the maker preserves much of the tactile feel and motion of the switch and these are just fine. But in other instances there is so little feel to the switch left that it might as well be a "touch" screen.
 
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