Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can include a key height activation engine and a keyboard. The keyboard can include a plurality of keys and one or more of the plurality of keys can include a key height mechanism. The key height mechanism includes a shape memory material and when the key height mechanism is activated by the key height activation engine, the shape memory material raises the one or more of the plurality of keys that includes the key height mechanism from a first height to a second height.