Electrical switches put transients into the power supply. (Transients are extremely high voltage, extremely narrow width. In fact, they are defined from my four years of electronics college instruction as infinite voltage of infinitely narrow width.) If there is not enough filtering these spikes can damage the electronics. Mechanical switches are also prone to ringing. Ringing is an oscillation on the power line which can cause similar problems.

Although many of the above answers are correct regarding software, electornic hardware must also be considered.

Electrical switches put transients into the power supply. (Transients are extremely high voltage, extremely narrow width. In fact, they are defined from my four years of electronics college instruction as infinite voltage of infinitely narrow width.) If there is not enough filtering these spikes can damage the electronics. Mechanical switches are also prone to ringing. Ringing is an oscillation on the power line which can cause similar problems.

Although many of the above answers are correct regarding software, electronic hardware must also be considered.