IANJ, but electronic switch = spark = fire = work, as I understand it. This is pretty common (along with removing light bulbs from refrigerators, which to me makes no sense unless you also disable the temperature sensor).
Does it also apply to solid state switches actuated by a capacitative touch sensor? I wonder why this or something of a similar nature isn't a solution to most of these issues.
Well, the decision to make electricity forbidden was a mix of building (by closing a circuit, not relevant to 100% capacitive systems), spark (ditto), heating and adding power consumption. There is some debate as to whether those last two still always apply to 100% capacitive devices (as this is important to Israeli soldiers and hospital workers).
But ultimately, most Rabbis know that these reasons have mainly been brought up to avoid making those "holy days" look like other days by allowing the use of computers, microwaves and so on, so it's not just going to go. Every practicing Jew has thought about it. Many hope our Rabbis change their mind one day, seeing how hard life without electricity has/will become and how plausible solutions may exist.
