What is Computer Keyboard ?

Sort of like pulling the power cord and plugging it back in again. In more modern versions of the Windows operating system, the combination brings up options to log off or shut down, as well as options to force a particular software application to quit.

Talking about the space, it's not only the longest key, but also the most used one. Without the space, it would be hardtoreadthisarticle, don't you think? According to this YouTube video by Vsauce, when you type, 18% of all keyboard hits goes to spacebar.

It can also be used to map keys to web controls like Refresh, Back, etc.

You also don't type alone, ever. From doing math, it turns out that in every 1/10th of a second on Earth, spacebar is hit 600,000 times. So when you hit the space, you're doing it at the exact time as 600,000 other people. Wow

Keyboards are language specific. While most keyboards around the world will also contain regular English characters, they may contain separate keys for commonly used characters in their local language that are not used in English, such as the accented letters in French.

A keyboard's primary function is to act as an input device. Using a keyboard, a person can type a document, use keystroke shortcuts, access menus, play games and perform a variety of other tasks.

Keyboards can have different keys depending on the manufacturer, the operating system they're designed for, and whether they are attached to a desktop computer or part of a laptop.

. But for the most part, these keys, also called keycaps, are the same size and shape from keyboard to keyboard. They're also placed at a similar distance from one another in a similar pattern, no matter what language or alphabet the keys represent

We tend to think that QWERTY keyboard layout is the most efficient because it's so widespreadly used.

The typing keys include the letters of the alphabet, generally laid out in the same pattern used for typewriters. According to legend, this layout, known as QWERTY for its first six letters, helped keep mechanical typewriters' metal arms from colliding and jamming as people typed. Some people question this story -- whether it's true or not, the QWERTY pattern had long been a standard by the time computer keyboards came around

Keyboards can also use a variety of other typing key arrangements. The most widely known is Dvorak, named for its creator, August Dvorak

The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator is another free tool that lets you quickly change the layout of your keyboard.

The Dvorak layout places all of the vowels on the left side of the keyboard and the most common consonants on the right.

Nothing can be more wrong. So why keyboard starts with QWERTY and not, for example, ABCDE? QWERTY layout was invented by Christopher Sholes in 1872 for his new typewriter design (of course there was no computers these days).

Little Tiny Fish has a good explanation for how to use the program.

The most commonly used letters are all found along the home row. The home row is the main row where you place your fingers when you begin typing.

Other layouts include ABCDE, XPeRT, QWERTZ and AZERTY. Each is named for the first keys in the pattern. The QWERTZ and AZERTY arrangements are commonly used in Europe.

It turns out that when you would place keys in alphabetical order, people would type so fast, that the mechanical parts (so called hammers) would jam.

The numeric keypad is a more recent addition to the computer keyboard. As the use of computers in business environments increased, so did the need for speedy data entry. Since a large part of the data was numbers, a set of 17 keys, arranged in the same configuration found on adding machines and calculators, was added to the keyboard.

Sholes came with the idea that in order to slow people down, you need to mess with the layout. QWERTY is also constructed that way to minimize the neighbouring keystrokes - which too - jammed the hammers.

In 1986, IBM further extended the basic keyboard with the addition of function and control keys. Applications and operating systems can assign specific commands to the function keys. Control keys provide cursor and screen control. Four arrow keys arranged in an inverted T formation between the typing keys and numeric keypad move the cursor on the screen in small increments.

The Windows keyboard adds some extra control keys: two Windows or Start keys, and an Application key. Apple keyboards, on the other hand, have Command (also known as "Apple") keys. A keyboard developed for Linux users features Linux-specific hot keys, including one marked with "Tux" the penguin -- the Linux logo/mascot.

As the computers took place of typewriters, the QWERTY was already a legacy that was uncritically adopted.

These keyboards use only few keys to type full range of possible characters.

A keyboard is defined as the set of typewriter-like keys that enables you to enter data into a computer or other devices. Computer keyboards are similar to electric-typewriters but contain additional typing keys.