Keyboards - Basic Classes

In this lesson you will learn:

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Keyboards

The most frequently used of all of the I/O (Input / Output) devices, information can be entered directly into the computer. A cursor or insertion point (a small vertical line) marks the point on the screen where information will be entered, and it flashes at a set rate until you change it. The keyboard allows you to move the cursor around on the screen and Alpha, Numeric and Symbol characters can be entered anywhere at will.

Different brands and types of keyboards have very different functions and feels. Some are called ergonomic, some are split and raised up, some are called 'Internet' keyboards, meaning there are special 'Hot' buttons that auto-magically perform preset functions that are common to every day tasks, like going out to the internet with a push of a button, etc.

The keys on some keyboards make a click sound that can be turned on or off, some are silent, and some are stiffer than others for the faster typist whose typing may tend to type too fast with lighter touch keyboards. Some are wireless, some use USB connector and some use a ps/2 plug. Older computers use a larger AT connector.

Keyboards are very sensitive so you do not need to press hard on the keys. The keyboard responds to the slightest key press, and if you hold a key down for a longer period of time, the key will auto repeat across the screen. This rate can also be set, as you will learn later. Pressing and holding certain keys turn on 'sticky keys' which will be covered later. If that happens, just select 'No' to keep Sticky Keys turned off.

Keyboard Types

The two main types of keyboards are the standard and the 'ergonomic'. There are so many styles labeled 'Ergonomic' that it there are too many to show or discuss here! They can be completely round, or raised in the center, raised in the sides, split so the right and left hands are typing sideways etc. etc. A simple internet image search of 'Ergonomic Keyboard' will show some of the Ergonomic styles.

Other keyboard types have special keys for 'One Touch' functions, like 'Internet' or 'Screen' buttons. These special buttons can be programmed to automatically pop open the most frequently used programs or screens for easy access. The main down side for new users is that normal keyboards don't have these buttons and the user may not know how to get to the screen that is needed when sitting at any other computer!

Keyboard Styles

The QWERTY board is named after the key sequence under the number keys, left to right. Keyboards come in different layouts, like Dvorak, that use character sequences different that the standard English QWERTY. Different languages and programs use character sets or functions that are mapped to different keys, and use templates or keyboard overlays to help the user with finger placement. Regardless of the type or style of the keyboard, they all have things in common.

Used for quick or precise navigation across a page. On most keyboards, the arrow keys are grouped together by themselves on the lower right. They move the cursor one position left, right, up or down, and can be used to precisely place the cursor and for scrolling. Holding down the keys moves the cursor rapidly in that direction.

Caps Lock Key:

Probably the key most used by mistake. It is in easy reach of your left little finger, and once pressed changes all of the characters to UPPER CASE. The key affects Letter Characters only. This means that to get the $ symbol for money you still have to press and hold the shift key and then the 4 key, even if the CAPS LOCK is on. This is a toggle key, which means you press it once to turn it on, and again to turn it off. Look at the light on the keyboard and turn it on and off a couple of times to become familiar with where it is on your particular keyboard.

I use this key to test an unresponsive computer. If the light turns on and off, that means the computer is not locked up and is just thinking and will eventually come back to life. If the light does not toggle on and off, the computer is probably frozen.

Back Space and Delete Keys

Most Keyboards have two keys for erasing. The Backspace Key erases one character to the left of where the cursor is placed, and the Delete or DEL Key erases one character to the right of the cursor. Some keyboards only show a left arrow for the Backspace Key. Practice the use of these keys and get to know them well! Using the wrong one at the wrong time may cause loss of a file or folder in later life.

End Key and Home Key

The Key marked End will move your cursor to the end of the document (Control + End) or to the end of the line the cursor is on. The Home key does the opposite of the End Key, moving the cursor to the beginning of the document (Control Home) or the beginning of the line it is on. Sometimes when using pictures or tables in a document, it looks like there is no room to put anything above the picture. Simply press Control + Home, which moves the cursor to the very top of the page above everything else, and then press the Enter key one time, and presto, you have room to type text above the objects.

Page-Up and Page-Down Keys

Use these keys to quickly scroll from one page to another in a long document. Use the page up keys to move to the same position inside of the page either before or after the one you are presently on.

Enter Key

This key is sometimes labeled Return on older keyboards. The Enter Key is like the 'Carriage Return' key on the old typewriter. You press it to go to the next line or to start a new paragraph. This key inserts a carriage return and a line feed. That means that the cursor returns to the beginning of the line and a line feed moves the cursor to the next line. This is called a 'hidden' character, which means that it does not show until you select the option that shows hidden characters. In the Word Processing lesson you will learn how to do this.

In your document, the symbol ¶ is placed at the spot the key was pressed, and it also contains all of the formatting code for the entire sentence. If it the only 'return' character in the paragraph, it contains all of the formatting code for the paragraph. This means that to eliminate all of the paragraph formatting in one operation, simply delete this character from your document.

Again, you will learn to show and hide characters like this that are hidden in later lessons on Word Processing. You do not need to press enter on the end of each line when you are typing because the word processing program will do this automatically for you. This is called Word Wrap, and can be turned on and off as an option.

Insert Key

The Insert (INS) key is also a toggle Key. When toggled on, it is a Type-Over Key, which means that anything typed will TYPE OVER any other text. To insert text without erasing, make sure the INS key is off. Some of the functions keys that are not so obvious are:

Function Keys

The function keys are along the top and are labeled F1 - F12. are 'Hot Key' commands that perform different functions. The usual functions, like saving a file, opening a file etc. are standardized 'Hot Buttons' that pretty well do the same things on every computer IF they all have the same operating system. If not, then the OS has Function Keys set up to the standards that the writers of the operating system set.

Blue Function Keys

On some keyboards or laptops there is a blue key on the bottom left and on some keys there are blue symbols and letters. When holding down the blue Function button and pressing another button with Blue letters or icons, different actions to the Operating System are toggled on or off. In particular use during presentations is the blue Function button + the screen button to change from the laptop display to 'Both' laptop and the other screen or back to laptop only again.

When plugging the computer into a projector it is important to understand that the video signal defaults to the local machine (LCD) and has to be told to show on the external device that is plugged into it. That is what the blue Function button (or 'Mirror' on a Mac) is for. Without using the toggle, nothing will display on the other screen!

This one example shows why it is important to know the features of hot keys and function keys.

Other blue Function buttons control the sound, backlight brightness, contrast, numeric keypad or other laptop / notebook functions. Blue Function keys also serve as switches to turn the Wireless card on or off.

This one example shows why it is important to know the features of hot keys and function keys.

Other blue Function buttons control the sound, back light brightness, contrast, numeric keypad or other laptop / notebook functions. Blue Function keys also serve as switches to turn the Wireless card on or off.

If there is trouble doing something on a laptop, the Blue Function keys are the first place to look.

Escape Key

The Escape key on the top left is used for 'Exit' on menus. It can de-select something that was selected by mistake without disturbing other windows and can be used in conjunction with other keys to do various tasks.

ALT Key

Because using the keyboard is much faster than grabbing the mouse the ALT Key is used in all of the programs that have extensive menus and toolbars. When there are not enough SHIFT or CTL (Control) keys for the amount of features in the program then the ALT key is also used for toggling functions.

When holding your mouse over a menu or toolbar item the tooltip shows which key combination will map to that function. Some programs have 'Cheat Sheets' or laminated program / language cards for quick reference to the key combinations.

Some music recording software programs make extensive use of the ALT key for different functions of Plug In Software or controllers, mixers etc.

Windows Key or Command Key (Mac)

The Windows/Command key is instant access to the desktop or main menu. When your screen is covered in windows, rather than minimize each window it is easier to just press a key that takes you back to the main menu sets. 'Command - Escape' on a Mac takes you to the main window.

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