The keyboard is an external instrument that is represented by a set of keys, these must be in charge of entering information to a computer or device through various characters, including letters, numbers and symbols. The keyboard is the direct evolution of typewriters, which were used under a system of keys or buttons that acted like mechanical levers or electronic switches. These machines sent information to old computers, on the keyboard, everything is different, because it is connected to the computer or, in the case of laptops, it is integrated into them.
What is a keyboard
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As mentioned before, this is a device made up of a set of keys that can represent different devices, instruments or machines, and can be a pc keyboard, instrument keyboard or a type of virtual keyboard quite common in Android devices. To refer to this device in Spanish, this term is used, but keyboard in English is written keyboard.
Since there are several types of keyboard, it is important to define each one.
In computing
Also known as a pc keyboard, it is an instrument used to send all kinds of information to computers and even to a mobile phone. Here the device has alphanumeric keys, that is, letters, numbers and symbols, including punctuation marks and special keys that fulfill different functions. When you press a key, the device sends encrypted information to the computer and the character of the key is displayed on the screen.
In the music
There are also various musical instruments that have this device, in fact, when you press the key, the instrument emits a sound by different means, these can be electronic, electromagnetic or acoustic.
There are some that perform simultaneous sound executions, thanks to them, various chords are generated. The musicians who have knowledge to manipulate these instruments are known as keyboardists or keyboardists. Among the musical instruments that have this mechanism, are the organ, piano, harpsichord and the accordion.
There are also other instruments that have anatomies similar to those of a keyboard, these are the marimba and the xylophone, but they are not considered as a keyboard instrument.
On the phones
When the first cell phones started to come out, each of them came integrated with this mechanism that allowed it to fulfill functions very similar to those of a computer, with the small difference that these were used to send text messages and make calls. Later, with the innovation of technologies, they launched touch phones whose devices were virtually integrated. Currently, both types of phones are in use, but the most common are those with virtual devices.
Keyboard history
The first devices that were used were those of typewriters and date back to the years 1714, when the first Remington machine was launched, a revolution in the technological area. Years later, precisely in 1868, Christopher Sholes makes a new keyboard layout called QWERTY, named after the first five letters of the top row, the purpose of this device was that people could type more easily, in fact, the influence of the order of the keys was so much that it still remains in modern keyboards.
Currently and within the many types of keyboards (which are divided between their composition and their designs) those that faithfully coexist are physical and digital. Technology has innovated so much that touchscreens are the boom and bust of society, not only in youth, but also in the rest of the people who have had to adapt to these innovations.
Many people have wondered how long it will be necessary to use a physical keyboard and the question is important, even more so when screen keyboards, that is, virtual ones, have been so successful. But there are also many things to take into account with the physical keyboard and that is what will be explained in depth in this post.
Keyboard parts
This device is a peripheral input device that is part of the computer, in addition, it has between 101 and 108 digits that are divided into 4 different blocks. Thanks to this, the user can interact directly with the equipment and carry out activities in a simple way. Each part of it is important for its operation and will be explained below.
Alphanumeric keys
Devices with alphanumeric keys are very similar to typewriters, having each of the letters of the alphabet, punctuation marks, accentuation, decimal digits and a space bar. In relation to the function keys, the alphanumeric ones are positioned in the lower zone of the keyboard and each one of the keys has the same layout of the typewriter.
Numeric keys
They are quite similar to those of a calculator. They have 10 decimal digits that facilitate the most basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. In addition, it has a Num Lock key to activate or deactivate the numeric keyboard.
Function keys
They are in charge of carrying the shortcuts of the operating system of computers or equipment, their location is in the upper area of the alphanumeric keyboard and they are identified with the letter F (function) together with a number, this indicates that each one has a different function. In order, these letters go from F1 to F12. As there are different types, the function keys work differently and it all depends on the operating system or the program being used.
Special keys
Also known as control keys, they are located in the middle of the numeric and alphanumeric keys, these are identified as shift, inset, tab and enter and their functions go around the control of the equipment and different programs.
Kinds of keyboards
Despite the fact that this device has specific functions, there are different types of keyboards with characteristics that individualize them and that, in fact, are special for different types of people. This section lists and explains the most used today.
Multimedia keyboard
Its design is conventional, however, here some special keys are added whose function is to control some of the many programs found on the computer. These command keys control the volume, CD-Rom, the calculator, play, stop and others that control the software for content playback, including the VLC, Groove or windows player.
Ergonomic keyboard
This is a device whose classification is based on the shape it possesses. In this case, they have a different design than the conventional one because the letters are positioned in a less uncomfortable way for the wrists. They are special for those people who work on a computer every day and tend to suffer from neck, shoulder and wrist pain. There are different brands of ergonomic keyboards and each one makes design innovations. Generally, these are recognized for being one of the many gamer keyboards.
Braille keyboard
Its composition is between 6 and 8 letters, one of space and the rest are auxiliary, in addition, its design is special for people who cannot see. The main letters have points that facilitate writing, the space letter also has other functionalities that tend to vary according to the type of software device of the machine and the programs that are being used. Each key is divided into two blocks, the one on the left that has points 1, 2, 3 and 7, while the right contains points 4, 5, 6 and 8.
Flexible keyboard
Its manufacture can be made of plastic, rubber or silicone and it is necessary that they be thin, in this way they obtain flexibility, in addition, they have a fairly light characteristic. Its design makes it special to adapt to unusual places and can be rolled up without altering its functionality. Unlike others, the hoses can be washed with water and are not easily damaged or deteriorated. Some of these can be personalized, so they can be of different colors and sizes and are known as pretty keyboards for gamer.
Wireless keyboard
It is a conventional device that does not need cables to work, this is due to the fact that its connection to the computer is made via bluetooth, infrared, etc. Their compatibility depends on the device and the equipment to which the connection is to be established. These also serve as an Iphone keyboard or Samsung keyboard precisely because they can be connected via bluetooth and are generally used by those who work through their phones.
On-screen keyboard
These are virtual keyboards that work as software components of different computers and work so that the user can enter characters typical of a conventional device in communication devices, be it tablets or phones with touch screens. The Iphone keyboard, Samsung keyboard and even the Google keyboard are part of this classification.
Projection keyboards
It is a virtual optical keyboard for computer input. The image of this device is projected on a surface, so the user can touch that surface that represents the image of a key and the device will register the keystroke and the chosen character will be seen on the computer screen. These mechanisms are connected with bluetooth and also have functionality in smartphones, laptops and tablets that have windows, iOS or Android platforms.
The best keyboard shortcuts
A computer keyboard has two main functions called modes. The first mode is where the text is entered and the second is the command mode, which works through shortcuts that are made up of a set of keys that indicate to any software or operating system that there is an order to execute a task determined.
The best example of this is the combination between the TAB and ALT keys, these are responsible for changing the different windows that are open, either browsers or desktop.
The peripheral keyboard has both modes, but there are a large number of users who use this device only to type and ignore all its functions because they use the mouse to execute the commands of the pc. Making use of this device to command the computer makes the movement of the hand to the mouse extinguish, less time is wasted and improves efficiency on the pc, in short, using keyboard shortcuts increases efficiency, increases productivity, allows tasks to be performed simultaneously, reduces stress levels and allows you to stay focused on work.
When it comes to keyboard shortcuts, too many key combinations can be used to perform specific actions, however, you need to know about each of these shortcuts. Once they are known and used day by day, comes the memorization of combinations and the efficiency increases to 100%, leaving aside and completely forgetting the use of the mouse.
In this section, the shortcuts that are really imperative for computer users will be mentioned and explained, starting with:
- The CTRL + C. This is a shortcut used to copy previously selected texts and files.
- The combination of CTRL + Insert also fulfills the same functions as the CTRL + C.
- There is also the combination of CTRL + V to paste texts and files previously copied, either with the use of the mouse or with the two previous shortcuts. This function can also be carried out with the Shift + Insert key.
- The CTRL + X shortcut is used to cut texts immediately, however, the text is saved on the clipboard to later be pasted with the CTRL + V shortcut.
- The next shortcut is CTRL + Z, which consists of undoing any action that has been performed previously. For example, if you copy and paste a text, you can undo this action by combining both keys. It is important to note that this shortcut can be used many times to undo several previously performed actions.
- Now, to redo the undone work, you can use the shortcut CTRL + Y.
- Searches for programs or browsers, you can use the shortcut CTRL + F.
- The CTRL + TAB has the same functionality as the ALT + TAB, but has better execution to switch between browser tabs.
- Now, if what you want is to maximize the windows of the programs that are running, you must press the ALT + SHIFT + TAB keys at the same time, although it can also be done with CTRL + SHIFT + TAB but in the browser.
- If you are using windows 7 or windows vista, you can combine the start + TAB keys to slide between the windows and the programs that are running for better viewing.
- If you want to delete an entire word that is within a text, you must use the shortcut CTRL + backspace.
- If you want to move the cursor through the words that are in full text, you can apply the shortcut CTRL + the left or right arrow. With this you can advance in the text word by word, not letter by letter. You can also add the SHIFT button to select words.
- To save or save the work that is being done, the shortcut CTRL + S is needed, in addition, it is used in different programs.
- To direct the cursor to the beginning of the document, you must press CTRL + the start button, but if you want to move the cursor to the end of the document, then the appropriate shortcut is CTRL + End.
- To open a preview of the prints to be made, the shortcut CTRL + P must be activated. The Page Up key is used to move the cursor up a document, Page Down works to move to the end of the document and, finally, the space bar, which has the same functions as the previously mentioned keys.
Keyboard images
In this section the different devices that exist will be shown, starting with beautiful keyboards, unicorn keyboard (usually personalized) and the different existing designs of the google keyboard.
