Most computer keyboards follow the same standard layout, which is to be expected. Some have special features, such as buttons that can be used to launch applications. Some connect wirelessly to the computer.
But there are a few keyboards which are different in ways that have made them cult classics.
There are keyboards that take up less space on your desk. Sometimes this is achieved simply by omitting the numeric keypad from the keyboard. Other compact keyboards are modelled after laptop keyboards. And then there is the well-known Happy Hacking keyboard, which uses a special shift key to put the full functionality of a PC keyboard into the main typing area only.
There is the Gateway AnyKey keyboard, which allowed users to reprogram the keyboard to arrange the keys on it to their liking, using only the sophistication of the controller chip in the keyboard itself. Many point-of-sale keyboards are programmable; here, an application running on the host computer carries out this reprogramming. Some can only be reprogrammed if they have a USB interface, but other such keyboards allow reprogramming over the PS/2 connector as well.
This page is about my attempt to come up with a design for a keyboard for those who are looking for something different and unique in a keyboard, and yet which is conventional enough to reach a wide market.
The keyboard would look like this:
The green key on the left is the one special key that can't be reassigned, as it is used to set up the special features of the keyboard.
The unlabelled keys shown in yellow are the ones that are most likely to be reassigned to different uses, so they are blank so as not to show a preference between the possible choices.
The keyboard includes only the basic portion of the numeric keypad; this is to make it as small as possible without omitting the numeric keypad. Since the normal typing keys are staggered in a way that those of a numeric keypad are not, I felt that the normal typing area could not really substitute for the numeric keypad.
Holding down the green key, and then pressing one of the number keys in the top row of the main typing area switches to one of the possible basic ways the keyboard can be set up. I chose these to correspond to popular choices for keyboard arrangements.
Arrangement 1:
normal keys:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| ~ | ! | @ | # | $ | % | ^ | & | * | ( | ) | _ | + |Back |Prt|Win|Pau|
| ` | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | - | = |Space |Scn|Shf|Bk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Bk Tb| Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | P | { | } | | | | | |
|Tab | | | | | | | | | | | [ | ] | \ |Hom|Up |PUp|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Caps | A | S | D | F | G | H | J | K | L | : | " | | | | |
|Lock | | | | | | | | | | ; | ' |Enter |Lft| |Rgt|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M | < | > | ? | |Win| | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | , | . | / |Shift |Mnu|End|Dwn|PDn|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
|Ctrl |Fn |Alt |Space Bar |Alt |Fn |Ctrl |Ins |Del|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
with the Fn shift:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Win| |
|Esc|F1 |F2 |F3 |F4 |F5 |F6 |F7 |F8 |F9 |F10|F11|F12| | |Shf| |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| |Scl| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |Lk | |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | | | |Shift | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
|Ctrl |Fn |Alt | |Alt |Fn |Ctrl | | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
when Num Lock is on:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | / | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | , |Spc|Tab|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | * | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| | | | | | | | | | | - | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |Enter | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | 0 | . |
|Up | |Down | |Left | |Right| | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This arrangement tries to correspond almost as much as possible to the standard Windows arrangement, but the Windows Shift key is shoved aside, and the Num Lock key is moved, to be compatible with having companion keys for the numeric keypad when in Num Lock mode.
Note that all the shift keys are still available when the Fn key is pressed, so that keys reachable only by Fn can still be shifted.
The next arrangement is intended to suit the tastes of those who look for something a bit different and special in a keyboard:
Arrangement 2:
normal keys:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | ! | @ | # | $ | % | ^ | & | * | ( | ) | _ | + |Back |Prt|Win|Pau|
|Esc| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | - | = |Space |Scn|Shf|Bk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Bk Tb| Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | P | { | } | | | | | |
|Tab | | | | | | | | | | | [ | ] | \ |Hom|Up |PUp|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | A | S | D | F | G | H | J | K | L | : | " | | | | |
|Ctrl | | | | | | | | | | ; | ' |Enter |Lft| |Rgt|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M | < | > | ? | | ~ | | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | , | . | / |Shift | ` |End|Dwn|PDn|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Caps | | | | | | | | |
|Lock |Fn |Alt |Space Bar |Alt |Fn |Ctrl |Ins |Del|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
with the Fn shift:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Win| |
| |F1 |F2 |F3 |F4 |F5 |F6 |F7 |F8 |F9 |F10|F11|F12| | |Shf| |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| |Scl| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|Ctrl |Lk | |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |Win| | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | | | |Shift |Mnu| | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
| |Fn |Alt | |Alt |Fn |Ctrl | | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
when Num Lock is on:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | / | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | , |Spc|Tab|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | * | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| | | | | | | | | | | - | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |Enter | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | 0 | . |
|Up | |Down | |Left | |Right| | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted, the first arrangement was not as compatible with a standard keyboard as might be desired, because the Fn key needed to be placed where the Windows Shift would go. As it might be desirable to have the Windows Shift easily accessible for users who benefit from it with the applications they use, an alternate keyboard arrangement is provided to benefit them:
Arrangement 3:
normal keys:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
|BTb| ! | @ | # | $ | % | ^ | & | * | ( | ) | _ | + |Back |Prt|Scl|Pau|
|Tab| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | - | = |Space |Sc |Lk |Bk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Win | Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | P | { | } |Win | | | |
|Shift| | | | | | | | | | | [ | ] |Shift|Hom|Up |PUp|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Caps | A | S | D | F | G | H | J | K | L | : | " | | | | |
|Lock | | | | | | | | | | ; | ' |Enter |Lft| |Rgt|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M | < | > | ? | |Win| | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | , | . | / |Shift |Mnu|End|Dwn|PDn|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
|Ctrl |Fn |Alt |Space Bar |Alt |Fn |Ctrl |Ins |Del|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
with the Fn shift:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|Esc|F1 |F2 |F3 |F4 |F5 |F6 |F7 |F8 |F9 |F10|F11|F12| | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Win | | | | | | | | | | | | |Win | | | |
|Shift| | | | | | | | | | | ~ | | |Shift| | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| | | | | | | | | ~ | | | | | | |
| |Lk | | | | | | | | | ` | \ | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |Shift | | | | | | | | | | |Shift | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
|Ctrl |Fn |Alt | |Alt |Fn |Ctrl | | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
when Num Lock is on:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | / | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | , |Spc|Tab|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | * | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |Num| | | | | | | | | | | - | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |Enter | | | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | 0 | . |
|Up | |Down | |Left | |Right| | |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using the green key with a key on the numeric keypad would recall a user-defined layout rather than a standard one.
As well, two other functions would require a shifted green key. This would always use the shift keys in their original locations. Since they could be remapped to something that types a character, the procedure for combining a shift with the green key is this: the green key is held down first, and then the shift key is also held down, and then the desired key is struck with both held down.
Green Key-Shift, when used with the numeric keys at the top of the standard layout, loads a standard partial layout, which changes some of the keys on the keyboard while leaving the rest unchanged.
The first partial layout produces a keyboard closer to the standard Windows keyboard, by making the Windows Shift key easier to reach at the expense of the Fn key:
Partial Arrangement 1: Normal keys: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Win| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mnu| | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Fn | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | |Win| | | |Win| | | . | | |Shf| | | |Shf| | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- With the Fn shift: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Fn | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | |Win| | | |Win| | | . | | |Shf| | | |Shf| | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Partial arrangement 2 exiles the Caps Lock key in favor of an extra Fn key:
Partial Arrangement 1: Normal keys: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Fn | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | . | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- With the Fn shift: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | | |Cap| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Fn | |Lk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | . | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green Key-Shift, when used with the keys on the numeric keypad, causes a user layout to be saved.
Through combining different standard layouts with partial layouts, some custom user layouts can be created, but the feature of remapping individual keys will also be provided. That gets a bit more complicated, and so it has its own page.
Copyright (c) 2009 John J. G. Savard