Computer Keyboards

A computer keyboard is a device which enables you to input information into a computer. The keyboard uses switches and circuits to translate your keystrokes into signals that the computer understands. Computer keyboards are used to type documents, to access menus and shortcuts, play games etc. They are made with different type of keys depending on the various operating systems that are used worldwide and they also take into account different language requirements due to regional differences.

In addition, computer keyboards attached to Desktop computers differ from those attached to laptop computers .While keyboards connect to a Desktop computer with either a PS/2 cable or a USB connector in the case of Laptops; they have their own internal connectors. Wireless keyboards connect through infrared or Bluetooth connections. These Wireless keyboards require a receiver which is either a built-in receiver or is plugged into the USB port in order to connect with the computer. These wireless keyboards use either an AC power connection or batteries as a source of power.

However inherently the key caps of all computer keyboards are of the same size and shape and are placed at similar intervals of distance no matter what language and alphabet they refer to. Computer keyboards have between 80 to 110 keys and these include typing keys, numeric keys, function keys and control keys. The typing keys relate to letters of the alphabet and are laid out in the same QWERTY pattern as those in a manual typewriter. These QWERTY keyboards are also found in other modern hand held devices like smart phones and blackberries.

Computer Keyboards also use a variety of typing key arrangements and the most commonly used arrangement is the Dvorak arrangement which has all the vowels on the left side of the keyboard and the most commonly consonants used on the right. Some other layouts which are also used around the world are the ABCDE, XPeRT, QWERTZ and AZERTY.

The numeric keypad was added to computer keyboards as computers began to be increasingly used in the world of business and a set of 17 numbers similar to adding machines and adding machines are now found on computer keyboards.

The American computer giant IBM further evolved the keyboard when in 1986 it added the function and control keys. These are aligned with the operating system of the computer. The control keys help you to control the cursor and screen movements. Common control keys that are of great use in the computing environment are the:

Home
End
Insert
Delete
Page Up

Page Down
Control (Ctrl)
Alternate (Alt)
Escape ( Esc)

The Windows keyboards also have two Windows or Start Keys and an Application Key while Apple computers are equipped with the Command key ( Apple Key). Linux driven systems have their own Linux hot keys including a key marked "Tux" the penguin which is the mascot of Linux operating systems.