Keyboards and typing technology have come a long way over the past couple centuries. The first typing devices were designed and patented in the 1700s while the first manufactured typing devices came about in the 1870s. These machines featured “blind typing” technology, where characters were printed on upside-down pages that remained unseen until completion. Since then, we have seen several updates in design, layout, technology, and function that are more efficient and user-friendly. The type-writer has changed shape dramatically over the years, eventually becoming electronic- then practically obsolete as we moved into the age of computers and the birth of the keyboard. The keyboard is the number one computer interface used around the world, and an integral object for many of us that most people take for granted. This paper will explore the history of typing, detailing the innovations across time that have accumulated into the definition of today’s standard for the ultimate typing experience. The history of the computer keyboard started way back in 1714 when the first type writers were manufactured. By then they looked more like sewing machines since they were designed by Remington which also used to manufacture sewing machines. They were not used for commercial purpose but to produce legal documents that were neat. 1868 is the year that Christoper Latham Scholes created the type writer that is common today and was later mass marketed in 1877.

KEYBOARDA keyboard is an input device, partially modeled after the typewriter keyboard.

HISTORY:

While typewriters are the definitive ancestor of all key-based text entry devices, the computer keyboard as a device for electromechanical data entry and communication derives largely from the utility of two devices: teleprinters (or teletypes) and keypunches. It was through such devices that modern computer keyboards inherited their layouts.

As early as the 1870s, teleprinter-like devices were used to simultaneously type and transmit stock market text data from the keyboard across telegraph lines to stock ticker machines to be immediately copied and displayed onto ticker tape. The teleprinter, in its more contemporary form, was developed from 1903 to 1910 by American mechanical engineer Charles Krum and his son Howard, with early contributions by electrical engineer Frank Pearne. Earlier models were developed separately by individuals such as Royal Earl House and Frederick G. Creed.Earlier, Herman Hollerith developed the first keypunch devices, which soon evolved to include keys for text and number entry akin to normal typewriters by the 1930s.

The keyboard on the teleprinter played a strong role in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communication for most of the 20th century, while the keyboard on the keypunch device played a strong role in data entry and storage for just as long. The development of the earliest computers incorporated electric typewriter keyboards: the development of the ENIAC computer incorporated a keypunch device as both the input and paper-based output device, while the BINAC computer also made use of an electromechanically controlled typewriter for both data entry onto magnetic tape (instead of paper) and data output.

KEYS ON KEYBOARD:

Alphanumeric Keys: Alphabetical, numeric, and punctuation keys are used in the same fashion as a typewriter keyboard to enter their respective symbol into a word processing program, text editor, data spreadsheet, or other program.

Capital Alphabets A – ZSmall Alphabets a – z Digits 0 – 9Special Symbols !, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), -, +, =, etc.

Modifier Keys: Modifier keys are special keys that modify the normal action of another key, when

the two are pressed in combination. For example, <Alt> + <F4> in Microsoft Windows will close the program in an active window.

The most widely-used modifier keys include the Control key, Shift key and the Alt key.

A Control key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, will perform a special operation.

The Shift key is a modifier key which is used to type capital letters and other alternate "upper" characters.

The Alt key on a computer keyboard is used to change (alternate) the function of other pressed keys.

The Space bar, spacebar, or space key, is a key whose main purpose is to conveniently enter the space, e.g., between words during typing.

The Enter key causes a command line, window form or dialog box to operate its default function.

Navigation & Typing Mode: Cursor movement keys / Arrow keys are buttons that are

either programmed or designated to move the cursor in a specified direction.

The Page Up & Page Down keys are used to scroll up or down in documents.

The Home key is used to take the control to the start of the document.

The End key is used to take the control to the end of the document.

Tab key on a keyboard is used to advance the cursor to the next tab stop.

The Insert key is used to switch between the two text-entering modes.

The Delete key performs a function which discards the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed place.

Backspace is the keyboard key that moves the cursor one position backwards, deletes the preceding character, and shifts back the text after it by one position.

Scroll Lock is a key meant to lock all scrolling techniques.

Num Lock which is used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a numeric keypad rather than letters.

The Caps Lock when pressed will set a keyboard mode in which typed letters are capitalized by default.

System Command Keys The Print Screen command used to capture the entire screen and send it to the

printer, but in the present it usually puts a screenshot in the clipboard.

The Escape key (often abbreviated Esc) is used to initiate an escape sequence.

The Menu key / Application key is a key found on Windows-oriented computer keyboards. It is used launch a context menu with the keyboard rather than with the usual right mouse button.

Keyboard Types:

101 KEYS KEYBOARD 84 KEYS KEYBOARD

104 KEYS KEYBOARD

NON STANDARD KEYBOARD:

Chorded Keyboard• Chorded Keyboard lets the user type in characters or commands by

pressing a combination of keys.

• The chorded keyboard design is typically used for hand-held computers that cannot accommodate standard-sized keyboards.

Touch Screen KeyboardTouch screens come with a stylus, a pen-like device that doesn't have ink. This technology is typically used in products such as iPods and iPhones.

Foldable KeyboardFoldable keyboards, as the name suggests, can be folded and made to fit into uneven spaces, so they can be very handy during travels.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF KEYBOARD:1.MEMBRANE KEYBOARDThere are two types of membrane-based keyboards, flat-panel membrane keyboards and full-travel membrane keyboards.

2.DOME-SWITCH KEYBOARD

Dome-switch keyboards are a hybrid of flat-panel membrane and mechanical keyboards. They bring two circuit board traces together under a rubber or silicone keypad using either metal "dome" switches or polyester formed domes.

3.SCISSOR-SWITCH KEYBOARD

A special case of the computer keyboard dome-switch is the scissor-switch. The keys are attached to the keyboard via two plastic pieces that interlock in a "scissor"-like fashion, and snap to the keyboard and the key.

4.MECHANICAL-SWITCH KEYBOARD

Mechanical-switch keyboards use real switches underneath every key. Depending on the construction of the switch, such keyboards have varying response and travel times. Notable keyboards utilizing this technology include the Apple Extended Keyboard.

5.LASER-PROJECTION KEYBOARD

A laser projection device approximately the size of a computer mouse projects the outline of keyboard keys onto a flat surface, such as a table or desk. This type of keyboard is portable enough to be easily used with PDAs and cellphones, and many models have retractable cords and wireless capabilities.

USES OF KEYBOARD:

In normal usage, the keyboard is used to type text and numbers into a word processor, text editor or other programs.

In a modern computer, the interpretation of key presses is generally left to the software.

A computer keyboard distinguishes each physical key from every other and reports all key presses to the controlling software.

Keyboards are also used for computer gaming, either with regular keyboards or by using keyboards with special gaming features, which can expedite frequently used keystroke combinations.

A keyboard is also used to give commands to the operating system of a computer, such as Windows' Control-Alt-Delete combination, which brings up a task window or shuts down the machine.

MAINTAINENCE OF KEYBOARD:

STEP 1-SHUT DOWN THE COMPUTER AND DETACH THE KEYBOARD CONNECTOR BEFORE ANY CLEANING PROCESS.

STEP 2-FOR A QUICK CLEANING, TURN THE KEYBOARD UPSIDE DOWN AND USE A CAN OF COMPRESSED AIR TO BLOW OUT FOREIGN MATTER.

STEP 3- CLEAN THE SIDES OF THE KEYS WITH A COTTON SWAB BY USING ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL.