"KEYBOARDS"

 

  

Keyboards

         Keyboard i9s the most commonly used input device. It is mostly used to enter text and numeric type data into the computer. Keyboard look like the typewriter keypad. But a computer keyboard has some special kays to perform special functions. The buttons on the keyboard are called keys. The keyboard contains keys of all alphabetic characters, numeric digits, and special characters. It is also containing some special keys known as function keys. A standard keyboard used in personal computers contain 100 keys.                                                                                                                         

                     The standard keyboard is also referred to as QWERTY keyboard. This is because the first six leftmost keys on the top row of alphabets are Q, W, E, R, T, Y.

             Parts of Keyboard

             The keys of standard keyboard may be divided into following four parts. These are

(i)           Function keys

(ii)          Main keyboard

(iii)         Numeric keys

(iv)         Additional keys

(i)          Function keys

              There are 12 function keys on the top of keyboard that tabled as F1, F2……...F12.  These keys provide easy ways to give certain command to the computers. For example, in many software, the function key F1 is used to get help about the software currently running on the computer.

 

(Ii)                Main Computer

The main keyboard area is like a typewriter key pad. It includes alphabetic characters keys, numeric keys, and some special command keys. The function of command keys depends upon the software being used n the computer. Some of the most commonly used command keys are;

Esc                   Usually, this key is used to cancel the current action that is being                             performed on the computer

Tab                  it is used to insert a tab (space of 6 or 8 characters) into a document from a current position of a cursor.

Caps lock        it is used to change lower case letter mode to upper case and vice versa. The numbers and symbols are not affected.

Shift                it is used to type some uppercase letters if you are typing in lowercase                                mode and vice versa. similarly, some keys have to symbols printed on them, by default lower printed symbols or letter is typed. To type the upper symbol, the shift key is pressed in conjunction with that key.

Ctrl             It is used in conjunction (or combination) with other keys to apply as specified by the software’s. For example, in many applications Ctrl+ S shortcut is used to save the current document.

Alt              it is also used in combination with other keys to apply commands as specified by the software’s.

Backspace   Backspace is used to delete a character to the left of a cursor. The cursor is move one position backward after deleting the character.

Enter            Enter key is used to insert new line or paragraph into a word document ( or any text editor). It is also used to perform selected command or action.

(iIi)            Numeric Keys

This part of keyboard consists of numeric keys and arithmetic operators’ keys.  These keys are usually located at the right of the keyboard. These keys are similar to calculator keys. This part of keyboard has an extra Enter key and num lock key. The n um lock is used to activate or de=-activate the numeric keypad.

(iV)                Additional keys

Extended keyboards also have some additional keys. Most of the keys are used to move the cursor inside the document. These keys are;

 

Arrow key                   these keys are used to move the cursor left, right, up and down                       on the screen or in the document. These keys are also available in numeric key areas.

 

Insert, Delete, Home, End,    These keys are also used for the same purpose as discussed in numeric                                                                                                 

 PgUp, PgDn.                               keys.

 

Print Screen.                        This key is used to print the information on the printer that is displayed on the current screen. In windows environment, contents of current screen are copied into the the clipboard by pressing this key.

 

Scroll Lock                            This key is used to lock or unlock the scrolling of text on the screen when the computer us in the Scroll Lock mode, the status light under “Scroll Lock” lights up.

 

Pause                                    In most of cases, the output of programs is appearing very fast up the screen. In such cases Pause key is used to pause or stop the information appearing on screen for reading.