lum@osupyr.UUCP (02/24/87)
In article <654@crlt.UUCP> michael@crlt.UUCP (Michael McClary) writes: >In article <197@osupyr.UUCP>, lum@osupyr.UUCP (Lum Johnson) writes: >> >> [H]ow about .. a notebook-size clamshell that unfolds .. and can be locked >> open at various angles. The keys would still be cramped or small in an >> 8 1/2" x 11" format, though, so I'd prefer 9 2/3" x 12 1/2". > > My keyboard is 11" by about 4" ... [I]t would fit in the lower half of > one 8 1/2" by 11" clamshell segment. (This keyboard, .. has standard key > spacing. [This] doesn't include the .. cursor keys and .. keypad - but > there's room past each end of the spacebar for about three more keys.) Hmm... the width of the VT100 keyboard from CTRL to "\" (below DELETE), inclusive, is 11 3/4". I'm sure we can move the BREAK key, but I don't want to move either CTRL or DELETE. I guess we could shrink things slightly. >> We do have to lose the numeric keypad, or put it above the major keyboard >> (rotated maybe?). > > You can map [it] onto the standard keys [with] a "keypad shift" key .. to > the left of the space bar. (Pity you [can't eliminate] the top row of keys > in favor of such a shift system.) .. [M]oving your left hand off the home > position to operate the shift would be less of a hassle than moving your > right to a keypad, though it is a weaker mnemonic and might promote typing > errors. That sounds good - I might actually _use_ such a keypad! The real reason the top row can't go away is punctuation (!@#$%^&*()_+~-=`) not numerals; I (and I'm sure others) would get upset if those were moved! However, it might be nice to offer a punctuation shift key option _as_well_as_ top row punctuation, and provide a programmable keymap for that shift key. After all, we already have talked about a programmable keymap to support QWERTY and DVORAK layouts. Lum Johnson lum@ohio-state.arpa lum@osu-eddie.uucp ..!cbosgd!osu-eddie[!osupyr]!lum
janet@blic.UUCP (02/27/87)
>>> We do have to lose the numeric keypad, or put it above the major keyboard >>> (rotated maybe?). >> >> You can map [it] onto the standard keys [with] a "keypad shift" key .. to >> the left of the space bar. (Pity you [can't eliminate] the top row of keys >> in favor of such a shift system.) .. [M]oving your left hand off the home >> position to operate the shift would be less of a hassle than moving your >> right to a keypad, though it is a weaker mnemonic and might promote typing >> errors. > >That sounds good - I might actually _use_ such a keypad! The real reason the >top row can't go away is punctuation (!@#$%^&*()_+~-=`) not numerals; I (and >I'm sure others) would get upset if those were moved! However, it might be >nice to offer a punctuation shift key option _as_well_as_ top row punctuation, >and provide a programmable keymap for that shift key. After all, we already >have talked about a programmable keymap to support QWERTY and DVORAK layouts. Having started in this industry as a keypunch operator (remember those?) several (+++) years ago, I have worked with a great variety of keyboards. What you're discussing sounds like a Data Entry Keyboard to me (or a variety thereof). That's the one with an ALPHA shift on the right side of the space bar and a NUM shift on the left. The numbers where the NUM shift of the qwerty "m , . j k l u i o" keys (1-9 respectively) and the "0" was the NUM shift of the key above the "o" and to the left. The ALPHA shift acted as does the usual SHIFT key does. So each key would have 3 shifts (when applicable): uppercase, lowercase and numeric I didn't even start USING numpads until a few years ago; and I only did then because it was a choice between that or having to use the numbers across the top row. Using the NUM shift was much more practical because your hands never had to leave the "home row" on the main keyboard in order to key numbers. I ran across an old manual for the IBM 37xx (whatever) terminal a while back. If I have a chance, I'll dig it up again and post a keyboard map. Janet Panighetti
marty1@houdi.UUCP (03/03/87)
In article <96@blic.BLI.COM>, janet@blic.BLI.COM (Janet Panighetti) writes: > > >>> We do have to lose the numeric keypad..... > >> > >> You can map [it] onto the standard keys [with] a "keypad shift" key .. to > >> the left of the space bar. (Pity you [can't eliminate] the top row of keys > >> in favor of such a shift system.) .. > > > >That sounds good - I might actually _use_ such a keypad! The real reason the > >top row can't go away is punctuation (!@#$%^&*()_+~-=`) not numerals; I (and > >I'm sure others) would get upset if those were moved!... (I must have come in late because all I'm answering is insertions.) Where've you been? Typewriters used to be "three-bank machines." There were three rows of keys and two shift keys. Nobody gave up punctuation. In fact, three rows with two shifts gives you nine virtual rows, while four rows with one shift only gives eight. M. B. Brilliant Marty AT&T-BL HO 3D-520 (201)-949-1858 Holmdel, NJ 07733 ihnp4!houdi!marty1