kurt@fluke.UUCP (06/22/83)
The keyboard on the commodore 64 is not braindamaged, it just is not optimized for programming in C. Remember that the c64 is a consumer keyboard, not a programmer keyboard. The intended use of the keyboard is for writing letters and BASIC programs. To this end you should notice several features not found on programmer keyboards. All the operator sysbols '+', '-', '*', '/', '=' are on unshifted keys. Notice too that Commodore's nonstandard notion of character sets (unacceptable to programmers) does not cause any problems for consumers who buy only Commodore components, and allows compatibility with previous Commodore products. Also notice that the keyboard and character set are reprogrammable (although nobody seems to know how to reprogram the keyboard). My personal favorite keyboard is the VT52/VT100, which may be an ANSI standard (I know the control sequences on these terminals are). I have some general requirements for a good keyboard: unshifted delete key, quote keys not on the numbers row, access to all the various brackets, backslash, tilde, and vertical bar. Additionally, I find having matching brackets on adjacent keys more convenient that having the pairs on shifted/unshifted versions of the same key. I find I don't use the number pad too much and the same goes for function keys. Unless your software is specifically tailored to your keyboard, it can't use many of these extra keys anyway. Another point: good human interface almost always evolves in the direction of fewer controls. All those function keys are less useful than a better control device. Is a mouse that device? a trackball? touchpad? light pen? touch sensitive CRT overlay...?
MCMANIS%usc-eclc@sri-unix.UUCP (06/24/83)
From: Chuck McManis <MCMANIS@usc-eclc> As for good human interfaces evolving to fewer controls ... How about the Hascii keyboards like the QX-10, they are springing up with keys for printing, copying, and deleting. The the HDS terminal must have a zillion keys (all reprogrammable) that seem to get used alot around here. --Chuck -------
kevinw%isl@BRL.ARPA (06/25/83)
Since the keyboard is scanned by software driven by the IRQ line (for the 20, I'm sure the 64 also) one can insert a wedge (sombody's bright idea of a name for a kludge between the outside world and the inner machine) at the IRQ address and scan the keyboard directly. I think that there also may be a place to actually insert a new keyboard scanner -- there is one for the display driver. The keyboard is scanned by the A and B ports on a 6522/6526 and the algorithm (at least on the 20) is super simple and has variable (+ and -) key rollover (sometimes you get char's for free, and sometimes it isn't the char you typed...). As long as they are using a diode crosspoint keyswitch matrix it is possible to encode true N key rollover... Thus the keyboard can be made to look like a full ASCII keyboard if you don't mind the wrong (or modified) keytops. Happy munging! -- Kevin
kurt@fluke.UUCP (06/27/83)
Nobody said the HASCII keyboard was a step toward good human interface. I said good human interface design evolves toward fewer controls. If all those keys need reprogramming, then they are not the last word in human interface are they? Have a look at your automobile, and then at everybody elses car. You can get into a car anywhere and reasonably expect to drive off. That is because the controls have been evolving for 50 or 60 years down to what is actually needed for driving. You can easily remember cars that had such things as a choke, which cars no longer have in general. If you are old you can remember cars with a spark advance, several pedals for shifting gears, transmissions that had to be double-clutched and so forth. Now all these controls are gone. Even the number of dials are decreasing. When was the last time you saw an oil pressure GUAGE on a new car? You can argue that these changes were made because it is cheaper to not put in a guage when an idiot light will do, but if the guage were necessary, it would still be there. Computers will follow the same path. Wait and see if in 10 years there are still all those keys on a keyboard. If the Japaneese have their way, you'll talk to your computer and use no keys at all. Right now you can buy a voice controlled editor for the TI Professional so you only need keys for typing text (voice commands move the cursor and set other parameters).