Many users when buying new peripheral equipment pay attention to the keyboard and additional characters on it. This article will consider several types of keyboards, their properties and characteristics.
Device description
The history of the keyboard is directly related to the device of typewriters. If you pay attention to the arrangement of letters, you can find absolute identity. In the modern version, instead of managing newlines and footnotes, special keys are available that simplify the work.
A keyboard is a means of entering information into a computer. It is used as a tool for typing, entering passwords and personal data, control in computer games and so on.
At the moment, there are many keyboards with additional functions and keys.
Key Description
In addition to the additional keyboard, there is also a main and control one. The keys in each group are responsible for their functions, namely:
- The letters A to Z are for entering textual information.
- The special key Enter is used to confirm operations. In case of text input, this button provides a transition to a new line.
- The Shift key, in combination with any letter, changes case, and the letter becomes capitalized. The combination of Shift + Alt helps to change the language.
- Ctrl is also a special-purpose key and works only in combination with other keys, which allows you to perform various operations in the system.
- Caps Look - if you press it once, then all the letters will be capitalized, however, pressing it again will return everything to normal.
- TAB - this key moves the line to the middle of the page.
There is another key, which happens mainly at the bottom of the keyboard - this is Fn. It interacts with the keys of the functional plan, which are marked as F1, F2 and so on until F12. The keyboard displays which key is responsible for what.
Control keys are those buttons that help navigate the space of text editors:
- Page Up - scrolls the page up.
- Page Down - go down one page.
- Insert - helps to transfer the copied text.
- Print Screen - captures the image, which can then be edited or pasted into the image editor.
- Home - returns the cursor to the beginning of the text.
- Delete - delete a specific file or letters.
- End - move to the end of the text.
Additional unit
An additional keyboard is a digital unit called Num Lock. In this block there are ten digits from 0 to 9, mathematical symbols of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fraction and point. Here are the keys for the optional keyboard.
Older laptops do not have additional buttons, so the numbers that are on top of the main keyboard are used. The acquisition of such a block may seem strange. However, people who deal with calculations and a constant set of numbers use an additional keyboard.
Types of devices
Every year, in order to satisfy the needs of absolutely every computer user, inventors develop more convenient and practical types of keyboards with additional characters, with a multimedia layout, soft keys and so on.
Now you can consider the entire range of keyboards that are available to the average user.
Mechanical structure
This model with additional characters on the keyboard has a simple typing mechanism, which is built on the influence of a spring. This acts as follows - by pressing a finger on the keyboard, the user folds the spring to such an extent that there is a closure.
After that, the response to pressing in the form of a letter appears on the monitor, and then the spring returns to its original place. The advantage of the spring mechanism is that it is not necessary to press the button with all the force, bringing the button all the way. A light but noticeable push is enough to trigger the mechanism.
The only significant drawback is the low keyboard protection, as over time dust, dirt, and in some cases food debris accumulates inside.
This is a standard type of device that does not have additional keys on the keyboard.
Semi-mechanical structure
The device of this sample is slightly different in structure, since instead of a spring, elements of elastic rubber are used. One of the advantages of using this keyboard is its high wear resistance, which ensures long service life.
As additional buttons on the keyboard, a digital block is used.
Membrane
Membrane keyboards can be found almost everywhere. Despite the low cost compared to previous versions, its quality is not inferior to other keyboard samples with an additional unit.
The device consists of a plastic case, inside of which is a polymer film. Each button is fixed with a simple mechanism, which ensures a stable position of the key.
The presence of a polymer film and the fixation of the keys provide protection against dirt and dust. The keyboards on the membrane do not make loud sounds, like other representatives of this periphery.
The negative side of operating the keyboard on the membrane is increased vulnerability and a complete lack of wear resistance. And the longer it stays in use, the more sensitivity will disappear.
Projection
This type of device is designed on almost any surface and works by tracking touch on the projection keys. In such a device, a keyboard layout for an additional is not provided.
Despite its portable qualities, the use of such a keyboard on the street is impossible. The fact is that in a confined space, light behaves differently, so this method limits the place of application.
The use of the projection keyboard for smartphones and tablets is popular.
Optical
The history of its appearance originates in 1962, and the main condition for such a keyboard was noiselessness. Thus, it was not the contacts that connected when the key was pressed, but the light rays intersected.
Such devices are widely used in the modern world as intercoms, which, due to their unique structure, are difficult to spoil, which significantly increases their service life.
Multimedia
There are only a few multimedia keyboards, and they are not designed to work with a computer. However, there are keyboards with additional buttons on them called multimedia.
The circle of these keys includes controllers:
- The next track.
- Previous track.
- Stop.
- Play / Pause.
- Volume up
- Volume down
- Call a music player that uses the computer by default.
As the name implies, it is used to control the music player. This additional keyboard allows you to switch melodies without minimizing the working window or game.
Such keys function independently of other parts of the keyboard, and also do not participate in combinations.
You can find models of multimedia devices with a screen that displays the sound level and equalizer. There is a set of programs for individual models of multimedia keyboards, which allow you to fully reveal its potential and additional features.
Sometimes you can find a separate multimedia panel, which refers to an additional keyboard.
Game
Among ordinary peripheral devices, you can find a keyboard on which control keys are highlighted, which are used in games. The most common advantages of gaming devices are as follows:
- High speed response.
- Increased wear resistance.
- Quality elements of the assembly.
- Special features that use programs on an additional keyboard.
All keys are made so that they repeat the shape of the finger that rests on it. Many manufacturers add additional features, such as the presence of USB ports, additional indicators.
Basically, these types of keyboards are available with backlighting, which looks very stylish, but impractical. The fact is that the presence of such an addition indicates the absence of the usual marking of white characters on black keys. Based on this, you can understand that in the daytime the keys will be barely distinguishable. This is the only significant drawback.
Manufacturers also add special panels under the left hand, which allow you to not earn a disease such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The hand is in a smooth rise, and the muscles do not sag. Such keyboards are also called ergonomic.
When choosing a gaming machine, you should remember that its price is much higher than that of standard options. It is also worth paying attention to the presence of a screen on which the number of frames is displayed, the connection delay for the online mode and battle statistics.
Recommendations
In order to please the entire audience of the computer world, manufacturers exceed all the most reasonable expectations. However, if you have a gaming or simple keyboard, you must follow several recommendations for use:
- When buying, pay attention to the quality of the connection of the case material and the condition of the cable.
- Avoid getting moisture and dust in the area between the keys.
- You should not try to fix the faulty keyboard yourself, as its device is too complicated.
In fact, now it’s easier and cheaper to buy a new keyboard to replace the old one, since this product has become more affordable over time than a few years ago.
When buying a keyboard it is very important to know its technical characteristics.
Firstly, the most important point is the connection method, as new and old computers have different interfaces. In case of an erroneous purchase, you can use a special adapter. Recently, keyboards with a wireless connection have become popular, as there is no need to get confused in wires.
Secondly, the harder the keys, the more difficult it is to press them, and sometimes you have to press hard, which leads to quick wear.
Thirdly, if there is a goal to save as much space as possible, then you should pay attention to the compact options that manufacturers provide for the modern market. There is no need to buy a keyboard with two digital blocks.
As additional buttons for the office segment, you can purchase a machine with buttons that help you manage your fax.
Sensory options are suitable for owners of strong nerves and fans of everything futuristic.
In addition to full-sized devices for typing, you can also find individual blocks. For example, a gaming block of a keyboard that contains only control and interaction keys.
Another option is an optional numeric keypad, which has only numbers.
In order to save space and reduce distance, there are keyboards that do not have an additional digital unit.