Not a single computer can do without a keyboard now - for some it is needed for typing, and for others - for games. At the moment, there are several varieties of keyboards for a variety of tasks, and the numeric keypad is one of its types.
Device description
The keyboard is, initially, a device for typing and editing text, and after that it became a gaming component. Later, with its help, you could enter passwords, chat, and use hot keys.
Before proceeding with the description of the digital block of the keyboard, you need to consider the basic version. The keyboard is divided into several sections. The first section is the function keys, which may look like F1 and so on. There are twelve of these keys.
The following are special keys that are located on the edges of the keyboard. Using these buttons, you can manipulate various functions of the operating system.
On the right side, between numbers and letters, there is a cursor control unit. This section is intended to replace a computer mouse, in case of its absence.
From the very edge on most keyboards is the numeric keypad. It has the necessary numbers and mathematical signs. You can activate this block using the Num Lock key. When the section is not active, you can use these buttons as arrows "cross".
Keyboard Types
In addition to a separate digital keyboard unit, there are many types of devices of this type.
The first difference between peripheral equipment is the connection method - it can be wired and wireless. The first connection method can be with a PS2 connector or with a USB plug. The second option is more modern, since the device does not have to directly contact the system unit. You can connect using various kinds of wireless interfaces.
The next difference between the species from each other already concerns the general functionality, since outwardly they are completely different. Keyboards can be made in a traditional style, when it is a rectangular design with a standard set of keys.
The multimedia keyboard class has at its disposal additional keys for switching multimedia files and their settings.
The next representative is a gaming keyboard, which has on board a considerable number of programmable buttons. The player will be able to program additional keys as he sees fit. Sometimes on such keyboards there is a touch display.
There are keyboards with a separate digital block, which can be connected or used separately.
There are two types of wireless options - standard interface and membrane-based. The latter are very soft and flexible, they do not have a numeric keypad.
Digital block
Connecting a digital keyboard unit via USB is most often seen at an accountant in the workplace, since his task is to conduct constant calculations. However, among gamers there are those who use this option.
An optional numeric keypad can be useful when more free space is needed. There are two types of digital blocks: a standard set of numbers and signs and a game option. Game blocks of the keyboard have only keys intended for movement, buttons of prime necessity (R, E, F, Z, X).
The standard form of the digital block is absolutely identical to the calculator, since the arrangement of numbers is similar. When disabled, keys 4, 8, 6, and 2 serve as the cursor, and the remaining digits replace keys such as Home, Page Up, Page Down, and End. These buttons allow you to move faster in the workspace without using a computer mouse.
Use in everyday life
Most modern keyboards do not have a numeric keypad, dispensing with the linear arrangement of numbers. In fact, there is no need for its daily use, since a person who has nothing to do with numbers is unlikely to ever use this section of the keyboard.
For temporary use, you can purchase such a unit separately so that the keyboard takes up less space on the desktop. Also, the presence of a digital section increases the distance to the mouse, which is also not very practical, especially when it comes to computer games.
In the absence of a mouse, you can use the numeric keypad as a replacement, but for this you will need knowledge of the operating system to set the necessary settings.