Keyboard Construction and Operation In general terms, the operation of a PC keyboard is fairly simple: you press keys on the

keyboard, causing an electrical connection to be made. This causes the keyboard to send a signal to the PC, telling it what key or keys were pressed. Fairly simple stuff, at least in theory. You might be surprised, however, just how much complexity is involved in allowing these signals to be sent to the PC--there is a lot going on "behind the scenes". You also might not realize just how many different ways there are to make the central components in the keyboard, or how many design issues must be taken into account in making a good keyboard. These design characteristics are what determine the critical comfort and feel factors that make you prefer one keyboard over another. They also dictate the durability and hence longevity of the keyboard. In this section I describe the construction and operation of the keyboard. I start with sections covering the two most important sets of parts in the keyboard: the keycaps and the keyswitches. I then describe the other physical components that make up the keyboard. Finally, I talk about the actual operation of the keyboard, including the internal circuitry of the keyboard and how it interfaces to the rest of the PC.

When I disassembled the original PC/XT keyboard I got from a friend, upon removing the bottom circuit board, all the little spring-loaded clips that are used to provide tactile feedback for each key sprang loose. This is one reason why I don't recommend disassembling your keyboard. http://www.pcguide.com/ref/kb/const/index-c.html Keyboard Component The Keyboard component can be used to collect responses from a participant.

By not storing the key press and checking the forceEndTrial box it can be used simply to end a Routine Parameters Name : string Everything in a PsychoPy experiment needs a unique name. The name should contain only letters, numbers and underscores (no puncuation marks or spaces). Start : float or integer The time that the keyboard should first get checked. See Defining the onset/duration of components for details. Stop : When the keyboard is no longer checked. See Defining the onset/duration of components for details. Force end routine If this box is checked then the Routine will end as soon as one of the allowed keys is pressed. Allowed keys A list of allowed keys can be inserted e.g. [m,z,1,2]. If this box is left blank then any keys will be read. Only allowed keys count as having been pressed; any other key will not be stored and will not force the end of the Routine. Note that key names (even for number keys) should be given in inverted commas, as with text parameters. Cursor keys can be accessed with up, down, etc. To use the space bar insert space If you leave this empty any key will be allowed. Store Which key press, if any, should be stored; the first to be pressed, the last to be pressed or all that have been pressed. If the key press is to force the end of the trial then this setting is unlikely to be necessary, unless two keys happen to be pressed in the same video frame. The response time will also be stored if a keypress is recorded. This time will be taken from the start of keyboard checking (e.g. if the keyboard was initiated 2 seconds into the trial and a key was pressed 3.2s into the trials the response time will be recorded as 1.2s). Store correct Check this box if you wish to store whether or not this key press was correct. If so then fill in the next box that defines what would consitute a correct answer e.g. left, 1 or $corrAns (note this should not be in inverted commas). This is given as Python code that should return True (1) or False (0). Often this correct answer will be defined in the settings of the Loops. Discard previous Check this box to ensure that only key presses that occur during this keyboard checking period are used. If this box is not checked a keyboard press that has occured before the start of the checking period will be interpreted as the first keyboard press. For most experiments this box should be checked. www.psychopy.org/builder/components/keyboard.html Keyboard layout

A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key-meaning associations (respectively) of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard. Mechanical layout The placements and keys of a keyboard. Visual layout The arrangement of the legends (labels, markings, engravings) that appear on the keys of a keyboard. Functional layout The arrangement of the key-meaning associations, determined in software, of all the keys of a keyboard. Most computer keyboards are designed to send scancodes to the operating system, rather than directly sending characters. From there, the series of scancodes is converted into a character stream by keyboard layout software. This allows a physical keyboard to be dynamically mapped to any number of layouts without switching hardware components merely by changing the software that interprets the keystrokes. It is usually possible for an advanced user to change keyboard operation, and third-party software is available to modify or extend keyboard functionality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout 3 Important Keyboard Features 1. Ergonomics This is a big one. If youre going to spend hours upon hours typing on this keyboard, youre best off checking out one with real ergonomic features. While this can take on various forms -- some

keyboards split the keys, some have curves, and some are even motorized -- you should always anticipate a learning curve. Expect that typing will feel strange, even uncomfortable, at first while your hands adjust and relearn how to move across the keyboard. But your wrists and hands will thank you in the end as true ergonomic keyboards are able to reduce the amount of stress placed on our hands while we type. Other ergonomic features found in keyboards can include wrist rests and the ability to raise or lower the device.

2. Wired or Wireless As with mice, this feature is a personal preference and each type has its own pros and cons. Wired keyboards limit your distance range, but youll never search for batteries. Wireless keyboards enable you type while lounging on the couch -- something you may be interested in -- and youll never get tangled in that pesky cord. Most keyboards use either USB or Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity. If youre going the Bluetooth route, be sure that your computer has built-in Bluetooth technology. If it doesnt, you will need to pick up a Bluetooth receiver and pair the device. Logitech has a solar-powered keyboard on the market, although you can expect to pay an up-front premium for this type of technology. You will, however, recoup the cost by not needing to purchase batteries ever again 3. Hot Keys and Media Keys Unless youre purchasing a travel keyboard, most keyboards come with a variety of hot and media keys. Media keys, which include such tasks as volume and video control, are invaluable for people who will use their keyboard in the living room to control their (duh) media system. Hot keys allows you to complete certain tasks by pressing a combination of buttons, and many keyboards replace these combinations with one-touch buttons. If youre a desk jockey, these hot keys can save you oodles of time. http://peripherals.about.com/od/pckeyboardsmice/tp/3-Important-Keyboard-Features.htm COMPUTER KEYBOARD DESIGN What is the problem with the design of standard computer keyboards? Alternative computer keyboard designs have been available for over 30 years. The main concern with the design of the conventional computer keyboard is that people bend their hands to the side when they are typing on the keyboard. This lateral bending of the hands is called ulnar deviation. We know that extremes of all our deviation increase pressure on the median nerve inside the wrist,

and this can increase the risks of developing problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The original alternative keyboard designs split the keyboard laterally to allow people to type with the hands straight rather than bend to the side. A second problem with the design of the conventional computer keyboard is that the hands of in full pronation when typing on the keys. There is a suspicion that working with the hands fully pronated increases the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries in the forearms. Consequently, alternative keyboard designs have been developed that allow the keyboard slant to be adjusted laterally, so that the keyboard can be tented up or lowered to be used in a flatter position. This tenting of the keyboard reduces wrist pronation. Some keyboards are completely split so that the left and right hand positions and the adjusted independently. What ever the keyboard design, ergonomists agree that the healthy way to type at a keyboard is to have the hands as straight and flat as possible in a posture that we called the neutral posture. What injuries and they need to and why have their being so many interests? Before the advent of the personal computer, people who were professional typists were relatively few in number and they were properly trained in wrist posture. In the 1980s, with the widespread adoption of the personal computer in the workplace, suddenly a very large number of people began using keyboards in an intensive way. The vast majority of these people had no training in how to position the hands on the keyboard so that they could type in a healthy manner. These days, we have probably in excess of 100 million regular keyboard uses in the U. S. A. The result of this widespread use of keyboards is that, over time, people who work in suboptimal wrist postures are more likely to develop a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. This is why we have seen a rise in the number of injuries and a growing awareness of the importance of good ergonomic design. What is the optimum arrangement for a standard keyboard? Modern computer keyboards are much flatter than their predecessors. Research studies have shown that when people use these keyboards they often do not type with the hands in such extreme ulnar deviation as was found with the smaller keyboards used on earlier computer systems. There are two considerations that are particularly important with a standard keyboard. First, the keyboard is usually an asymmetrical design, with the alphabetic part of the keyboard to the left and a numeric keypad to the right. This means that if the user aligns the center of the whole keyboard with the center of their body they will be typing with the right hand more bent because the alphabetic part of the keyboard will be to the left of their body. So the first thing that a user, who types intensively, should do is to align the alphabetic part of the keyboard with their body, this means aligning the H key with the center of the body. The second consideration is the angle of the keyboard relative to the angle of the wrist. Most keyboards slope upwards from front to back, and this means that users bend their hands upwards when they are typing on the keyboard. This posture is called wrist extension, and we know that it is a source of injury risk for the wrist. Once the hand is extended beyond about a 15 upward angle, there is a very significant increase in the compression on the median nerve and other structures inside the wrist. So it is extremely important to type with the hands as flat as possible. The best way of achieving this with a standard keyboard is to place the keyboard on a height adjustable, downward tilting keyboard tray (often called a negative slope keyboard tray). This arrangement allows the keyboard to be positioned below the uses elbow height, and an ideal position is 1 to 2 inches above the users thighs. With the keyboard tray angled slightly downwards, following the angle of the thighs, the user can place his or her

hands on the keyboard while keeping their wrists in a flatter position. In this position, it is also useful to have a board flat palm support on the keyboard tray so that the user can rest their hands in a flat, neutral posture, in between bursts of typing activity. What are the advantages of alternative keyboards, split keyboards? There is a variety of different keyboard designs currently available in the market. The choice of an alternative keyboard depends on the needs of the user. Generally, we categorize alternative keyboards into the following types:
1. Modified Standard Layout (e.g. Kensington Comfort Type Slim Keyboard www.kensington.com). This keyboard looks like a standard keyboard except that the keys are angled so that there should be less ulnar deviation when typing. 2. Fixed-angle split keyboards (e.g. Microsoft natural www.microsoft.com). These keyboard designs split the alphanumeric keys at a fixed angle and they slightly tent the keyboard. There is some research evidence of reduced discomfort because of reduced ulnar deviation (lateral bending of the hands). These designs work better for broader, larger frame individuals or pregnant women because they put the arms in a better position to reach around the front of the body. However, the designs usually address the issue of wrist extension, the upwards bending of the hands, which turns out to a more important musculoskeletal injury risk factor than ulnar deviation. Hunt n' pecker users will find that split keyboards are more difficult to use. The keyboards generally are more expensive than conventional keyboards, and usually they are larger and wider, which in some situations can put the mouse too far out to the side of the keyboard. The multitouch fixed-angle split keyboard (Touchstream www.fingerworks.com) do not use conventional keys but have a touch-sensitive surface that allows the user to key and mouse on the same physical area. This design also allows users to control many computer commands through the use of simple finger gestures, again all performed on the same physical area. There is a learning curve, but as users become proficient the overall speed of computer work performance can increase by over 80%. 3. Adjustable-angle split-keyboards (e.g. Goldtouch www.goldtouch.com). These keyboard designs allow the user to change the split-angle to suit their own needs. Often the split angle is linked to the degree of tenting of the keyboard as well. There is some research evidence of reduced discomfort with this kind of design, because of reduced ulnar deviation. These designs do not usually address wrist extension issues. The fact that the use has to decide on the split-angle means that they may need some training and it is always possible that some users might end up with a split angle that is inappropriate for them. There is also a multitouch adjustable-angle split-keyboard (Touchstream LP - www.fingerworks.com). Split keyboards are always difficult for hunt n' peck typists to use, and often these designs are fairly expensive. 4. Completely split keyboards (e.g. Kinesis www.kinesis.com). In these designs the left hand and right hands portions of the keyboard are completely split apart. In some designs the keys are presented in a scooped design that allows the hands to rest in a more neutral posture for typing. There is some research evidence of reduced discomfort because of reduced ulnar deviation

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and also reduced wrist extension. However, there is more of a learning curve and research shows that initial performance can suffer a 50% slowing of typing speed. Completely split keyboards are hard for hunt n' peck typists to use, and some of them are very expensive. A chair-mounted split keyboard also is available (Kinesis Evolution Fully Adjustable Keyboard) and this has been studied in a research project (view research presentation). Vertically split keyboard (e.g. Safetype www.safetype.com). The design is rather like that of an accordion and the user types with the hands facing each other, consequently the keys cannot easily be seen. This design works well to reduce ulnar deviation and wrist extension, but it is important not to have the keyboard too high otherwise the chest and shoulders can fatigue. The design is pretty well impossible for hunt n' peck typists to use, and because it is a specialist keyboard it is expensive. A report of this keyboard is available (download research report). A presentation on this keyboard is available (view research presentation). Chordic keyboards (e.g. Twiddler - www.handykey.com/). Chord keyboards have a smaller number of keys and letters and digits are generated by combinations of keys in chords. One-handed and two-handed designs are available. Research shows that it is like learning stenography and there is a high learning curve (about 80 hours to get to moderately fast) to learn the chords that correspond to characters. The keyboards are more expensive than regular keyboards but can be useful to some users, especially those with special needs, such as a blind user or one with severely arthritic hands. Specialist keyboards (e.g. Datahand www.datahand.com, Orbitouch www.orbitouch.com). Several different keyboards designs have been developed to assist users who have some physical limitation or who wish to type in a different way. The Datahand allows the user to rest their hands on a series of switches that detect different directions of finger movements, and these generate the characters. The Orbitouch lets users rest their hands on two domed surfaces and then to move these surfaces to generate the characters. Specialist keyboards often result in slower typing and can have significant learning curves, so they arent for the masses. Like other alternative keyboard designs, they are expensive. One-handed keyboards (e.g. Half-QWERTY - www.aboutonehandtyping.com). Sometimes users can have a physical limitation, such as one hand, or they perform work where one hand needs to key while the other does something else. Several alternative designs for one handed keyboards are available. The Half-QWERTY users the same kinds of keys that are found on a regular keyboard, but each key functions in two modes to generate all of the characters of a regular keyboard in a smaller area. One-handed chordic keyboards (e.g. BAT - www.aboutonehandtyping.com, Twiddler www.handykey.com) and one-handed multitouch keyboards (Mini www.fingerworks.com ) are also available. So which keyboard design is best? Given that people vary in size, shape, and ability the answer is that no single design is for everyone. The reason why the conventional keyboard remains the commonest design rather is that it is mass produced at low cost, and it is the familiar design. However, it most certainly is not the best design for all users in all situations. Consequently, the various ergonomic designs described here have been developed to address different user needs and different work situations.

Is there any one keyboard alternative design and that is overruled the best from your point of view? No, the choice of a keyboard design depends on the needs of the user. Most people can use a standard keyboard design without any risk of injury, if this is correctly positioned in a negative slope arrangement. However, if this is not possible then an alternative design might work. For people with very broad shoulders or large individuals who may have difficulty in reaching the keyboard when this is placed in front of them, a split-angle keyboard can work well. For people with a specific injury or a specific in it, then one of the other types of alternative keyboard designs may be most appropriate. Voice recognition as a supplement to keyboard input? Recently, we have started to look at the benefits of using voice recognition software as another means to supplement information input to the computer. What we and others have found, is that the use of a combination of voice, keyboard, and mouse operations may be the most efficient and effective way of entering information into the computer. Up until now, most people have seen voice recognition as an alternative to keyboard or mouse input rather than as a supplementary tool, and trying to do everything by voice requires considerable skill. However, using voice as a way of entering a first draft of text information into the computer is a very efficient process. Subsequently, this first draft can be edited using the keyboard and mouse as would happen with any typed information. Together, this process really can speed a person's work performance, and also it rests the hands and wrists and reduces the chances of a musculoskeletal injury. http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ahtutorials/ckd.htm

COMPUTER KEYBOARD DESIGN

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