Keyboard and Screen Input Devices

16BIT058
Gohil Ajay

Introduction

The keyboard is an essential input device and has been around for since the first
terminal based computers were made in the 1930s. With the advent of touch
screens, keyboards are present even as screen input devices. In this report we
discuss
 The function of a keyboard and its working
 Different categories of keyboards
o Based on layout
o Based on connection type
o Based on key mechanism
 New types of keyboards
o Ergonomic keyboard
o Virtual keyboard
o Onscreen keyboard

Function of a Keyboard
A keyboard is an input device which takes character inputs from the user and feeds it
to the system for processing. It is a crucial peripheral device which is needed in all
modern computers today. These keys on a keyboard represent two or more characters
which are chosen using different modifier key like - SHIFT,ALT,CTRL. These
keystrokes are encoded in machine readable form and given to a computer input
register for further processing. The following diagram from the presentation briefly
explains the working of an generic key board.
The keyboard’s driver software is the medium which connects the keyboard to the
computer, it reads the input strokes and transfers them to the OS and hence acts as
a interface between a keyboard and the CPU. All keyboard automatically install its
driver software when first connected.
Categories of Keyboards
Based on Key Arrangement
Modern keyboards use multiple layout for keys based on the region of the keyboard, the most prominent
keyboard layouts are named :
 QWERTY
 AZERTY
 QWERTZ
 HCESAR
 DVORAK
DVORAK is special among them as it is not named after the first six keys in the top row, it is named
after its designer Dr August Dvorak. Dvorak proponents claim the layout requires less finger motion and
reduces errors compared to the standard QWERTY keyboard arrangement. It is claimed that the
reduction in finger distance traveled permits faster typing while also reducing repetitive strain injuries,
although that claim is controversial.

Based on Connection Type

There are three types of connections a keyboard can have:
 USB
 PS/2
 Wireless
The USB(Universal Serial Bus) connector is normally preferred when considering
wired keyboards, whereas the PS/2 is still used, but is regarded as a legacy port.
Wireless keyboard uses bluetooth or the 2.4GHz band to communicate with the
computer via a miniature USB dongle.

Based on Key Mechanism

The key switch mechanism determines the tactile response of the keys when
pressed. The most common mechanisms are:
 Mechanical Keyboard
 Membrane Keyboard
 Rubber Dome Keyboard

Membrane Keyboards don’t have individual keys, but instead are on continuous layers
on which have symbols printed on them. Pressure pads connect two separate layers
to complete a circuit to register a keystroke
Rubber Dome Keyboards have a collapsible rubber dome as each key, they are tactile
and small and used in many keyboards.
Capacitive Keyboards uses changes in capacitance, or stored static electricity, rather
than changes in flows of electricity used by contact keyboards to register when a user
has depressed a specific key on the keyboard.

New Keyboard Types

Ergonomic Keyboard
Regular keyboards cause strain on our wrists and arms as we type for extended
periods of time. Ergonomic keyboard attempt to solve this problem by added cushion
pads, new keyboard layouts and entirely new configurations. Following are some
pictures of such keyboards:
Virtual Keyboard
Virtual keyboard project a keyboard layout onto surface where a user can type.
Various sensors try to judge which key is being pressed by determining our finger’s
relative position with respect to the projection of the keyboard.

On Screen Keyboard
A keyboard is displayed on a touchscreen interface, where users touch keys to input
characters. These keyboards can be changed to many languages supported by the
OS and may also include special features like emojis and handwriting input..

Applications
There are many possible applications that the Project Virtual Keyboard can be used
in. The traditional are of course the primary targets – a keyboard that can be used
anywhere and a regular mouse function. We regard the gesture application to be one
of the primary targets too. Once you start to use the Project Virtual Keyboard you
will definitely start to appreciate this function.
Below are listed some situations where wearable computing will be chosen before
other techniques. There are also some ideas for new applications, and as always this
hardware platform will find other application areas that we as inventors initially
did not think of.
 A service engineer working with an airplane engine needs to reference the
manual. Using his/her Google Glasses the manual can be brought up with some
gestures, and scrolling, changing size or searching (using the keyboard) can be
used by using the Virtual Keyboard
 An owner of some robot, we will soon be able to have our personal humanoid
robot, or at least some researcher in this area can use the Virtual Keyboard to
control the robot. To give commands, using gesture to navigate into various
modes and the two times ten degrees of mouse-device connect the Virtual
Keyboard to the robot
 A Truck driver can use the Virtual Keyboard for controlling the Z-lift or other
parts that can be done remotely
 A driver of a forest harvester does not have to use small movements of some
joysticks. The Virtual Keyboard can be the actual input device
 In our homes every family member has its own Virtual Keyboard (in this case
one is enough) to change TV-channels, set the volume of the stereo equipment or
dim the light in the apartment
 New live gaming where your wearable computer is aware of your position, and
also that one of your enemies is close by. You put on the Virtual Keyboard, and
you make the move that shows that you saw the enemy first, and you will be
registered a hit-point.