What Is KEYBOARD | How can be defined as Keyboards

How can be defined as Keyboards

As the name implies, a keyboard is basically a board of keys. Along with the mouse, the keyboard is one of the primary input devices used with a computer.

KEYBOARD

Keyboard can be defined as: 

“A Keyboard is the standard data input and operator control 

device for a computer” 

Most  computers would be  useless without  keyboard. Keyboard  is  a main  device  through 

which  computer  receives  users  input.  It  is  good  for  entering  alpha  numeric  data.  The 

computer  encodes  the  keyboard  characters  using  the  American  Standard  Code  for 

Information  Interchange (ASCII). Each key has a unique 7-bit ASCII code associated with 

it,  with  which  we  can  communicate  with  the  computer.  The  common  arrangements  of 

alphanumeric keys on keyboard is called QWERTY  layout (first six keys on  the  top row of 

letters). Among IBM-compatible computers, the most common layout is the IBM Enhanced 

Keyboard. It has 101 keys arranged in six groups. 

 TYPES OF KEYBOARD 

There are two types of keyboards: 

1.  General Function Keyboard  

2.  Special Function Keyboards 

GENERAL FUNCTION KEYBOARDS 

These are traditional input device also known as “alphanumeric keyboards”.  

SPECIAL FUNCTION KEYBOARDS 

These are the keyboards designed to perform input of special type of data in a special way. 

Sometimes these are designed for special persons. 

IBM-COMPATIBLE KEYBOARD LAYOUT 

Among  IBM-compatible  computers,  the  most  common  layout  is  the  “IBM  Enhanced
Keyboard". It has 101 keys arranged in following six groups: 

1.  Alphanumeric keys 
2.  Modifier keys 
3.  Numeric keypad 
4.  Function keys 
5.  Cursor-movement keys 
6.  Special-purpose keys 

THE ALPHANUMERIC KEYS 

Along  with  keys  that  produces  letters  (A  to  Z  and  a  to  z)  and  numbers  (0  to  9),  the
alphanumeric  key group  includes a  few  additional  keys, with  special  functions. Following
are the names and details of these keys:

Tab: 

1.  It moves  cursor  to  predefined  tab  stops  in many  application programs  (such  as  in
word processors).
2.  In dialog boxes, we can press Tab to move from one option or field to another.

Caps Lock: 

1.  It locks the alphabet keys to so they produce only capital letters. Caps Lock does not
affect the numeric keys or the keys that produce punctuation or special characters.

Backspace: 

1.  It enables us to erase characters we just typed or to erase a character present at the