Description

of a Computer Keyboard







Paige Metzinger









Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

Description of a Computer Keyboard

A keyboard is an input device that allows the entering of information into a computer
system. Letters, numbers, symbols, and other instructions are sent through the
computer keyboard. A large majority of jobs require high keyboarding skills in order to
increase efficiency.

Physical Characteristics
Divided into sections according to function type, a computer keyboard uses
alphanumeric and typing keys similar to a typewriter. The bar at the bottom-center of
the keyboard is called a space bar. When pressed, it creates a horizontal gap between
words. Generally a numeric keypad is located on the right hand side of the keyboard;
however, many Apple computers do not include a numeric keypad on the side.
Additionally, there are numeric keys on the top of every keyboard. The control (ctrl) key
and the function (fn) key can both be seen in the bottom left-hand corner of the
keyboard. When used in conjunction with other keys, the control key and the function
key allow users to perform specific actions and computer shortcuts.

Fig. 1A

Parts
A keyboard typically has the following important sections: enter, backspace,
alphanumeric keys, tab, shift, numeric keypad, escape, and arrow keys. Visualize the
frames of reference in Fig. 1A.

Enter Key
The enter button is a medium-sized key found on the middle right-hand side of the
keyboard. Typically it is labeled enter or return on the key so that users can identify the
button. It is the command line that carries out instructions. To begin another line or
finish an entry the enter key is pressed.

Backspace
The backspace button is intended to erase your mistakes. It is found on the very top
right-hand corner of the keyboard. When pressed, the backspace button, often labeled
delete, is instructed to delete the character immediately to its left. The backspace key
can be held down to erase a large amount of text or the user can highlight a large
portion of text and press the backspace key to remove the highlighted portion.

Alphanumeric Keys
Alphanumeric keys consist of all of the letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and punctuation
marks (periods, commas, colons, semi-colons, exclamation points, etc.) on the keyboard.
These keys are slightly smaller, yet essential in every typed document.

Tab
Found on the top left-hand portion of the keyboard, the medium-sized key labeled tab is
used to indent text. For example, text is indented when a new paragraph begins. The
tab key also allows you to tab or jump to the next stop.

Shift
When used in conjunction with alphanumeric keys, the shift key capitalizes letters and
displays symbols (SHIFT+1=! OR SHIFT+h=H). For easy access, the shift key is found on
the bottom left and right-hand portion of the keyboard. It is commonly known as the
modifier key.

Numeric Keypad
As mentioned previously, the numeric keypad is generally located on the right-hand side
of the keyboard; the placement of the numeric keypad is intended to allow users to
figure numbers quickly. The keypad also consists of its own plus sign, minus sign, enter
key, delete key, and num lock key. The numeric keypad is great for numeric statistics
and mathematic equations.

Escape
The escape key, frequently labeled esc, is located on the very top right-hand side of the
keyboard; this key is often smaller than the rest and easy to miss. It is used to interrupt
or abort the current process or running program.

Arrow Keys
Found on the bottom right-hand side, the arrow keys are used to navigate through text
(side to side and up to down). The arrow keys direct the cursor in text and allow the
user to scroll through the page/s.

Overview
Although all of the keys on the keyboard are essential, the summary above outlines the
key functionality for the average user. Each key has a relationship with another; only

when used synchronously can a document be produced successfully. In conclusion, the

computer keyboard is the most effective input tool in production software.

Works Cited
Computer Basics: Basic Parts of a Computer. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2016, from
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/5.3
Need, J. (n.d.). The Description of a Computer Keyboard. Retrieved March 13, 2016, from
http://www.ehow.com/facts_6809197_description-computer-keyboard.html