Computer Keyboards, Layouts, Hotkeys, Macros, RSI ⌨

Xah Lee, 2009, …, 2012

The following is a index on essays and tutorials related to computer keyboarding. Topic include issues like keyboard hardware, key layouts, keyboard shortcuts, ergonomics, key macro software. Some are reviews and criticisms, some are technical info for programers.

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Keyboard Hardware

Keyboard Gallery

• Computer Keyboards
• Microsoft ＆ Logitech keyboards
• Fancy Ergonomic Keyboards
• Exotic Ergonomic Keyboards
• Ergonomic 2-piece Keyboards
• Idiocy of Hacker Keyboards
• Space-cadet Keyboard and Other Lisp Keyboards

Keyboard Reviews

Ergonomic

• Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
• Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard
• Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
• Fix Defective Keys in Comfort Curve Keyboard
• Logitech Wave Keyboard Review

• Maltron Keyboard
• Kinesis Contoured Keyboard
• the Truly Ergonomic keyboard
• The μTRON Keyboard

Non-Ergonomic

• KBC Poker Keyboard, Ducky Keyboard
• Happy Hacking Keyboard
• Apple Keyboards
• Sun Microsystem's Type 6 Keyboard

• Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard

Keyboard Design

• Keyboard Hardware Design Flaws
• How to Disable the F-Lock Key
• Guide to Computer Keyboard Key Switch Mechanisms
• Keyboard Ghosting; How Many Keys Your Keyboard Can Take?
• Difference Between Apple and PC keyboards
• Keyboard Evolution: Zoom button, Dedicated Keys
• Keyboard Shortcut Design: Dedicated keys, Special Buttons, Extra Keys
• Computer Keyboard: Home/End Key Cluster Arrangement
• PC Keyboard Modifier Keys (A Short Survey)

Typing Habits; RSI

• Increase Productivity Using Function Keys
• How to Increase Your Computer Operation Efficiency
• Bad Advices from Programers about Typing and Keyboard (RSI)
• How To Avoid The Emacs Pinky Problem
• Keyboarding: Why You Should Not Swap Caps Lock with Control Key

• Celebrity Programers with RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
• Left Wrist side-to-side Motion Pain; vi Esc key Syndrome
• Emacs, RSI, My Experiences

Keyboard Layout

Letter-Keys Layout

• Dvorak Keyboard Layout
• Idiocy of Keyboard Layouts: QWERTZ, AZERTY, Alt Graph
• Dvorak, Maltron, Colemak, NEO, Bépo, Turkish-F, Keyboard Layouts Fight!
• Keyboard Layout: Dvorak vs Colemak: is it Worthwhile to Improve the Dvorak Layout?
• Keyboard Layouts: Dvorak vs Colemak vs Workman
• ErgoEmacs Keyboard

Keyboard Shortcuts Layout ＆ Input Systems

• Keyboard Hardware's Influence on Keyboard Shortcut Design (How Emacs and vi keys came to be)
• ErgoEmacs Keybinding
• How to Create a APL or Math Symbols Keyboard Layout
• Designing a Math Symbols Input System
• Backspace key; Computer Keyboard Key Label's Influence on Key Purpose
• vi, Emacs, Keybinding Design

Microsoft Windows

• Windows Logo Key Keyboard Shortcuts
• Microsoft Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
• Windows Keyboard Shortcuts FAQ
• Keyboard Layout ＆ Key Macro tools for Windows
• AutoHotkey Basics
• AutoHotkey Example Scripts
• How to Swap Caps Lock, Alt, Control Keys on Windows
• Windows Console Shortcuts

• What Microsoft IntelliType Can Do and Cannot Do
• Microsoft IntelliType Hacks

Mac OS X

• Mac OS X Keyboard Layout, Keymapping, Keybinding, Tools
• How to Swap Control, Caps Lock, Option, Command Keys on OS X
• Creating Keyboard Layout in Mac OS X
• Problems of Mac OS X's Keybinding Scheme DefaultKeyBinding.dict
• Mac OS X Keyboard Viewer and Unicode

Emacs

• Emacs: How to Define Keyboard Shortcuts
• Why Emacs's Keyboard Shortcuts Are Painful
• A Ergonomic Keyboard Shortcut Set for Text Editing
• Emacs's Key Notations Explained (/r, ^M, C-m, RET, <return>, M-, meta)
• Emacs Keyboard Macro and Examples
• Emacs, Dvorak, C-x
• Emacs Keybinding Rant ＆ a Glimpse of Xah Lee's Life 2010
• A Typing Game in Emacs
• A Curious Look at GNU Emacs's 1000+ Default Keybinding
• Emacs Unicode Math Symbols Input Mode (xmsi-mode)

Second Life

• Second Life Keyboard Shortcuts

Key Notations, Syntax, Terminology

• A Short Survey of Keyboard Shortcut Notations
• Emacs's Key Notations Explained (/r, ^M, C-m, RET, <return>, M-, meta)
• Microsoft IntelliType commands.xml File
• Microsoft IntelliType Macros
• OS X Keybinding Key Syntax
• X11 xmodmap example
• AutoHotkey Key Notations
• AutoHotkey Syntax Problems

Mouse

Mosue Reviews

• Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouses Review
• Logitech Gaming Mouses
• Best Mouse for Programers and AutoHotkey Keyboard Macros
• Best Trackball Mouse
• Logitech Trackball Mouse Reviews
• Logitech Mouse with Spinning Flywheel
• Left Handed Mouse
• Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse

Mouse Issues

• What's Mouse DPI; Does Mouse DPI Matter in Gaming?
• Mouse Wheel: Smooth Scroll vs Notched Scroll

Mousing Tips

• Swap Mouse Buttons: Right-Click and Middle Click
• Windows Auto Raise ＆ Single Click to Open File
• Windows Flip3D, Instant Viewer, Productivity Tips
• How to Change Firefox Mouse Wheel Scroll Speed?
• Mouse Speed Too Slow in Mac OS X?

• Linux/Unix X11 Mouse Button Numbering Scheme

Other Input Devices

• Best Input Devices (Jog/Shuttle, Touchpad, Cyborg Mouse, Pen Tablet)
• Why You Need a Jog-Wheel and Shuttle Control?
• Mathematical Models of 3D Inputs Control
• Microsoft Kinect Device

Misc/Unsorted

• Chinese Pinyin Letter Frequency ＆ Dvorak Layout; 拼音字母頻率＆Dvorak鍵盤佈局
• Chinese Input using Dvorak Layout (Microsoft Pinyin IME); 微軟拼音輸入法Dvorak佈局
• Keyboard Shortcuts Conflict in Web Browsers and Mac, Windows

Scancode Tech References

USB

• Scancode
• USB human interface device class
• Keyboard Scan Code Specification @ Source download.microsoft.com scancode.doc
• USB HID to PS/2 Scan Code Translation Table @ Source download.microsoft.com … translate.pdf

Old school

• Scan Codes 2010-11-07 @ geekhack.org
• Keyboard scancodes 2009-07-07 By Andries Brouwer. @ Source www.win.tue.nl
• Scan Codes Demystified 2009-01-01 By John J G Savard. @ Source www.quadibloc.com