A Brief History Of The Computer Keyboard

Computer Keyboard 

The computer keyboard has evolved significantly since its early inception. What started as a simple layout of keys has transformed into a device central to how we interact with technology on a daily basis. Let's take a look at the history and development of the computer keyboard.

The Mechanical Keyboard Era

The earliest computer keyboards date back to the late 19th century when mechanical telegraph systems were invented. These utilized lever switches outfitted with metal keys that would close an electrical circuit to send telegraph signals down a wire. In the 1940s and 1950s, as programmable digital computers were emerging, keyboards started being developed specifically for data input. These earliest computer keyboards resembled traditional typewriter keyboards, utilizing mechanical switches beneath each key to physically strike a ribbon or transfer electrical signals.

Notable products from this era included the IBM Selectric typewriter from the 1960s, which featured a spherical typing element that could be easily swapped with different print balls. The Data Secretary keyboard, released in 1962, was one of the earliest keyboards designed specifically for computer use rather than typewriters. However, these earliest computer keyboards were still quite basic, featuring only numeric and teletype-style character keys in monochrome designs.

The invention of the modern QWERTY keyboard layout is generally credited to Christopher Sholes, who developed the configuration in the 1860s. This layout placed commonly used letter pairs farther apart to prevent jamming on manual typewriters - a constraint no longer relevant for computer keyboards. But the QWERTY layout endured and remains standard on most keyboards today due to familiarity.

The Rise of Membrane Keyboards

In the 1970s, the development of silicone rubber membrane technology enabled a new generation of "membrane keyboards" that replaced mechanical components with pressure-sensitive rubber sheets. These new membrane keyboards were much thinner, less expensive to produce, and needed no maintenance.

A major development was the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) standardization of character encoding in 1963, which structured keyboard input in a consistent numeric format for computers. The ASCII standard helped propel universal keyboard layouts, making computer keyboards of the late 1970s and 1980s generally follow a QWERTY layout with function keys above alphabetic keys.

Notable membrane-based models included the IBM Model M from 1978, famous for its bounce-back tactile feedback. Towards the late 1980s and 1990s, membrane keyboards became the dominant standard adopted for desktop PCs and laptops alike due to their low cost and durability.

The Rise of Multimedia Keys

As personal computers grew beyond basic word processing into a multimedia platform, keyboards evolved as well. Through the 1990s, additional specialized function keys were added above the numeric keys to control audio playback and volume as well as browser and media player controls.

Scroll wheels also began appearing between the G and H keys controlling document scrolling at a time when mouse wheels were not yet common. Built-in calculators, internet buttons, and multimedia transport controls further crowded the top row over time to match expanding software capabilities. By the early 2000s, the laptop keyboard had become the primary type of computer keyboard in use.

Modern Development and Specialization

Today's Computer Keyboards come in many varieties optimized for different use cases and input methods. For gaming, mechanical keyboards with responsive switches and additional macro keys have become popular to enable complex game commands. Ergonomic split and vertical keyboards aim to reduce tension for extended typing sessions.

Portable keyboards are available in ultra-thin designs optimized for tablets and mobile devices, often pairing via Bluetooth. Alternative layouts like Dvorak and Colemak have also gained enthusiasts seeking easier fingering patterns. Specialized numeric entry and function panel keyboards cater to data input applications.

Voice recognition and handwriting are offering new pathways for digital input as well. But as interfaces for our primary means of communicating with machines, computer keyboards have stayed remarkably consistent in layout while accommodating society's changing relationship with technology. With continued improvements in performance and customization, keyboards will likely remain central to the human-computer experience for years to come.

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