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From: jcb@frisbee.Sun.COM (Jim Becker)
Newsgroups: comp.std.misc,comp.windows.misc,comp.misc,comp.periphs
Subject: User Interface Standards -- *Keyboards!*
Keywords: keyboards,standardize,plug-n-play,freedom
Message-ID: <115518@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 13 Jul 89 23:51:26 GMT
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Lines: 63




	There is much clamoring over standardization of just about
everything in the computer industry. People want to have "plug and
play" hardware and consistent software for levels from kernels to
graphical user interfaces. Current efforts appear to have missed a
main difference for a user utilizing different brands of hardware.

	The _Keyboard_ is the main interface mechanism that *all*
computer users utilize to harness their machines, yet the user is
subject to the whims of the manufacturer or the particular hardware
vendor. Each different system potentially has a different keyboard
layout and feel than all others. Manufacturers make decisions (because
of limited resources) of what the keyboard for their products should
be and all subsequent users are stuck with the decisions. [I believe
manufacturers are trying to make the best choice for the user, but
their choice is none-the-less different from the choice of another
manufacturer.]

	In the IBM PC world there are any number of different
keyboards that can be plugged into the box and used. There are lots of
different models from many manufacturers, I believe that they are all
pretty much compatible (I'm not a PC user). But why do I have a
different layout that I have to stumble over with each workstation
level system, as well as (X) terminals and other personal systems
(Amiga, Atari, Mac). [and where did DEC put ESC anyway?]

	My hands are very large, and using something like the Mac is a
nightmare for me, it makes me feel like I'm standing on top of a fence
on one foot trying to type. I am very comfortable typing with an
Amiga, but other keyboards are more difficult. Why can't I use my
Amiga keyboard whereever I want to type. In the past fifteen years of
programming I have had to adjust to numerous different styles, which
has done nothing for my ability to type comfortably.

	In addition to the size of the keyboard is the layout of the
keys, which for a programmer go a lot further than the alpha-numerics.
Each time I have a different keyboard I am subject to different
locations for all those funny keys that make up C and Unix...

	Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and other maladies, are starting to
affect more and more people that need to use their hands for their
livelihood. Providing a standard interface for all keyboards opens the
option of having a radically different keyboard, one that CTS affected or
otherwise disabled people can use. 

	The original keyboard was designed to slow down typing, not
make it more efficient. The designers had hardware constraints that
are no longer with us.  If we are going to continue to progress in our
interface to the computer the door must be available for change. To
break from the mold of the manufacturer-specific qwerty keyboard there
should be standardization of keyboard hardware/software interfaces so
users can pick and choose the keyboard interface of personal choice.

	I believe this would be one standard all users would embrace!


-Jim Becker	jcb@sun.com


+		These are my own comments, and do not reflect 		+
+		the views of Sun in any way, shape or form.		+