# Keyboards & Mice: Pointing and Input Devices

> Keyboards have been with us since typewriters, and they seem simple enough, but there are lots of obscure bits of knowledge that can aid you or thwart you in using them effectively.

> One question being frequently asked in the 21st Century by new Linux users is, "Can I use a PS2 or PC/AT-type keyboard with the display section of an old video-display terminal I was given for free?" Alas, except in a few cases with relatively new terminals, the answer is "No." Most vendors of "classical" character-cell video terminals used their own keyboard interfaces, which were proprietary both in electrical connection and in key encoding.

> The mouse computer peripheral device was invented during the late 1960s by Douglas Engelbart at Stanford Research Institute. (Here are some of Dr. Engelbart's musings on why he settled on this type of pointing device instead of something else.) The Xerox Alto was the first deployment of the complete "windows, icons, and mice" technology later adopted by other computer vendors. BYTE magazine published this article about the Alto in 1981. (And we should also Remember the Star.)

## General Keyboard Information

- General discussion of keyboards on video terminals.
- Discussion of special keyboards and alternatives.
- KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches: discussion

## Keyboards for DEC and Other Video Terminals

- About keyboards on the DEC VT100, VT220, VT320, VT420, VT510, etc.
- The VT100's numeric keypad.
- Setting a VT220's function keys from VMS. (DCL)
- Defining keys on the DEC VT420 terminal.
- Unix shell script to set UDKs (user-defined keys) on VT220, VT420.
- Diagram of DEC LK201 keyboard (used with VT220, VT340). (GIF)
- Diagram of keyboard on the original VT100 terminal. (GIF)
- KBD configuration file for ProComm+ for Windows to set up proper VT220 function keys
- LK201 keyboard software protocol and pinouts. (McMahill/netbsd.org)
- Photo of DEC LK401 keyboard (used with VT300, VT400). (JPEG: 1280x567)
- Wyse 520 keyboard (photos by Hugo Villeneuve: also alphanumeric section and numeric keypad and cursor-function section)
- Chapter 2 of this Wyse document contains a diagram of an IBM 3270 keyboard's layout.
- Televideo 955 keyboard. (GIF diagram)

## Keyboards for PCs and Workstations

- Keyboards on the IBM PC and other personal computers.
- Keyboards Layouts of several generations of IBM PCs. (resa5.k12.wv.us: stale?)
- Keyboards on SUN, HP, SGI, and other Unix workstations
- Adjusting keyboard settings in "xterm" (some VT100 emulation help)
- Use a Sun Type-5 keyboard on a PC (Peter Enderborg's HW project)
- Celeste's Sun Keyboard FAQs and Resources (at Sunhelp.org)
- Sun Type 5c+ Keyboard, Optical Mouse (Hugo Villeneuve)
- Keith Moore of UTK connected an IBM RT-PC keyboard to a PS/2 keyboard port on his PC.
- xkeycaps GUI for xmodmap--swap keys in X (ftp.cs.umass.edu)
- numlockx (for Linux/KDE to set state of NumLock key at startup)
- HPUX FAQ with keyboard-use hints
- Sieler's WRQ Reflection X custom keymap for better HP emulation
- Origin of Inverse-T Cursor-Arrow Key Arrangement (2004 link)
- Review of Logitech Cordless "Desktop Wave" Keyboard (Crave) :::.
- Moving the Control Key (advice from EmacsWiki)
- Ctrl2Cap v2.0 (Russinovich/sysinternals via Microsoft)
- Keymapper (can achieve CapsLock-to-Control mapping in Windows 7)
- VXD to set the CapsLock as a Control key in Windows 95/98. (Russinovich: zip)
- One of Microsoft's Windows 95 Kernel Toys allows (allowed?) you to exchange the Control and CapsLock keys.
- GeekQuanta preserved Chaffee's registry-only way to map CapsLock-to-Control.
- Contributed Emacs utilities, including Win/NT Caps-to-Control swappers.
- Microsoft Keyboard Intellitype Hacks (Xah Lee)
- Keyboard remapper for Windows 3.1 <szp@a.iap.phys.ethz.ch>
- Spikey Greek Keyboard Map (Windows: for use with SPIonic font) ::.
- VTrain Vocabulary Resources offers fonts for many languages. ::.
- Window NT Driver for DEC/Compaq LK450/411 keyboards (unsupported)
- Drivers for DEC/Compaq PCs, including keyboards and mice.
- HP Pavilion PC Keyboard Support (2002 link)
- Commentary on miscellaneous computer keyboard types. (local)

## Keyboards for Macintosh/iBook/iMac/PowerBook

> As of Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), Apple has provided a built-in way to configure the "Caps Lock" key to behave as a "Control" key. See "Keyboard & Mouse" settings in System Preferences.

- Archival commentary Apple and/or Macintosh keyboards.
- DoubleCommand (the Mac OS X keyboard gets a 2nd Command key, with Capslock/Control swapping) -- old link)
- MacOS X Stuff (incl. CapsLock/Control remapping uControl program, and the talking cat)
- Remap Control and CapsLock on a USB Keyboard under MacOS X (jfieber)
- USB OSX Remapping Article
- MacMilitia "Hack your iBook" (MacOS 9.x gets a 2nd Command key)
- What do you call that funny key on the Macintosh keyboard?
- Macintosh Powerbook Key Remapping.
- Macintosh Keyboard Drivers (MacCampus)
- Apple Powerbook (laptop Macintosh), lighted, in the dark (kernelthread.com)
- KeyStrokes (assistive on-screen keyboard for software coding)

## Keyboards for PDAs: PalmOS, WinCE, etc.

- About keyboards for 3Com Palm or other handheld/PDA devices.
- Jim Thompson's Keyboards Comments for PalmOS PDAs (incl. Handera)

## General Mouse & Pointing-Device Information

If you make a mistake with your mouse, it's a mouso!

- General network commentary on mice and pointing peripherals
- What to do if you are physically unable to use a mouse....
- DEC's proprietary mice
- Using a mouse to locate position on DEC/ANSI terminal screen
- History of The Macintosh Mouse (Stanford)
- The 3-Button Serial Mouse mini-HowTo (kipper.york.ac.uk)
- X Mouse Wheel Scroll Page (www.inria.fr/colas)
- Mouse Wheel Doohickey Archives (overclocking a mouse?)
- Genius NetMouse Game FAQ
- Mac OS X Mouse Speed Increase
- Ergonomy Resource (Ville Walveranta)
- Adaptive Technology--Alternative Mousing (MIT/Athena)
- The Mouse List...Ergonomic, Adaptive and Alternative Pointing Devices
  (here is a no-frames rendition)

## The Efficient Dvorak Keyboard Layout

Alternative to QWERTY

- Strategy of learning to type on different keyboards.
- Dvorak-Keyboard.com
- Cassingham's response to Anti-Dvorak crusaders.
- Dylan James McNamee's Dvorak keyboard observations.
- Joe Strout's Dvorak Page (2003 link)
- Zippy-Type MacOS typing tutor program, including Dvorak layout. ::
- Dvorak International's FAQ List (via McNamee)
- German Dvorak keyboard layout, why and how-to (rfreund: Linux X11/XFree)
- Dvorak Keyboard Resources Pointers by Marcus Brooks
- Marcus Brooks argues against the alleged Dvorak Fable.
- Robert Ranger tells about his Dvorak keyboard experience. (1998)
- In 1998 the Santa Fe Institute made available some new results comparing the standard and Dvorak keyboards.
- Dvorak keyboard information (UC, Berkeley)
- Palm Portable Keyboard Dvorak Driver (Floreby)
- "The Dvorak Keyboard" by Doug Alexander
- Use your Web browser to learn how to type on Dvorak keyboard. (Dan Wood)
- Mensa Dvorak Commentary (Sander Rubin)
- DvortyBoards Switchable QWERTY/Dvorak Keyboards
- Microsoft Dvorak Keyboard Layouts (GA0650, http MS)
- Microsoft MS-DOS Dvorak Keyboard Driver (includes one-handed)
- Targus Stowaway Keyboard Dvorak Driver for Visor (Kindall)
- Keytime Keyboard Instruction
- How to Avoid Being Dvorak-Keyboard Hostile (for Mac) :::.
- Use the Dvorak keyboard under the X Window system. (xdvorak.tar.Z)
- Or set up the Dvorak keyboard under X using xmodmap.
- The poor man's way of using the Dvorak keyboard under MS-DOS.
- Set up MS-Kermit terminal emulation with a Dvorak-layout keyboard.
- While you're at it, have a look at the unique Maltron keyboard.
- A keyboard layout of historical interest is found on the Stenotype machine. (courtesy of the Rock Island Arsenal Museum)

## Information Elsewhere on the Web

- "World's Weirdest Keyboards" (PC World, 2009)
- "World's Weirdest Mice" (Network World, 2009)
- Open Directory Keyboard Links (2000)
- Open Directory Pointing-Device Links (2000)
- The IBM "PC Keyboard FAQ" page is here (Filip Gieszczykiewicz)
- The Linux Keyboard "How To" (link updated July 1998)
- The Linux 3-Button Serial Mouse mini-HowTo (linuxdoc.org)
- Keyboard Weasel (for Unix serial consoles on PC hardware)
- Other advice on swapping the Control and CapsLock Keys in Windows NT
- Utah State University Kermit Keyboard Utilities (ftp)
- Configure xwsh for "VT100" keyboard layout (SGI FAQ at TAMU)
- VMS/Digital Unix howto notes, with several keyboard/terminal hints
- VT100 Keys (DECUS V00333 for VMS, in DCL, to use numeric keypad)
- Chinese text input by Wubi method in Solaris (wubizixing/5 strokes)
- Chinese typing tutorial, "Wubi" input method. (wicentow)
- "man" page documentation for xmodmap (motifzone.com)
- Use xmodmap to emulate Sun keys on a PC keyboard.
- PS2 Wheel Mouse Driver for Solaris X86 (www.tools.de)
- USB wheel mouse support in Solaris
- XKeyCaps GUI for xmodmap--swap keys in X (netscape.com)
- SunOS 4.x /usr/include/sun/dev/kbd.h
- Sun Type 5 Keyboard Interface Specification (compressed Postscript file from SPARC International)
- Use a Sun Type 5 Keyboard with a PC (J. Buzzard)
- Sun Type 1, 2, & 3 keyboard information (sunhelp.org)
- Sun keyboard information (sunstuff.org)
- Linux Backspace/Delete Key Consistency (Anne Baretta)
- GNU [X]Emacs Keybinding Guide FAQ (2001 link: Jari Aalto)
- SCO/Caldera OpenServer Unix "mapkey" manpage documentation (2003)
- Typing Injury FAQ (2001 link)
- Typing Injury FAQ: Keyboard Alternatives (voluminous graphics)
- KP Typing Tutor (with single-handed, Dvorak typing links)
- FTP archives on typing injuries (UC, Berkeley)
- CTDNews Newsletter for Cumulative Trauma Disorders (including carpal tunnel syndrome)
- IBM Healthy Computing Page
- Dvorak layout for Macintosh by Robert Howe
- Jed Frey's Unlined-Charcoal has a Dvorak layout OS X
- University of Nebraska--Lincoln/EE Repetitive Strain Injury Page
- Ergonomics Resources on the Internet (from the North Carolina Ergonomics Resource Center)
- Ergonomic Advice on Keyboards and Mice (from U.S. OSHA)
- DPMA VDT Legislation Statement
- Keyboard/Mouse/Video/LCD-Display/USB/Firewire/RS-232/EVC Connection and Cable Pinouts (Network Technologies, Inc.)
- Electronics Repair FAQ (Filip Gieszczykiewicz)
- PC mouse communication protocol (UNL link)
- Logitech mouse technical documentation (ftp)
- Troubleshooting a PC mouse (Computercraft)
- Of Mice And Machines (PC-Clone Unix Hardware Buyer's Guide)
- Tomi Engdahl's PC Hardware Page (mouse interface, also joysticks)
- Repairing a Microsoft Natural Keyboard (Jaime Alvelo)
- A workaround to use Microsoft Mouse/Intellipoint with Windows 95
- Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Windows 95
- Newton PDA Keyboard Information (panix/clay)
- Use a Mac or PC Keyboard with your Newton (Biehler)
- Special chip to control PC/mouse communication (MicroChip)
- Ergonomic Input Devices for Macintosh (Moore)
- Links for Alternative Input Devices (Bilbo--Step On It)
- Pace Development (multi-angle adjustable keyboards: Mac or PC)
- Repairing the mouse on a Sun workstation (UTwente--or fetch via FTP from here.) (ftp.ece.uc.edu)
- Linux "tpconfig" touchpad driver (Ananian/Kall)
- Win95 keys on 104-key keyboard gain a life with UNIX X-Windows (sun)

## Information from Keyboard and/or Pointing-Device Vendors

- The 3M Precise Mousing Surface (2003: now for optical mice, too.)
- A Custom Stylus for your Handheld Computer (PDA Panache)
- KeysPlease (software accessory for writing about keys)
- Macally (keyboards and mice for Macs and PCs)
- Kensington (trackballs, mice, etc.)
- KeyTronic makes many retail and OEM keyboard (and mice, etc.) products.
- Maxi Switch Keyboards
- Northgate sells Omnikey PC Keyboards.
- Dorio terminal keyboards from Boundless Technologies
- Microsoft Keyboards: including Natural Keyboard Elite and Microsoft Mice
- Adesso, Inc. makes the TRU-Form USB Ergonomic Keyboard (Macintosh, SunRay, Windows compatible)
  (Alas! To view the main AddessoInc.Com web site with Netscape 4.7x, you must turn off Java, Javascript, and style sheets in Edit/Preferences. However, you may be able more easily to view the Addesso.US "shopping" site, where you can buy a PS/2-to-USB keyboard adapter, touchpads, and PDA keyboards.)
- Goldtouch (ErgoSecure keyboards, mice, smartcard input)
- Interex Inc. (keyboards, Macintosh and USB mice)
- IBM Keyboards and Mice
- Hooleon Customized and Special Keyboards
- Apple Wireless/Bluetooth Keyboards and Mice
- World Language Resources (95 keyboard types supporting 49 languages, for Macintosh and PC)
- Textware Solutions/Fitaly (high-speed on-screen keyboard for Palm OS)
- Kidtech, Inc. (keyboards designed for pre-school children--with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval)
- Polytel Computer Products Corporation (touchpads for PCs and terminals)
- Optimus Keyboard with Dynamic Key Legends
- The Happy Hacking Keyboard (product of PFU America, Inc.) puts the Control and CapsLock keys in their most useful places for Unix and Linux. The product is available with USB communication or for Sun, Macintosh, SGI, HP, or PS/2 connections. Dvorak keycaps also may be ordered.
  (old HH link)
- Creative Vision Technologies (vendor of configurable keyboards)
- Neuro Logic Systems (1U rackmount keyboards, LCDs for PC and Sun)
- Integrix, Inc sells SPARCstation-like keyboards for use with IBM-PC-type computers.
- KeyboardHQ
- UniTap, Inc. (small keyboards for mobile and wearable computers)
- Trident Systems, Inc. (Fairfax, Virginia: touchscreens)
- Lexitech, Inc. (touchscreens for kiosks)
- Vendors of Adjustable/Split Keyboard (tifaq.org)
- CTDnews Marketplace for Ergonomic Products (1999)
- Safe Computing's Internet Store (buy ergonomic products online)
- Cirque Corporation (Glidepoint touchpads)
- 3M Office Ergonomic Accessories
- Bilbo Innovations Inc. (keyboard/mouse-assisting foot pedals)
- Digit Wireless (FasTap keypad for mobile telephones)
- iGo Stowaway Keyboards for PDAs (incl. Palm)
  You can read Dan Bricklin's commentary on the original Stowaway keyboard here.
- GoType! Keyboard for 3Com Palm (for Visor)
- GoType Pro Keyboard manual (via www.landware.com, plus the FAQ and a chart of keyboard shortcuts)
- Adesso PKB-100 Keyboard for Palm III and VII
- Genovation Travelboard 634 for Palm or Visor
- Keyboard Solutions for 3Com Palm PDA (Pilot) (Jim Thompson)
- Connect a Keyboard to a 3Com Palm (criseis)
- DS International-USA KeySync Keyboard for Palm (DPK62)
- Half-Keyboard (type with one hand on PalmOS PDAs, Windows, Macintosh, cell phones)
- Handykey Twiddler (chording kbd for typing with one hand)
- ThumbType Keyboard overlay for PalmOS Graffiti pad
  (or see Japanese page)
- Kinesis Corporation (ergonomic keyboards, foot switches, interface adapters at Kinesis-Ergo.com)
- Maltron Ergonomic Keyboards (TelePrint Systems)
- The "BAT" One-Handed Keyboard (Infogrip)
- Genovation (Keypad, Point-Of-Sale, Palm, and custom input devices)
- To use any PS/2-compatible PC keyboard and a Logitech mouse/trackball with a Sun workstation, order the Sun Interface Converter X465A from SunStore
  or the Kinesis Sun Interface from Kinesis Corporation (also was sold by Softek Business Systems).
  (Sun X465A/595-3692-01 technical info)
- Softek Business Systems sells ergonomic products.
- The KVM Switch for Sun SPARC machines
- The Silicon Valley Bus Company sells KeyStone, an adapter for connecting IBM-PC keyboards and mice to a Macintosh.
- Back Be Nimble sells ergonomic keyboard accessories
- HP Workstation Trackballs (from the FAQ--Oct 1997)
- HP Workstation Serial Mouse Driver (Pass)
- DataLux Space-Saving Products (including keyboards)
- SwapKeys (rearrange Windows keyboard, make hot keys)
- Avocent (KVM over IP)
- Lightwave Communications (KVM vendor)
- Rose Electronics (keyboard sharing/switching apparatus--updated)
- Network Technologies Inc. (keyboard/monitor multiplexing--KVM)
- Cybex Computer Products Corporation (kbd sharing/switching/extending for PCs, Macs, and Unix workstations)
- Wid Industries (keyboard/mouse sharing, etc.)
- DataCover/MIS Associates (keyboard skins)
- Logitech makes mice, trackballs, and the really cool Cordless Freedom Pro Ergonomic keyboard.
- 3M Renaissance (Vertical) Mouse
- Anir Vertical Mouse
- ALPS Electric USA (GlidePoint, mice, keyboards, etc.)
- Contour Design Mice, with a left-handed mouse
- Cirque Touchpad
- USB Mouse 2-Way Adapter (Ymouse.com: P.I Eng.)
- Key Tronic Mouse (uses Honeywell sealed feet)
- Mouse Systems Corporation (mice, input devices, etc.)
- PS/2 Mouse Adapter for vintage Apple II or Mac
- Mouse Utilities and Drivers (ftp.CDrom.com, Nov 1998 link)
- IBM Ergonomics Research (including TrackPoint)
- Tandy/Radio Shack Keyboard/Mouse Support

Disability Keyboard Information

- Ability Hub
- AccessWorld: American Foundation for the Blind
- Assistive Technology Industry Association
- Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (U. Toronto)
- The Archimedes Project (Leverage to Move Worlds)
- Madentec Head Tracker (and disability solutions)
- GPK, Inc. (QuadTrac mouse, QuadCommander joystick)
- WebABLE
- GNOME Foundation
- GNOME Desktop Accessibility in Solaris
- Solaris Accessibility Overview
- Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA/COCA/GSA)
- Apple Computer's Listing of Disability Resources (2002)
- QuicKeys (Mac OS X Key Shortcut Software)
- IBM Special Needs Solutions (help for disabilities)
- Sun Accessibility and Enabling Technologies
- Microsoft Dvorak Layouts for Windows
- Microsoft Accessibility Technology (guides by disability) and keyboard/mouse advice
- Compaq Accessibility Support
- NanoPac (technology for independence)
- Crunchy.com (disability support: Section 508)

## Items of Serendipity

- The "WalkStation" by Steelcase allows simultaneous strolling and typing...
- What is a Bit-Paired Keyboard? (jargon)
- Learn now the lore of the Bucky Bits and the legendary Space-Cadet Keyboard! (There's even a song about Bucky Bits.)

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(schizophrenic mice)

Introductory material copyright © 1995
and archive contents collection copyright © 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010 Richard S. Shuford.

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