Space-cadet keyboard
The space-cadet keyboard is a keyboard designed by John L. Kulp in 1978 and used on Lisp machines at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which inspired several still-current jargon termsTemplate:Citation needed in the field of computer science and influenced the design of Emacs. It was inspired by the Knight keyboard, which was developed for the Knight TV system, used with MIT's Incompatible Timesharing System.
DescriptionEdit
The space-cadet keyboard was equipped with seven modifier keys: four keys for bucky bits (Template:Key top, Template:Key top, Template:Key top, and Template:Key top), and three shift keys, called Template:Key top, Template:Key top, and Template:Key top (which was labeled on the front of the key; the top was labeled Template:Key top). Template:Key press had been introduced on the earlier Knight keyboard, while Template:Key press and Template:Key press were introduced by this keyboard.<ref name="jargon file">Template:Cite book</ref> Each group was in a row, thus allowing easy chording, or pressing of several modifier keys; for example, Template:Key press could be pressed with the fingers of one hand, while the other hand pressed another key.
Many keys had three symbols on them, accessible by means of the shift keys: a letter and a symbol on the top, and a Greek letter on the front. For example, the Template:Key top key had a "G" and an up-arrow ("↑") on the top, and the Greek letter gamma ("Template:Serif") on the front. By pressing this key with one hand while playing an appropriate "chord" with the other hand on the shift keys, the user could get the following results:
| Key pressed | Result |
|---|---|
| Template:Key press | g (lowercase G) |
| Template:Key press | G (uppercase G) |
| Template:Key press | γ (lowercase gamma) |
| Template:Key press | Γ (uppercase gamma) |
| Template:Key press | ↑ (upwards arrow) |
Each of these might, in addition, be typed with any combination of the Template:Key top, Template:Key top, Template:Key top, and Template:Key top keys. By combining the modifier keys, it is possible to make Template:Nowrap This allowed the user to type very complicated mathematical text, and also to have thousands of single-character commands at their disposal. Many users were willing to memorise the command meanings of so many characters if it reduced typing time. This attitude shaped the interface of Emacs.<ref name="isbn1-56592-152-6">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Efn Other users, however, thought that so many keys were excessive and objected to this design on the grounds that such a keyboard can be difficult to operate.<ref name= "jargon file" />
Emacs uses "M-" as the prefix for Template:Key top when describing key presses: the "M-" stood for Template:Key press on the space-cadet keyboard, and when Emacs was ported to PCs, the Template:Key press key was used in place of Template:Key press.
This keyboard included a Template:Key top key which had limited application support. It also included four Roman Numeral keys (Template:Key press, Template:Key press, Template:Key press, and Template:Key press) which allowed for easy interaction with lists of four or fewer choices.<ref name="jargon file" />
See alsoEdit
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
Template:Refbegin This article is based in part on the Jargon File{{#if:|, version {{{1}}}}}, which is in the public domain. Template:Refend Template:Reflist
External linksEdit
- Space Cadet: Mike McMahon's discussion of the keyboard, with illustrative pictures and technical documentation
- Jargon File entry on the space-cadet keyboard
- The Lisp keyboards: overview of the space-cadet and other famous Lisp keyboards
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }} Template:Keyboard keys