Computer Keyboard Layout
The below figure illustrates a typical laptop keyboard layout where all the common keys found on the whopping desktop keyboard have been miniaturized to laptop size.
Computer keyboard layout. There are four main areas on your pcs keyboard as shown in this figure. Still the basic pc keyboard layout has 104 keys common to all pc keyboards. The 104 key pc us english qwerty keyboard layout evolved from the standard typewriter keyboard with extra keys for computing. The layout of a typical taiwanese keyboard.
Computers in taiwan often use zhuyin bopomofo style keyboards us keyboards with bopomofo labels many also with cangjie method key labels as cangjie is the standard method for speed typing in traditional chinese. Theyre labeled f1 f2 f3 and on up to f11 and f12. Visual layout is the arrangement of the legends labels markings engravings that appear on the keys of a keyboard. A typical laptop keyboard layout has typewriter keys shift keys function keys and cursor control keys.
If you can choose a different layout be aware that the keys on your keyboard may display different characters than those that appear on screen. To check whether your keyboard is a qwerty keyboard just take a look a the first six keys on the top left. So the majority of computers will have a keyboard having a similar style to the one above. The design intends to let you type without the risk of fire from your fingers rubbing together.
With a qwerty keyboard your home row fingers are the a s d f j k l and keys and on a dvorak keyboard the home row fingers are the a o e u h t n and s keys. The bopomofo style keyboards are in lexicographical order top to bottom left to right. These layouts are going to cover 99 of layouts you will see on any mechanical keyboard. Basic computer keyboard layout.
The two most commonly used keyboard layouts used today are the dvorak and qwerty. Mechanical layout is the placements and keys of a keyboard. I have highlighted the differences in relation to each other to make them easier to spot. The dvorak keyboard layout arranges keys so that frequently used keys are easiest to press which reduces muscle fatigue when typing common english.
As pointed in the intro the layout is the physical shape and size of the keys within a particular form factor. The keyboard layout is the arrangement of the keys on a computer keyboard. A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical visual or functional arrangement of the keys legends or key meaning associations respectively of a computer typewriter or other typographic keyboard. These keys are positioned on the top row of the keyboard.
Generally you should configure your keyboard layout in windows to match the actual keyboard that you use.