Keyboard technology

lastmod 2025-04-25created 2021-04-168 edits

A computer keyboard (North Korean standard term: kompyuteo geonban; English: computer keyboard) is the representative input device of a computer: a typewriter-style device that uses an arrangement of buttons or keys acting as mechanical levers or electronic switches. Replacing the early punched card and paper tape technologies, interaction through teleprinter-style keyboards has been the main input method for computers since the 1970s, supplemented by the computer mouse since the 1980s.

Korean keyboard layout

It is basically the same as the 101-key US standard layout, with Han/Yeong and Hanja keys added for a total of 103 keys. Recently, a 106-key Korean keyboard with three more Windows keys has become the standard. For the jamo layout, see Hangul keyboard.

Dubeolsik: Consists of two sets, consonants and vowels. This is the standard Korean keyboard type. It has fewer keys than Sebeolsik.
Sebeolsik: Sebeolsik usually refers to the layout created by Gong Byeong-u; all Sebeolsik layouts consist of three sets: initial consonants, medial vowels, and final consonants. It reflects the characteristics of Hangul and simplifies the input automaton. It is not standard, but it is claimed to be more efficient and faster than Dubeolsik because keystrokes are spread evenly over a wide area of the keyboard.

English keyboard layout

The 84 keys used in IBM's PC-XT changed to 101 keys for the AT, and this was adopted as the standard. Recently, a 104-key English keyboard with three more Windows keys has become the standard.

QWERTY layout: The QWERTY layout (QWERTY keyboard) is named after the letters at the top left of the keyboard, arranged as Q, W, E, R, T, Y, …. Interestingly, this layout is said to have been designed not to optimize speed for usability but rather to slow typing down somewhat. This was to address the problem of early mechanical typewriters jamming at high speeds.
Dvorak layout: A layout created by analyzing English words and studying letter frequency and structures that allow fast input.
Colemak layout: Developed to make up for the drawbacks of the Dvorak layout; some keys are in the same positions as in the existing QWERTY layout.

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Mechanical keyboards

(Buying guide) Which mechanical keyboard suits me?

Mechanical keyboards are broadly divided into 3 types by mechanism.

Click type (Click Tactile / blue switch) : As distinct as the tactile feel is, the clicking sound is loud too.
Non-click type (Soft Tactile / brown switch, white switch) : Almost no sound, but a distinct tactile feel.
Linear type (Linear / red switch, black switch) : Strongest spring-back, but almost no sound.

Blue switch (click type, Click Tactile)

|thumbnail|Blue switch (click type, Click Tactile) The distinct tactile feel and clicking sound you think of when you imagine a mechanical keyboard are the characteristics of the blue switch. Because of these characteristics, it is also the type people prefer most. Perhaps for that reason, there is a wide range of products, especially many low-cost ones. At the same time, it is also the type people avoid most. The crisp sound when typing is so captivating that once you fall for it, it is hard to get out, but in places shared with many people it can become a poison.

Pros : The clicking sound makes typing more fun.
Cons : Noisy.
Actuation force : 50g(±15g)

Brown switch (non-click type, Soft Tactile)

Brown switch (non-click type, Soft Tactile) A non-click switch with a clearly distinguishable tactile feel but without the characteristic clicking sound. If I had to describe the sound of pressing a key, it would be something like a soft scratching sound. It is a switch you can choose if you covet the feel of a blue switch but worry about the people around you because you will use it in an office. Still, it is louder than a membrane keyboard. It is quiet only within the category of mechanical keyboards.

Pros : Quiet.
Cons : Quiet.
Actuation force : 45g(±20g)

Red switch (linear type, Linear)

Red switch (linear type, Linear) This is probably the switch with the most unfamiliar feel. Because there is no tactile bump and the spring-back is strong, it is popular with users of games that require pressing the same key repeatedly. The lack of a tactile bump is its biggest characteristic. Because of this, the so-called "cloud typing" technique, where keys register without being pressed all the way down, is possible. Typos that come from not being able to tell whether you pressed a key or not are a bonus. And it is quiet. So quiet that only friction noise and the spring sound can be heard.

Pros : Allows fast input.
Cons : Many typos.
Actuation force : 45g(±20g)

Black switch (linear type, Linear)

Black switch (linear type, Linear) A linear switch like the red switch. So most of its characteristics are the same as the red switch. Cloud typing is possible too. People generally tend to prefer the red switch, so the black switch is less well known. The difference from the red switch is the actuation force: the black switch is relatively heavy. It is perfect for those who like a heavy key weight and spring-back.

Pros : Allows fast input.
Cons : Heavy key weight.
Actuation force : 60g(±20g)

White switch (non-click type, Soft Tactile)

White switch (non-click type, Soft Tactile) A non-click switch like the brown switch, but with a more distinct tactile feel. It is a keyboard for environments that require definite key input. As a result, it is characterized by a low typo rate. It also has a high actuation force. It is a switch that adds high key weight to the distinct tactile feel characteristic of the non-click type. It is really hard to find people who use white switches. Likewise, the product range is not very diverse.

Pros : Distinct tactile feel and low typo rate.
Cons : Limited product range.
Actuation force : 55g(±15g)

Summary

A mechanical keyboard is a keyboard with a switch mounted on each individual key.
Mechanical keyboards are divided by mechanism into 3 types: click, non-click, and linear.
Mechanical switches are usually divided into blue, brown, red, black, and white switches.
If you want a crisp sound, the blue switch.
If you want to feel the tactile bump but dislike loud noise, the brown switch.
If you want fast typing with cloud typing, the red switch.
If you want a slightly heavier key weight than the red switch, the black switch.
If you want a distinct tactile feel with a heavy key weight, the white switch.

Troubleshooting

Unicode characters like `ë` are suddenly typed

See Terminal emulator#How to enter Unicode characters on Linux.

Unicode characters like `e̲` are suddenly typed

See Emoji#Emoji insertion mode.

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