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The
most ubiquitous of input devices, keyboards tell the BIOS
and ultimately the CPU which keystrokes you've entered.
Keyboards use two methods to detect and report keystrokes:
contact, or switch, and capacitive. Contact
types are older, using a mechanical switch to close a
circuit with each keystroke.
Capacitive keyboards do away
with the mechanical switch in favor of reliance on a change
in capacitance (stored energy charges) to read the stroke.
Contact keyboards come in several varieties, the most
popular with spring-loaded keys, but also appearing with
"rubber domes" and "membranes," both of which tend to
survive longer in dusty, dirty environments. Your preference
for audible and tactile feedback may determine your
preferences here. Capacitance keyboards tend to last longer
than contact keyboards, but cost a bit more. Also check out
the new wireless keyboards.
Win
ME, 2K, and XP owners have an "Onscreen Keyboard." This
little goodie gives you a keyboard that appears on your
screen and can be accessed through a mouse or other
input/pointing device. To access the On-Screen Keyboard,
from the Start menu select Programs, Accessories,
Accessibility, On-Screen Keyboard. Then open the application
that you wish to use with the On-Screen Keyboard. Select the
keys on the On-Screen Keyboard to enter characters into the
active application. Optionally, select Keyboard to choose
the keyboard appearance and layout options as necessary.
Optionally, select Settings, Typing Mode to adjust the
typing method. Select the typing mode as appropriate for
your needs. If you select hover mode, choose the hover time
interval before characters are selected. Click the OK
button. To close the OSK, just click the Close button. The
idea is to make keyboard access easier for disabled users,
but laptop and tablet PC users who dump coffee on their
keyboards may find this a useful, if short-term, workaround.
Cleaning
your keyboard is a necessity. Here's how. First, unplug your
keyboard, hold it upside down over a sheet of newspaper, and
tap it gently to remove loose crud. Next, take it outside
and use a can of compressed air to blow out the dirt between
the keys. Turn it over and tap out the loose crud again.
Now, make a solution of dishwashing liquid and water, and
use a dampened cloth to clean the key surfaces. Wipe dry.
You can use the dusting attachment (the brush) on your
vacuum cleaner to go over the keyboard one more time. Still
dirty? Sometimes they get filthy, especially if you, like
me, have teenagers who like to eat sloppy food with one hand
and type with the other. Here are some tips strictly for
filthy keyboards that use membrane-type keys (the mechanical
keyboards have spring-loaded keys that make a distinctive
clicking sound when they are pressed). Pop off the keys one
by one -- you will probably want to use a digital camera or
copy machine to make a copy of the key layout so you get the
keys back on in their proper places. Remove the smaller keys
with a small screwdriver, and be gentle. Don't remove the
bigger keys such as Enter and the spacebar. Use compressed
air and a damp cloth as above to remove the smutch. Really
tough crud can be removed with cotton swabs dampened with
isopropyl alcohol. Use the compressed air again. When
everything is dry, replace the keys. Make sure everything
works properly when you reattach the keyboard.
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