Keyboard Dictionary
The Keyboard Dictionary is a collection of primarily IBM and family focused community colloquial names and lingo, jargon, marketing terms and technical terms gathered and defined from official sources or my experience for anyone who is new to understanding computer keyboards in depth or the keyboard enthusiast hobby. Please note that the meaning of some non-standard terms can be up for debate and thus I have tried my best to take an objective stance on such offenders. All terms are in the context of IBM and family keyboards may have alternative meanings in other computing contexts. Right now, 145 terms have been recorded. Terms are by default categorised by first letter but can be sorted by category. In regards to term origin:
- Community: the term originated from enthusiasts in the keyboard (or wider computing, engineering, etc.) community and may/may not be adopted by companies involved with designing and/or manufacturing keyboards.
- Official: the term originated from a company involved with designing and/or manufacturing keyboards.
- Multiple: the term is derived from a mix of origins (typically reserved for ambiguous terms).
- Unclear/unknown: the term's origin is unknown or disputed.
60%
"60%" describes a small form-factor keyboard that omits dedicated numeric keypad, arrow keys, function keys and navigation keys. Such keyboards are the smallest available that do not compromise on keys within the alphanumeric section but often rely on function layers to reintroduce the functionality from the aforementioned keys. The Model F-based IBM 4704 Model 200 Alphameric Keyboard is an example of an early 60% keyboard design. The Anne Pro and Anne Pro 2, GK61, various HHKBs, Vortex POK3R and Wooting 60HE+ are examples of more recent 60% designs.
🔗ABNT2 layout
The "ABNT2" physical and function layout is one of the keyboard layouts introduced by the Enhanced layout alongside the ANSI and ISO layouts. It is solely intended for Brazilian Portuguese keyboards. It is named the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) body's specification for the alphanumeric portion of the layout - ABNT NBR 10346 variant 2. It is very similar to an ISO layout but additionally has a smaller (1.75-unit) right shift key and a smaller (1-unit shorter) numpad plus key.
🔗ANPOS
Stands for alphanumeric point of sale, which refers to a keyboard specifically designed for a POS system that has a full complement of alphanumeric keys. ANPOS keyboards are typically very close in design to standard keyboards everyone is familiar with, however, they may also feature some of the job-specific features most POS input devices have such as relegendable/programmable keys, card readers and/or lock keys.
ANSI enter key
Also known as: long enter key
The ANSI-style enter, return or field exit key is one that is horizontally long and usually 2.25 units long. It is used by the ANSI physical layout and is thus common for standard PC keyboards destined for the United States of America (among a few others). For IBM and family, a key similar to it emerged by 1978 for IBM 4978 Display Station Keyboards. In the '80s, it was popularised by the Enhanced layout as the main domestic (relative to the USA) counterpart to the ISO-style enter key.
🔗ANSI layout
The "ANSI" physical layout is one of the two main keyboard layouts introduced by the Enhanced layout alongside the ISO layout that together remain the base of most keyboard layouts. It is named after the American National Standards Institute and was primarily intended for the United States of America but is also used for generic English keyboards in The Netherlands and many East Asian countries. It may also be used for Arabic and Cyrillic language keyboards. Compared to ISO, ANSI physical layout has a larger (2.25-unit) left shift key and a horizontally massive (2.25-unit long) enter key.
🔗AT
Also known as: PC/AT
"AT" can refer to multiple things associated with the IBM 5170 Personal Computer AT, its derivatives and third-party clones.
- "Model F/AT": the modern nickname for the IBM Personal Computer AT Keyboard.
- AT connectivity/protocol: the combination of a 5-pin DIN plug, 11-bit "Mode 2" serial data packet, and IBM scancode set 2.
- AT layout: the IBM Personal Computer AT Keyboard's layout.
AT layout
The AT layout refers to the key arrangement of Model F-based IBM 5170 Personal Computer AT Keyboard from 1984 that was briefly a de facto standard for PC keyboards in the mid-1980s. The AT's layout is a rework of the "XT layout" that eliminated many of the stepped keys, switched to a "backwards-L" enter key, and introduced a separation between the alphanumeric and numeric keypad sections. PC clone manufacturers and other companies briefly adopted the layout, but it was quickly overshadowed by the arrival of the Enhanced layout the following year. The "AT" name is derived from the IBM 5170 Personal Computer AT to retrospectively distinguish it from the XT layout.
🔗AccuType Keyboard
"AccuType Keyboard" was Lenovo's marketing name for an island-style keyboard design introduced in the early 2010s as a more compact replacement for its previous "classic" keyboard designs. AccuType Keyboards typically have 80 to 90 keys but can be larger with a numeric keypad, and most 1-unit or larger keycaps have a curved bottom edge. In recent years, the curve has been removed for keys that are not alphabetic or numeric. AccuType Keyboards are intended for Lenovo's consumer PC devices such as IdeaPad and (non-ThinkPad (Yoga) - the ThinkPad equivalent to AccuType is the Lenovo Precision Keyboard.
🔗Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
ABS is a plastic commonly used as a keycap and keyboard case material, amongst other things. Along with PBT, ABS is one of two main keycap materials and is known for being the cheaper material out of the two. ABS is less rigid and its texture can wear down and start shining quicker than PBT, but is also cheaper and easier to mould. ABS is also known to yellow when exposed to UV for a sustained period of time.
Alphabetic shift
Also known as: alpha shift, lower shift
Alphabetic shift was a key on IBM data entry (DE) terminal keyboards used as an override to allow the user to enter alphabetic characters into a numeric input field or when the host terminal is in numeric mode. As alphabetic characters were printed at the bottom of a keycap's face, the alphabetic shift is also known as "lower shift". When present, the alphabetic shift took the place of the right shift key and was represented by an upside-down shift arrow symbol.
Backwards-L enter key
Also known as: big-ass enter
A "backwards-L" enter or return key is one that is shaped as described and is usually 2.25 units long and 2 units tall. For IBM and family, a return key very similar to it appeared on US English IBM 3732 Text Display Station Typewriter Keyboards by 1978 but it was not popularised until the emergence of the AT layout in 1984. After the AT layout was supplanted by the Enhanced layout, this style of enter/return key found a new home on the so-called "Asian 10X" layout.
🔗Base Keyboard
"Base Keyboard" was IBM's official name for a 75-key or 87-key IBM 3270 family terminal keyboard. They were originally introduced in 1977 as Model B keyboards (for IBM 3276, 3279 and late 3279) and reintroduced in 1982 as Model F keyboards (for IBM 3104 and 3178) and were perhaps the closest analog IBM had to a full-sized keyboard before Converged and Enhanced Keyboards. They all have two sets of two-column 10-key areas flanking the sides of the main keyboard, and may also have a 12-key keypad for program-function keys, numeric keys or both at once.
🔗Base plate
Also known as: back plate, backplate
A keyboard base plate is a plate that sits at the bottom (the base) of a keyboard whose assembly is separate from its cover set and is used as a rigid support for everything else on the assembly to rely on. On Model F and most buckling spring Model M keyboards, the base plate is also curved to provide a sculpt for its keys. Typically, it is metal to provide strong support, but it can be plastic. For keyboards that don't have an assembly separate from the cover set, its bottom cover piece will assume its purpose.
🔗Battlecruiser
Also known as: battle cruiser
"Battlecruiser" can refer to two types of keyboards. For IBM and family, they're simply a version of a "battleship" keyboard that whilst retaining the same physical layout, its overall casing is slightly smaller. "Battlecruiser" thus typically refers to later versions of the 122-key IBM Converged Keyboard (Type 3, 4 and 5 122-key Model Ms) that are slightly smaller than the earlier versions (122-key and 127-key Model Fs and Type 1 and 2 122-key Model Ms). Outside of IBM and family, "battlecruiser" keyboards can still be similar to "battleship" style keyboards but don't strictly follow its physical layout and typically have further expanded navigation clusters.
🔗Battleship
"Battleship" describes a keyboard larger than a full-sized 101 to 105 key keyboard, typically featuring a 10-key block and two rows of function keys to the left and on top of the alphanumeric keys respectively. 122-key and 127-key members of the IBM Converged Keyboard family (Model F and Model M) are the primarily examples of an IBM "battleship".
🔗Black oval
Refers to a style of IBM logo typically found on their industrial and black keyboards, especially from the early to late-1990s. Typically, these came in the form of a stadium-like solid black oval with a raised white or silver IBM logo aligned in the centre.
🔗Black square
Refers to a style of IBM logo found on their industrial computers and keyboards, especially from the early to mid-1980s. Typically, these come in the form of a solid black square with a white IBM logo aligned at the top.
🔗Blocking
Also known as: anti-ghosting, phantom key detection
Blocking is a means of preventing ghosting on ohmic keyboards limited to 2-key rollover. As missing keystrokes are considered preferable to reporting keys that haven't been pressed, the keyboard's firmware will detect when an attempted key combination cannot be reliably sensed and ignore all keys that could be the result of ghosting. Laptops such as ThinkPads may also provide the option to beep when "Unmanageable Key Combinations" are detected so missed keys aren't silently discarded.
Blue oval
Refers to a style of IBM logo found on their business and personal computers and keyboards, especially from the early to late-1990s. Typically, these come in the form of a stadium-like solid grey oval with a blue IBM logo aligned in the centre.
🔗Brilliant white (keycap)
Also known as: true white, simply "white"
"Brilliant white" in a keycap context is Unicomp's term for a chromatically-cool white colour. Brilliant white keycaps are a modern equivalent to pearl keycaps, which by comparison were a warmer colour and look slightly yellowed side-by-side with brilliant white keycaps. They are similarly usually paired with grey-coloured (that is also chromatically cooler than its older pebble counterpart) keycaps as part of a two-tone set, with brilliant white keys usually being alphanumeric and the spacebar and grey keys usually being arrows, enters, modifiers and operators. They are typically available as an option for Unicomp raven black keyboards.
Buckling rubber sleeve
Also known as: buckling sleeve
A buckling rubber sleeve (or simply "buckling sleeve") is a type of rubber tactile element used in some keyswitch designs. Some may not distinguish it from a rubber dome, but buckling sleeves are distinct in that they are seldom used in a keyswitch design for actuation when rubber domes are typically used for such. Most buckling sleeve designs in fact sit on top of a keyboard assembly instead of residing inside, used to provide tactile feedback and a keycap return force only. Many are also not a complete dome shape and may appear to be a dome that is upside-down. Capacitive and membrane keyboard designs have made use of them, such as the tactile variant of Key Tronic "form-and-foil" and Mitsumi KPQ-series keyswitches respectively. "IBM buckling sleeves" is the provisional name for a major membrane-based keyswitch family that was used on many Model M family keyboards for the space-saving, point of sale and laptop markets (including many early IBM ThinkPad laptops) and seen as a high-quality alternative to the average rubber dome and scissor-switch keyswitch designs. Alongside IBM buckling springs, it's only one of two IBM-originated flagship keyswitch designs still in production.
🔗Buckling spring
A buckling spring is a keyswitch actuator design where a metal coil spring characteristically buckles into a kink instead of compressing in a straight column, which pivots something that can be registered by a pad card or membrane assembly underneath (depending on exact implementation). Various keyswitches that use such a design are referred to as "buckling springs", including IBM's famous buckling spring keyswitches originally designed by Richard Hunter Harris. Buckling springs allow a keyswitch to provide actuation, tactility, auditory feedback and a keycap return force all with just one spring, with the actuation and "click" events occurring at the same time. IBM used versions of buckling springs on all Model F (capacitive) and many Model M (membrane) family keyboards.
🔗CANPOS
Also known as: Compact ANPOS
Stands for Compact Alphanumeric Point of Sale, which specifically refers to the IBM CANPOS Keyboard.
🔗Capacitance sensing
Also known as: capacitive sensing, capsense
Capacitance sensing (or simply "capsense") is a form of key-switch sensing that relies on the principle that any two objects can be a capacitor and that the capacitance they can both hold together changes as one part is moved closer or away from the other. This can be used as a rudimentary distance measurement that can be used to tell if a given key-switch is pressed by comparing the measurement against a desired threshold. Capacitive key-switches are known to have a long lifetime and have an inherent n-key rollover (provided the keyboard-to-host interface also supports NKRO). Common implementations include IBM beam spring, IBM capacitive buckling spring, Topre (specifically electrostatic capacitive (EC) sensing), and numerous foam and foil key-switches. Keyboards that make use of capsense are known as simply capacitive keyboards and are generally more expensive to make and buy than ohmic keyboards.
Centinewton
Centinewton is an SI unit of force equal to one-hundredth of a newton (0.01N). A single newton is defined as force that accelerates an object with the mass of one kilogram one meter per second each second. The centinewton is a popular unit of measurement commonly used in the keyboard space for actuation force readings - for example, IBM's membrane buckling springs actuation force range can be expressed as 64-69cN. Compared to the other popular unit for actuation force gram-force, 1cN is equal to 1.02gf.
Cherry profile
Also known as: GMK profile
"Cherry profile" is a cylindrical-based sculpted keycap profile. It's named after Cherry, who have used this profile since the 1980s, and is currently popular in today's hobby for custom keycap sets.
🔗Classic ThinkPad layout
Also known as: 7-row ThinkPad keyboard
The "classic ThinkPad" layout refers to the traditional IBM and Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard layout initially introduced in late 1992 on IBM Model M6 keyboard assemblies for the IBM ThinkPad 700 series (though itself a refinement of previous IBM and Lexmark notebook keyboard layouts). It's a form of compact tenkeyless design where the navigation cluster keys are located above the main keyboard area and the arrow keys are located below the right shift key. Whilst the layout has been modified over the years to first include an Fn key, then include a Windows key, and lastly have double-height Esc and Delete keys (to name a few notable changes), the overall layout remained stable until its general replacement in 2012 with the Lenovo Precision Keyboard.
🔗Classic Touch
"Classic Touch" was a Lexmark marketing term for a keyboard that sported buckling spring (clicky) keyswitches. It was used in such applicable keyboards' marketing names (like "Lexmark Classic Touch Keyboard") to contrast it with potential Quiet Touch versions of the same keyboards.
Clicker assembly
Also known as: keyboard clicker, keyboard solenoid, operator feedback, simply "solenoid"
A clicker assembly was an internal component known for being present in various Model B and some Model F terminal keyboards. It was typically a solenoid, but speaker-based implementations were also known. For IBM's terminal usage, it was used for indicating when the keyboard was enabled by its host terminal/program and in some cases for issuing conditional cues. It's also been theorised that it was also used to enhance audible feedback, in some ways comparable to the sound pollution of a mechanical typewriter.
🔗Cmdxx key
Command function (Cmd) keys were typically found on IBM 5250-style 122-key terminal keyboards and were used to pass information between the terminal and the (IBM midrange) host system programs and to perform terminal operations. There were region-specific versions of the nomenclature such as "Mdtxx" for Spanish keyboards.
🔗Complete sub-assembly
Also known as: subassembly, internal keyboard assembly, internal assembly
The complete sub-assembly (CSA) is the name given to a functioning keyboard assembly that can be separated from the keyboard's cover set. "Complete" refers to how such a keyboard assembly also has all the components needs for normal operation (such as keycaps and controller card) connected to it. Model B, Model F, and (most) Model M family keyboards used CSAs.
🔗Console keyboard
Also known as: operator console keyboard, display console keyboard
Console keyboards are a type of terminal keyboard used by a console-style terminal that specialises in low-level control of a host processor such as a mainframe. They descended from IBM typewriter-based printer-keyboards that were often used as consoles. "Display console" and "operator console" are often used interchangeably, but "display" technically implies the console uses a visual display unit (such as a CRT display) and was used to contrast them from earlier printer-based consoles. Console keyboards are usually specialised with legends for controlling the processor and any running programs.
🔗Controller card
Also known as: logic card, controller PCB
A controller card is a dedicated PCB that has electronics used for sensing key-strokes and reporting them to the host computer. Typically, a controller card has a microcontroller (which is where the name is derived from), connectors for the medium in which the key-switches are sensed (another PCB, membrane assembly, etc.), connector for a cable for the host computer (whether it's accessible from inside or outside the keyboard), and any other components needed for power regulation, signal quality control, ballasts for possible LEDs, etc. "Logic card" is a term used interchangeably with controller card, but it can additionally refer to PCBs that don't have a dedicated microcontroller - for example, the IBM 5291/5292 Display Station Keyboard Unit has a PCB that only sports components needed for capacitance sensing that the host terminal has to operate remotely.
🔗Converged Keyboard
"Converged Keyboard" was IBM's official name for a 104-key, 122-key or similar terminal or terminal emulator keyboard with a two-row 24-key function key area, a plus-shaped arrow key cluster and a left-side two-column 10-key area. The concept was introduced in 1983 with the IBM 3290 Information Panel's 104-key Model F keyboard and is seen as a successor to the Base Keyboard. IBM Model F and Model M family keyboards understood to be "unsaver", "battleship" or "battlecruiser" style by the keyboard enthusiast community are all a part of the IBM Converged Keyboard lineage. Their "Converged layout" served as the primary basis for the subsequent Enhanced Keyboard's Enhanced layout, the base layout for most modern, industry-standard keyboards.
🔗Cover set
Also known as: cover group, case, casing, shell
A keyboard cover set or cover group (sometimes abbreviated "cover grp" by IBM Netherlands) is the outer structural casing of a keyboard. Typically they're referred to as a "case" or "casing", but "cover" specifically refers to the casing that the keyboard is supposed to be used in (as opposed to packing material or storage mediums like hard-shell cases, travel cases, fabric sleeves, etc.) "Set" refers to the fact keyboard cases are typically multiple parts, usually two - a top and a bottom cover.
🔗Cylindrical (keycap shape)
A keycap is "cylindrical" if its top has a cylinder-shaped indent. IBM used cylindrical keycaps on its IBM Selectric III electric typewriters, IBM Electronic Typewriter series, Wheelwriter, Quietwriter and Actionwriter electronic typewriters, IBM Model F family keyboards, and IBM Model M family keyboards. In the wider, modern keyboard hobby, the "Cherry profile" is an example of a cylindrical-based keycap profile. It's often used to contrast against spherical and simply flat keycaps.
🔗DSA
"DSA" is a spherical-based short and uniform keycap profile. It resembles a flattened SA profile.
🔗Data entry keyboard
Data entry (DE) keyboards are a type of terminal keyboard commonly found in mainframe, terminal and sometimes server usage that are specialised for simple data entry. Such keyboards are typically smaller than their typewriter-like (DA) counterparts and function with either a numeric shift (upper) or alphabetic shift (lower) only. They descended from IBM Card Punch keyboards and can only enter letters in uppercase.
🔗Data typewriter keyboard
Also known as: typewriter-like keyboard, typewriter-style keyboard, typewriter keyboard
Data typewriter (DA) keyboards are a type of terminal keyboard commonly found in mainframe, terminal and sometimes server usage that are specialised for complete alphanumeric data entry or programming. Such keyboards are typically larger than their data entry (DE) counterparts and can output letters in upper or lower case. The "typewriter-like" moniker stems from the fact they were like typewriters (which could type in either case) instead of Card Punches (which DE keyboards are based on and could only type in uppercase). Technically, modern PC keyboards are also typewriter-like keyboards but the term "typewriter-like" is generally only found in mainframe and related context.
🔗Discrete switch
Also known as: individual switch, modular switch
A discrete keyswitch is one that is modular so it can be added or removed to a supporting keyboard with at most some soldering, is self-contained, and can easily be made to operate on its own. Alps SKCx/SKBx, Cherry MX, etc. style switches are considered "discrete". A good indicator of when a switch is discrete is when it's possible to take one and wire a simple circuit onto its metal legs, which is possible with the aforementioned designs. Switches that rely on a membrane assembly or a pad card are generally not discrete since (while some components of the switch might be removable) their form of sensing is usually something shared by all keys on the keyboard - what remains of any removable part of the switch is useless unless the sensor and likely some form of keyboard frame comes with it (which would then render all the other keys useless). This is why despite having largely discrete parts, IBM beam spring and capacitive buckling spring switches are not considered discrete since the pad card used for sensing is one large component shared by all.
EMEA
Also known as: E/ME/A
Stands for Europe, Middle East and Africa, a common geographic grouping used by governments and businesses including IBM. In particular, IBM used EMEA as a common marketing and manufacturing area - at its height, IBM UK's Greenock plant was responsible for producing IBM keyboards for almost exclusively EMEA during the 1980s and 1990s.
Enhanced Keyboard
"Enhanced Keyboard" was IBM's official name for a 101-key to 105-key general-purpose keyboard in the Model M family. It was the birth of the modern full-size keyboard that with minor modifications remains the de-facto standard today (see Enhanced layout for details specific to the layout).
🔗Enhanced layout
The Enhanced layout refers to the key arrangements that are de facto standard on current PC keyboards. It was developed from IBM's Converged layout family with some external influences such as from DEC's terminal keyboards. It was cemented by the Model M-based IBM Enhanced Keyboard from 1985. Following the success of the IBM Personal System/2 and adoption by my PC clone manufacturers, the Enhanced Keyboard's 101-key "ANSI" and 102-key "ISO" layouts both became the standard that most full-size or tenkeyless keyboards derive from albeit with the inclusion of Windows/GUI and menu keys that bring the full-size key count up to 104 and 105 keys for "ANSI" and "ISO" respectively.
🔗Erase-Eaze
Erase-Eaze is a keyboard feature where the spacebar is split into two keys and one side of the spacebar can function as a backspace key. Legally, Erase-Eaze is a trademark of Keyboard Advancements, Inc, however, many companies including Lexmark used the name on their designs. Lexmark-branded Model M5-2s and Model M13s could have Erase-Eaze as an option when ordering, and specifically, the Model M15 had Erase-Eaze as an inherent feature.
Field Engineering Maintenance Manual
A Field Engineering Maintenance Manual was a type of official document that could be available for a given computer, keypunch typewriter or terminal. FEMMs were prominent for IBM systems up to and including the 1980s. They were intended for technicians working externally to IBM and described how one could maintain such systems (including their keyboards and keyboard assemblies) whilst deployed, thus a useful source for information.
Field Engineering Theory of Operation
A Field Engineering Theory of Operation manual was a type of official document that could be available for a given computer, keypunch typewriter or terminal. FETOMs were prominent for IBM systems up to and including the 1980s. They were intended for technicians working externally to IBM and described how such systems (including their keyboards and keyboard assemblies) operated, thus a useful source for information.
Field replaceable unit
Also known as: customer replaceable unit (CRU), field service part, spare part
A field replaceable unit is a component of a larger product or system that by design can be removed, ordered and replaced by a user or technician in the field (ie, without sending the entire product back to the original company, vendor or factory). An FRU can be a single part, a kit, or a complete assembly. Some IBM and family companies make use of FRU part numbers to identify such components. An entire IBM and family keyboard can have an FRU part number and it can be the same or different to the keyboard's regular (manufacturing) part number.
Flip-out feet
A flip-out foot is a structure usually on the bottom of a keyboard that can be deployed or retracted to adjust the typing angle to the user's preference. They are typically paired but can also exist as one large foot or more than two to facilitate ergonomic features such as tenting.
🔗Fn and Ctrl Key swap
The Fn and Ctrl Key swap function is an option available on some Lenovo laptops including ThinkPads that allows the user to swap the position of the Fn and left Ctrl keys in software. For most of their history, ThinkPads had their Fn key placed in the bottom-leftmost position, a placement unusual in the laptop industry except for notably Apple MacBooks. Depending on the exact ThinkPad and whether the option is available, this option may be available in the ThinkPad's BIOS/UEFI firmware, in Lenovo Keyboard Manager, or in Lenovo Vantage.
Fn key
Also known as: Fn, function layer key, function key
The Fn key is a modifier key commonly found on laptops and potentially other small form-factor keyboards used to access standard keys unable to be physically placed on small keyboards, or extra system/media keys (volume, brightness, microphone, etc. control) or OEM-specific keys (like a laptop's help portal) not found on standard keyboard layouts. Unlike common modifier keys like Ctrl and Alt, Fn typically only exists on the keyboard's controller electronics and the host computer doesn't see when it's pressed as it does. As such for laptops, it's usually impossible to remap the Fn key, though some BIOS/UEFI firmware and OEM-specific software might allow limited customisation on what it does such as a ThinkPad's Fn and Ctrl Key swap option.
Folio keyboard
A folio keyboard is a type of tablet keyboard that can act as a protective cover for its host device. "Folio" refers to how such keyboards may look, as a tablet with such a keyboard attached resembles opening a book when the user wants to use it. Folio-style keyboards may be designed to act as a stand for its host tablet if it lacks its own integrated stand, potentially having groves for a tablet to stay upright on (and at various, different angles if there are more than one). Connectivity can vary as folio-style keyboards can attach to their host tablet magnetically or by being its cradle, and they communicate via a USB interface, Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz wireless. Folio-style keyboards may also have Pogo pins to facilitate a USB connection or charge the keyboard if it's wireless. Lenovo has made extensive use of folio-style keyboards for various Precision-era ThinkPad-branded tablets such as the original Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, all three Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet generations, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 1.
🔗Force-sensing resistor
Also known as: force-sensitive resistor
A force-sensing resistor is a device used in force measurement whose electrical resistance changes when a form of stress is applied. These changes in resistance can be measured and translated into a force measurement. The distinction between a force-sensing resistor and the similar-sounding strain gauge is that strain gauges have an underlying material that deforms, whereas force-sensing resistors do not. The Lexmark-Unicomp pointing stick makes use of force-sensing technology on a movable joystick-like implement to register the user's intent for cursor movement.
Full-size
Also known as: 100%
"Full-size" describes a keyboard that is complete with an alphanumeric block, numeric keypad, navigation keys, and function keys. Typical modern full-sized keyboards prescribe to the Enhanced layout, which results in 101 or 104 total keys for "ANSI" style keyboards and 102 or 105 total keys for "ISO". The quintessential full-sized keyboard is the Model M-based IBM Enhanced Keyboard, which was largely responsible for cementing the standard that is still so today and is what the Enhanced layout is named after. Historically, "full-size" could also describe a keyboard using the 83-key "XT" or 84-key "AT" layout.
🔗Ghosting
Also known as: unmanageable key combinations, phantom keys
If a keyboard is said to experience "ghosting", it means an attempted key combination results in additional keys being registered when they're not actually pressed. Ghosting is a symptom of a keyboard using ohmic sensing on a key-matrix without diodes, as such keyboards allow for uncontrolled flow of electricity when more than two keys are pressed. The presence of ghosting is the main technical reason for a keyboard being limited to 2-key rollover. The effects of ghosting can be mitigated if the keyboard's controller electronics employ blocking.
Gram-force
Gram-force is a metric unit of force. A single gram-force is equal to the mass of one gram multiplied by the standard acceleration due to gravity on Earth. The gram-force is a popular unit of measurement commonly used in the keyboard space for actuation force readings - for example, IBM's membrane buckling springs actuation force range can be expressed as 65-70gf. Some people may simplify the unit as simple grams (g). Compared to the other popular unit for actuation force centinewtons, 1gf is equal to 0.98cN.
Grey oval
Refers to a style of IBM logo found on their business and personal computers and keyboards, especially from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. Typically, these come in the form of a stadium-like solid grey oval with a black or very dark grey IBM logo aligned in the centre.
🔗Host Connected Keyboard
Also known as: host-connected keyboard, terminal emulator keyboard
Host-connected keyboards are those intended for use with terminal emulation software running on IBM PCs, PC-like thin clients and compatibles. For IBM specifically, Host Connected Keyboard is also the marketing name for Type 4 122-key Model M keyboards specialised for such use cases. In terms of layout and legends, they're a hybrid of PC-style and terminal keyboards and typically have text colour-coded to indicate what are PC-only functions and what are terminal-only/universal functions.
🔗Hysteresis
Hysteresis refers to when a key-switch's release point is higher than its actuation point. This is also invariably known as lost motion, movement differential or differential movement.
I-Point
The I-Point was an integrated pointing device found solely on the IBM Wireless Infrared Keyboard (SK-8807) and IBM Wireless Navigator Pro Keyboard (SK-8810). In contrast to the more famous TrackPoint, the I-Point acted similarly to a typical game console controller's analogue joystick input. A similar technology may have been used for the Silitek PS/2 Wireless Rubberdome Keyboard (SK-7500) sold by Unicomp.
🔗IBM and family
"IBM and family" is a term used to refer to keyboards (and potentially other products like PCs, printers, mice, etc.) designed, produced, and/or marketed by IBM but also ones that are derived from IBM but made or marketed by another company. The term can include companies that were a former division of IBM, acquired IBM's IP and/or tooling, licensed IBM's IP, or were an ODM/OEM that IBM used. But the keyboard itself must be IBM-branded or is based on a design IBM and its primary associates created themselves. The primary "IBM and family" is concluded to include IBM itself, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo, and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.
ISO enter key
Also known as: tall enter key
The ISO-style enter, return or field exit key is one that is shaped like an upside-down backwards-L and usually with a head that is 1.5 units wide, a body that is 1.25 units wide and is overall 2 units tall. It is used by the ABNT2, ISO and JIS physical layouts and is thus common for standard PC keyboards destined for EMEA, South America, Japan, and Canada (bilingual). For IBM and family, a key similar to it emerged by 1964 on the IBM 029 Card Punch Keyboard and was used for subsequent IBM keypunch keyboards and various terminal keyboards. In the '80s, it was notably adopted by IBM Converged Keyboards before becoming popularised by the Enhanced layout as the main international (relative to the USA) counterpart to the ANSI-style enter key.
🔗ISO layout
The "ISO" physical layout is one of the two main keyboard layouts introduced by the Enhanced layout alongside the ANSI layout that together remain the base of most keyboard layouts. It is named after the International Organisation for Standardisation and was primarily intended for EMEA countries, Canada (bilingual) and South America (Latin American Spanish). Compared to ANSI, ISO physical layout has a smaller (1.25-unit) left shift key and a vertically massive (2-unit tall) enter key in the shape of a backwards and upside-down L. Typically, the right Alt key is also labelled as "Alt Graph" (Alt Gr).
🔗Industrial grey
"Industrial grey" refers to the grey colouring IBM keyboards intended for their industrial computers could have. It's believed to be used to hide the dirt and damage expected to be inflicted upon the device within an industrial environment. The colour may also have a slight 'olive' tint to it.
🔗
JIS layout
The "JIS" physical layout is a possible keyboard layout derived from the Enhanced layout intended for multilingual Japanese keyboards. It is named after the Japanese Industrial Standards body. There are several similarities and differences compared to the ANSI and ISO layouts; for the latter, JIS utilises an ANSI-like long left shift key and an ISO-style enter key. However, 4 or 5 extra keys (compared to ISO and ANSI respectively) can be found from the splitting of the backspace, right shift and spacebar keys to support additional Japanese characters and language input keys for muhenkan (left of spacebar), henkan (1st right of spacebar) and katakana/hiragana (2nd right of spacebar).
🔗Keyboard ID
A keyboard ID is a value a keyboard might return to a host computer or terminal to identify what it is and possibly what language/region it's intended for. Some keyboards (notably IBM 3270-family terminal and terminal emulator style) may have setup switches on their underside to allow the operator to change some bits that make up its KBDID, and some may even have a header on its controller card that allows some or all of the KBDID to be set with jumpers. For IBM PC-compatible keyboards without setup switches or jumpers, the value is typically fixed. For example, typical IBM PS/2 Enhanced Keyboards should respond with the byte sequence 0xAB 0x83 if the host computer asks the keyboard to identify itself.
Keyboard frame
Also known as: frame assembly, frame, barrel plate, barrelplate
A keyboard frame is a plate that typically sits at the top of a keyboard assembly and is used for holding and supporting key-switch components in their specific places. For IBM buckling spring and buckling sleeve keyboards, the frame is the official term for their barrel plates that have circular structures for holding their key-switch components in place. The barrel plate can be metal and have discrete (separate) barrels as seen on all Model F keyboards, or can be plastic and have their barrels integrated as seen on most Model M keyboards.
🔗Keyboard matrix
Also known as: keymatrix, key-matrix, switch matrix, matrix
A keyboard matrix is a form of circuitry arrangement useful for negating the need for having separate circuits for each key on a keyboard. Keymatrices exist as a two-axis grid-like formation of traces where contact points of a keyswitch are given at various intersections between the two axes known as columns and rows. For typical ohmic keyboards, keys can be registered on a keymatrix when its controller sequentially energises traces on one axis to see if electricity returns on the other. A keymatrix could be made of traces on a hard PCB or a membrane assembly. The keymatrix grid is also typically not the same as the physical keys locations, so (for example) a problem with a trace could affect keys in what might appear to be a random fashion.
Keyboard wedge
A keyboard wedge is a device that physically scans something but acts as a keyboard when reporting scanned data to a host computer. For example, barcode scanners/readers and magnetic stripe readers are types of devices that can be designed to do this. Provided the scanned data is expected to consist of something one can type from a keyboard, (hardware) keyboard wedges are an easy way to deliver such data as it doesn't rely on a unique port or protocol the host computer might need specific hardware or drivers for. However, it's also possible for a keyboard wedge to be software-based if the scanning device doesn't connect through a port typically used for keyboards and instead relies on software to convert its input into simulated keystrokes.
Litho grey
"Litho grey" is IBM's and TGCS' marketing name for a dark grey colour typically found on the bottom of their POS keyboards. Typically, a litho grey bottom cover piece would be paired with a pearl white top cover piece to produce the styling format "pearl white/litho grey".
🔗Lock lights
Also known as: lock-light LEDs, status lights
Lock lights are a feature on PC-style keyboards that indicate whether a particular keyboard lock - num lock, caps lock or scroll lock - is active. Typically, it's positioned in the top-right corner of the keyboard.
🔗Lock-light LED overlay
A lock-light LED overlay is a sticker for keyboards with lock lights that indicates which light represents which keyboard lock and has transparent parts to allow the light to shine through controllably. The lights can be labelled by text or by symbols. These overlays have also been used to display branding.
🔗Lockable USB
Lockable USB (LUSB) is a series of Type-A USB sockets made by Amphenol. When a USB plug is inserted, the tab above the socket will provide mechanical security and must be pushed back before the plug can be released. The Unicomp Mini Model M notably uses a LUSB port.
🔗MANPOS
Also known as: Modular ANPOS, Modular ANPOS II
Stands for Modular Alphanumeric Point of Sale, which specifically refers to the IBM Modular ANPOS II Keyboard and Toshiba Modular ANPOS Keyboard.
🔗MCANPOS
Also known as: Modular CANPOS, Modular CANPOS II
Stands for Modular Compact Alphanumeric Point of Sale, which specifically refers to the IBM Modular CANPOS II Keyboard and Toshiba Modular CANPOS Keyboard.
🔗MPOS
Also known as: Modular POS
Stands for Modular Point of Sale, which is a series of Model M extended family keyboards introduced in 2008. MPOS family keyboards were derived from the RPOS family and are thus close relatives to Model Ms. They remain in production for TGCS.
Magnetic stripe reader
A magnetic stripe reader is a point-of-sale device that can read coded information from a magnetic stripe. An example of such a stripe is the (usually black) line on the back of credit and debit cards. Magnetic stripe readers can be handheld or an attachment for a larger device such as a POS monitor or keyboard. Magnetic stripe readers may also be referred to as simply a "card reader" but note there are other types of card readers.
🔗Manager's keylock
Also known as: operator keylock
A manager's keylock is a point-of-sale security feature used to access sensitive functionality on POS computers and terminals. This keylock is typically found on POS monitors or keyboards. For IBM and TGCS POS keyboards with such a key-lock, it typically has two positions; "system" (normal access) and "manager" or "operator" (privileged access). When the key is turned, the host keyboard can send a scancode to the host POS computer or terminal to indicate this change. The position of the key can also modify the scancodes the System keys ("S1" and "S2") return.
🔗Mechanical keyboard
Also known as: a "mech"
The phrase "mechanical keyboard" typically describes a high-end computer keyboard of some sort. The term lacks a universally agreed technical definition, but to most people, it means a keyboard that does not employ rubber dome over membrane key-switch design but also capable of part-way actuation.
Membrane assembly
A membrane assembly is a form of layered circuitry primarily used as the sensor for key-switches that rely on ohmic sensing. It is comprised of plastic (such as Mylar/BoPET) sheets with electrical traces and predefined contact points screened onto them. Typically, an IBM and family keyboard membrane assembly will have three layers - a sense line circuit membrane on top, an insulator layer acting as a spacer, and a drive line circuit membrane on the bottom. The sense and drive circuits are the two axes of the keyboard's matrix, with sense being the matrix rows that electricity is fed through and the drive being the matrix columns that are monitored from returning electricity. On its own, a membrane assembly is incapable of providing any meaningful auditory and/or tactile feedback. Thus, a common and economical pairing for them are rubber dome actuators to provide a tactile response.
🔗Membrane blanket
Also known as: rubber mat, rubber sheet
The membrane blanket (or simply blanket) is a possible sheet of usually rubbery material inside a keyboard assembly that dampens the stress key-switches' actuators (such as the pivot plates on buckling spring keyboards) can exert on the membrane assembly. They can be black, grey or white coloured. At least for Model M keyboards, they can operate without a blanket but a Unicomp employee has stated they cannot reach their rated key-press lifetime without one. Its presence or lack of and its exact material can affect key feel.
🔗Modelo M
"Modelo M" is Spanish for Model M. Model M keyboards produced by IBM Mexico notably had this written on their rear labels, thus "Modelo M" has been used colloquially to refer to such keyboards.
🔗N-key rollover
Describes a keyboard design that supports complete simultaneous pressing of all keys together without no dropped keystrokes. This feature is considered particularly desirable in gaming circles since it guarantees that the keyboard itself will not be a limit when using extensive key combinations.
NANPOS
Also known as: New ANPOS
Stands for New Alphanumeric Point of Sale, which was used to specifically refer to the IBM Model M9 Retail ANPOS Keyboard. The term was mainly used early in the M9's lifetime to contrast it with previous designs, but ultimately RANPOS became its most common and familiar shorthand name.
Non-US backslash
Non-US backslash is a term used by QMK for the key that is immediately right to an ABNT2 or ISO keyboard's left shift key (ie, would be underneath the right side of an ANSI-style left shift key). Its name refers to what the key's unshifted function is on UK English keyboards (\). In QMK, the keycode for NUBS is KC_NONUS_BACKSLASH and KC_NUBS.
Non-US hash
Non-US hash is a term used by QMK for the key that is immediately bottom-left to an ISO-style enter key (ie, would be underneath the left side of an ANSI-style enter key). Its name refers to what the key's unshifted function is on UK English keyboards (#). In QMK, the keycode for NUHS is KC_NONUS_HASH and KC_NUHS.
Numeric keypad
Also known as: numpad, 10-key
A numeric keypad is a bank of keys usually found on the right side of a full-size keyboard featuring keys for inputting numbers and basic operator symbols. Typically found in a 17-key implementation, you get keys for numbers 0 to 9, a decimal key, keys for four operators (/, *, - and double height +), a num lock toggle key, and an enter key. Variants with more keys exist too, with the 18-key variant that adds a backspace key at the expense of making one of the larger keys smaller being a common upgrade. Numeric keypads exist as either a part of a keyboard or as a separate device useful for laptop usage. When num lock is disengaged on PC-compatibles, the numbers and decimal keys become a navigation cluster represented by the secondary legends on the keycaps.
🔗Numeric shift
Also known as: num shift, upper shift
Numeric shift was a key on IBM data entry (DE) terminal keyboards used to access numbers, operators and symbols that were printed at the top of a keycap's face (hence the alternate name "upper shift"). When present, the numeric shift took the place of the left shift key and was presented by an upright shift arrow symbol (as such, it shouldn't be confused with shift keys on typewriter-style terminal and PC keyboards).
Ohmic sensing
Also known as: conductive-contact sensing, contact-based sensing
Ohmic sensing is IBM's term for the simplest form of keyboard sensing and operates on the principle of registering keys when electricity sent through a circuit (such as a key-matrix) returns. This is a principle shared by most keyboards whether it is Alps SKCx/SKBx, Cherry MX, IBM membrane buckling springs or buckling sleeves, or rubber dome over membrane key-switches in question. As the aforementioned key-switches work by closing a circuit when two contacts are closed, this principle is more commonly referred to as contact-based or conductive-contact sensing. Keyboards that use ohmic sensing are known as contact-based keyboards or ohmic keyboards. It's believed that "ohmic" refers to Ohm's law as a whole (ie, operates on basic electric principles) rather than resistance or Ohms as a unit.
Operator control panel
An operator control panel is a component found on some console keyboards that hosts buttons and lights for low-level CPU operations. OCPs were typically black and originated from the much larger control panels found on the front of IBM mainframe (System/360 and System/370) processing units. When IBM adopted CRT-based operator consoles, this panel became smaller and integrated on the top of various IBM keyboards (mostly from the Model B keyboard family). An OCP may have buttons for IML or IMPL (initial microcode/microprogram load), Lamp Test (to test the lights on the OCP or other I/O devices), Power On/Power Off, and various other host-specific features. Some may even have an emergency pull that when pulled will cut power to the host CPU and has to be mechanically reset.
🔗Optical TrackPoint
The Optical TrackPoint was an integrated pointing device introduced by Lenovo in 2011. It was designed as a low-profile alternative to traditional TrackPoint pointing sticks and was exclusively used with two Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet PC keyboards - Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet Keyboard Folio Case (0B33533) and Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand (EBK-209A) - before being discontinued. As they were an optical sensor not unlike the sensors in typical desktop mice, the user must swipe the stick to move the mouse cursor. They are easily distinguished by the black circle in the middle of the usual red nub.
🔗Overnumpad
Also known as: pressure-based controller
"Overnumpad" is a nickname for a style of controller card used by fourth-generation Model Ms that is pressure-fitted to the host keyboard's membrane assembly. Compared to older Model M controller cards that used Triomate sockets to accept membrane flex cables, "overnumpad" style controller cards are smaller, electrically simpler and typically have lock-light LEDs onboard instead of having them on a separate PCB.
🔗PAx key
Program access (PA) keys were typically found on IBM 3270-compatible terminal keyboards and as the name implies were used for calling a running program to communicate with it.
🔗PFxx key
Program Function (PF) keys were typically found on IBM 3270-style terminal keyboards and were designed as dedicated keys specific programs could change to suit their specific task(s). Outside of terminals, PF keys may be used to indicate what keys the user can remap or create macros for.
🔗POS
Also known as: point of sale,point-of-sale
Stands for point of sale, the time and place where a retail transaction is completed. For when this occurs is a physical setting, the process is usually assisted by a POS system of some kind that may have its own specialised keyboard. POS keyboards can come in macropad-like or alphanumeric form and usually have job-specific features such as card readers and/or physical lock keys.
Pad card
Also known as: capacitance-sensing PCB, capsense PCB, capacitive PCB
A pad card is what IBM called a PCB with contacts to facilitate capacitance sensing. The name likely refers to the appearance of many pairs of rectangular pads of exposed copper under each key-switch actuator. Whilst pad cards may have controller/logic electronics on them, there is no specific requirement for one to also have such 'brains'. Some pad cards even had an edge connector for slotting a controller card onto it. IBM Model B and Model F keyboards both made use of pad cards.
🔗Part number
Also known as: part no., manufacturing part number
A part number is a code assigned to a specific part, product or entire system. For IBM and family keyboards, it's used to denote a single orderable unit typically distinguished by its combination of language and layout, intended host system or standalone sale and branding. The keyboard's complete sub-assembly, specific components like its frame or controller card, its keycap set, its cable and its original packaging may also have their own part numbers. In the 1960s and prior, IBM part numbers were typically 6 numbers. From the 1970s onwards, IBM and family part numbers typically have 7 numeric-only or alphanumeric characters. More recently, 10 (Lenovo) and 11 (TGCS) character part numbers are now in use.
Part-way actuation
Describes when a keyboard switch closes (and thus registers a key as being pressed) before the key bottoms out. This is considered a positive feature to have by many enthusiasts.
Pearl (keycap)
"Pearl" in a keycap context was IBM's, Lexmark's, Unicomp's and TGCS' term for a chromatically-warm white colour. Pearl keycaps are typically paired with pebble keycaps as part of a two-tone set, with pearl keys usually being alphanumeric and the spacebar and pebble keys usually being arrows, enters, modifiers and operators. They are typically found on IBM and family pearl white keyboards.
🔗Pearl white
Also known as: simply "pearl"
"Pearl white" is IBM's, Lexmark's and Unicomp's marketing name for an off-white colour used on many of their keyboards. It's usually colloquially described as "beige".
🔗Pebble (keycap)
"Pebble" in a keycap context was IBM's, Lexmark's, Unicomp's and TGCS' term for a chromatically-warm grey colour. Pebble keycaps are typically paired with pearl keycaps as part of a two-tone set, with pearl keys usually being alphanumeric and the spacebar and pebble keys usually being arrows, enters, modifiers and operators. They are typically found on IBM and family pearl white keyboards.
🔗Personal Systems
"Personal Systems" refers to a group of IBM PCs with similar branding, originating with the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) series in 1987. It ultimately also includes PS/1, PS/2 Note, PS/55, PS/55note, PS/note, and PS/ValuePoint. If something is said to be compatible with IBM "Personal Systems", it's likely compatible with most of these. Additionally, if a keyboard or mouse is said to be compatible with IBM "Personal Systems", it likely uses PS/2 connectivity. For example, some IBM Enhanced Keyboard variants' names may be suffixed with "PS Style" to indicate it uses PS/2 (6-pin Mini-DIN) plugs and to contrast it with "AT Style" keyboards with 5-pin DIN plugs.
Pivot plate
Also known as: flipper, hammer, rocker
A pivot plate is a component of buckling spring key-switches that is moved when the namesake spring is pushed and buckles. It takes the form of a (mostly) plastic piece that has a knob for attaching a coil spring. At rest, the pivot plate should be lifted from the sensor underneath to not create a circuit. When pressured by a buckled spring, it will make a circuit - for Model F keyboards, its material is carbon infused and an increase in capacitance is measured by a pad card; for Model M keyboards, it will physically bridge contacts on a membrane assembly by applying pressure to it.
🔗Pointing stick
Also known as: nub
A pointing stick is an integrated pointing device near or within a keyboard assembly intended as an alternative or supplement to a trackball or trackpad. Typically, they're isometric (stationary) but some may act as a small joystick. When located within a keyboard, they're typically placed in between the "G", "H" and "B" keys - a location chosen for quick and ergonomic access as per IBM. Other advantages to pointing sticks include their inherent compactness, their resistance to dirt, and sweat, and their operability when wearing gloves. Their main drawback is that they can get in the way of typing depending on the user's typing style. The most famous pointing stick is the IBM/Lenovo TrackPoint series.
🔗Polybutylene terephthalate
PBT is a plastic commonly used as a keycap material, amongst other things. Along with ABS, PBT is one of two main keycap materials and is known for being the higher quality material out of the two. PBT is more rigid and stays textured for longer than ABS, but is also more expensive and harder to mould. PBT also does not yellow when exposed to UV for a sustained period of time. PBT is famous for being the material IBM Model F and Model M buckling springs keycaps are made from.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a plastic that was used as a possible case material. PC is often mixed with ABS to make PC+ABS.
Polyvinyl chloride
PVC is a plastic that was used as a possible case material. It was extensively used with various Model M variants until the 2000s. Recently, the EU has moved towards restrictions on PVC due the effects of polluting it.
Pre-Modular POS
The "pre-Modular POS" is a term used on Admiral Shark's Keyboards to refer to Model M-based IBM buckling sleeve point-of-sale keyboard designs introduced after the Retail POS series and before the Modular POS series Model M keyboards. This typically refers to the IBM PS/2 ANPOS Keyboard with Integrated Pointing Device, IBM CANPOS Keyboard, IBM CANPOS Keyboard with Card Reader, and IBM 4613 SurePOS 100 Keyboard Assembly. IBM and Toshiba do not categorise such keyboards themselves, hence this term was introduced to refer to them.
Precision Keyboard
Also known as: 6-row ThinkPad keyboard
"Precision Keyboard" was Lenovo's marketing name for an island-style ThinkPad keyboard design introduced in the early 2010s as a more compact replacement for the classic ThinkPad style keyboard. They are based on the Lenovo AccuType Keyboard. Like AccuType, Precision Keyboards typically have 80 to 90 keys but can be larger with a numeric keypad, and most 1-unit or larger keycaps have a curved bottom edge. In recent years, the curve has been removed for keys that are not alphabetic or numeric. Being intended for ThinkPads, Precision Keyboards typically also have a TrackPoint pointing stick embedded in them.
🔗Quiet Touch
Also known as: Enhanced Quiet Touch, Easy Touch
"Quiet Touch" is an IBM, Lexmark and Unicomp umbrella term for a non-clicky keyswitch of some kind. It's largely associated with keyboards that use rubber dome over membrane keyswitch designs such as the IBM Basic Keyboard, but it's also been used to refer to other IBM Model M variants with IBM buckling sleeves and IBM Model 1B (Micro Switch ST-series based) keyboards as well. It was used to contrast them with the companies' typical clicky keyboards, for which Lexmark in particular referred to as "Classic Touch" as a counterpart. Sometimes the term also appeared in a keyboard's marketing name, for which IBM has released several different "Quiet Touch Keyboards".
🔗RANPOS
Also known as: Retail ANPOS
Stands for Retail Alphanumeric Point of Sale, which specifically refers to the IBM Model M9 Retail ANPOS Keyboard.
RPOS
Also known as: Retail POS
Stands for Retail Point of Sale, which was a series of Model M keyboards introduced in 1993 for the IBM 4690 family of POS terminals. RPOS keyboards were designated Model M7 through M11 and were produced for IBM and later TGCS until approximately 2015.
RPQ
Stands for "Request Price Quotation". For IBM, if a product (such as a keyboard) was said to be an "RPQ" model, it means it's likely had some customisations applied from the factory but wasn't considered an entirely new product. Thus, RPQ products didn't receive a new name or designation nor were they normally marketed with these modifications.
Raven black
"Raven black" is IBM's, Unicomp's and TGCS' marketing name for a black colour used on many of their keyboards. It's usually a "true black" colour and contrasts other possible black IBM keyboards that may have a slight blue tint to them.
🔗Rear label
Also known as: birth certificate
A keyboard's rear label is a sticker typically placed on the bottom of a keyboard that details some basic facts about the keyboard. Typical fields on such a label can include the keyboard's part and/or model number, FRU number, date of manufacture, country of manufacture, OEM and/or factory, copyright date and any applicable regulatory information. The typical inclusion of a manufacture date has led to these stickers colloquially being referred to as the keyboard's "birth certificate". Additionally, keyboards may have multiple such rear labels - typical for IBM and Lexmark era Model F and Model M keyboards is having an "outer rear label" on the bottom of the cover set and an "inner rear label" on the bottom of the contained complete sub-assembly.
🔗Riser feet
Also known as: simply "risers"
A riser was IBM's term for a specific kind of flip-out foot that was particularly long and thin and typically deployed by turning something or pushing a button on either side of the keyboard. Such feet were common on various Model F keyboards and early (Type 1) 122-key Model M Converged Keyboards. For terminal keyboards, it was also common for the feet two have 2 or 3 settings (levels of typing angle adjustment).
🔗SA
"SA" is a spherical-based tall and sculpted keycap profile. It's similar to old IBM and Micro Switch keycap sculpts, but it is a distinct contemporary (to them) design that has since become popular in today's hobby for custom keycap sets.
🔗SIO
Stands for "serial input/output", a term commonly used by IBM in a retail context meaning asynchronous serial devices such as displays and keyboards.
Scancode
Also known as: scan code, usage code
A scancode is a code that reports a pressed key. They are national/regional language agnostic and simply represent the position of the pressed key (whether it is a literal key-matrix position or an abstract but unique position) and have no specific function tied to them. It's up to the host computer's firmware, operating system and the user's input/language settings to determine what they represent. For IBM's three major scancode sets and the various terminal-specific scancode sets before them, scancodes were typically represented as hexadecimal codes either singularly or a pair of codes to represent the distinct make (key-down) and break (key-up) events. The equivalent to scancodes for USB HID are usage codes.
Scissor-switch
Also known as: scissor switch, scissor-stabilised rubber dome, pantograph switch
A scissor-switch is a rubber dome keyswitch design where their keycaps and keyboard frame are connected via two cross-arms designed to stabilise the key to ensure a more uniform travel regardless of where you press the key and reduce wobbling. It's typically used for low-profile applications such as laptop keyboards, where their typically small rubber domes would have trouble stabilising a key on their own, but various desktop keyboards such as the Apple Magic Keyboard family also use them.
🔗Setup switches
Also known as: setup DIP switches, setup switch bank
Setup switches are usually a possible bank of DIP switches on the underside of or inside a top-facing compartment on a terminal or console keyboard that gives the operator some easy access to hard-code some settings relating to the keyboard and/or other peripherals. They are often associated with keyboard ID purposes, but depending on the exact terminal or console, they can also or either be used for setting the terminal's audible alarm volume, specifying a possible printer, and how many lines per inch said printer should print. Setup switches may also be used in tandem with or as a replacement for a simple internal jumper header on the keyboard's controller card intended for the same or similar purpose. Keyboards with setup switches may also have a sticker near them where one could indicate what the typical configuration should be by marking the relevant on (I)/off (O) boxes under the switch position number.
🔗Shielded data link
A type of electric connector designed by AMP resembling a flattened modular 8P8C (ethernet/RJ-45) connector. In keyboard circles, SDL connectors are known for being the modular connection type IBM used for many Model M keyboard variants in 6-pin (buckling spring) and 8-pin (POS) forms.
🔗Silver square
Refers to a style of IBM logo found on their business and personal computers and keyboards, especially from the early to mid-1980s. Typically, these came in the form of a solid silver square with a black IBM logo aligned at the top and optionally followed with additional text stating the computer or keyboard's host name or model number.
🔗Small form-factor
"SFF" describes keyboards that are at least smaller than a full-size keyboard such as the 60% and tenkeyless form-factors.
Soft Touch
"Soft Touch" was an IBM marketing term for a keyboard that sported buckling spring (clicky) keyswitches that were greased from the factory to make them quieter than normal. The grease mitigated the spring's ping. This is in contrast to Quiet Touch keyboards, which use different keyswitch actuator designs to reduce noise. The only known Soft Touch keyboard is the Lexmark-made IBM Soft Touch Keyboard (P/N 8184692).
🔗Spherical (keycap shape)
A keycap is "spherical" if its top has a sphere-shaped indent. IBM used spherical keycaps on its IBM Model D, Selectric I and Selectric II electric typewriters, IBM 029 and 129 family Card Punch Keyboards, IBM Elastic Diaphragm family keyboards, and IBM Model B family keyboards. In the wider, modern keyboard hobby, SA and DSA are examples of spherical-based keycap profiles. It's often used to contrast against cylindrical and simply flat keycaps.
🔗Stabiliser insert
Also known as: barrel insert, rod insert
A stabiliser insert is a component designed to support a part of a multi-unit keycap stabiliser, though there are different forms of such. For IBM and family, something referred to as a "stabiliser insert" is used by most buckling spring and Quiet Touch rubber dome Model M family keyboards as something that sits in a keyboard frame barrel to receive a protrusion of a 2-unit or larger (but not spacebar) keycap to ensure its stable and descends smoothly when pressed. These protrusions are sometimes referred to as a "rod", so this form of stabilisation is also sometimes referred to as "rod stabilisation". The inserts for horizontal and vertical multi-unit keycaps are slightly different as the horizontals' hole (pictured) are centred whereas the verticals' holes are aligned towards the top or bottom. For Cherry MX-style stabilisers such as Costars, a small plastic part used to attach a metal stabiliser wire to the keycap can also be referred to as a "stabiliser insert".
🔗Stepped keycap
Also known as: hatted keycap (for double-stepped only)
A keycap is stepped if it has a noticeably lowered space on one or both sides of its top face. Steps can be present on keycaps larger than a single unit and used to either make a keycap feel more distinct if you're trying to find it quickly/without looking or to reduce the need for a stabiliser by forcing the user to press the keycap a certain way. Since the Enhanced Keyboard's introduction, it's been typical for IBM and family keyboards to at least have single-stepped Caps Lock and (if applicable) stepped ISO enter keys to help define them. However, keyboards like the IBM Personal Computer's used two steps for all non-spacebar keycaps larger than 1 unit so the user must press them at their centre.
🔗Storm grey
"Storm grey" is IBM's and TGCS' marketing name for a light grey colour typically found on the bottom of their POS keyboards. Typically, a storm grey bottom cover piece would be paired with a pearl white top cover piece to produce the styling format "pearl white/storm grey".
🔗Strain gauge
Also known as: strain gage
A strain gauge is a type of device used in force measurement whose electrical resistance changes when force (ie, strain) is applied to it and deforms a foil inside itself. These changes in resistance can be measured and translated into a force measurement. Standard IBM and Lenovo TrackPoint pointing sticks use several strain gauges mounted on the base of a tall, square stick to register the user's intent for cursor movement.
Styrene-acrylonitrile
SAN is a plastic that was used as a possible keycap material for IBM Model B keyboards.
Tenkeyless
Describes a small form-factor keyboard that is similar to a full-sized (101 to 105 key) keyboard but omits a dedicated numeric keypad. This is usually done for reducing the overall footprint of the keyboard without sacrificing function or navigation keys, although it has become popular in gaming circles since it allows the user to bring the keyboard and mouse closer together. In specific, "tenkey" refers to the number 0 to 9 keys. The Model M-based 1987 IBM Space Saving Keyboards (SSK) is perhaps the most well known and first popular example of a tenkeyless keyboard.
🔗Terminal keyboard
Also known as: mainframe keyboard, midrange keyboard
Terminal keyboards are those specifically designed for a computer terminal, a device that is used for entering data into and operating a larger host computer system such as a mainframe. Beyond the core alphabetic keys, terminal keyboards can differ significantly from PC-style keyboards and between each other as there were many types of host computers and many used specific families of terminals (such as IBM 3270 and 5250) that could differ in functionality. Data entry, data typewriter and console keyboards are examples of specific kinds of terminal keyboards. Terminal keyboards typically cannot be easily used with a modern PC.
TouchStyk
The TouchStyk is a force-sensing capacitor pointing stick introduced by Synaptics as a competing product to IBM's TrackPoint. It was invented by 2001. It's famously used for HP laptops with pointing sticks and even by IBM and Lenovo for their SK-8835/SK-884x family of keyboards. It's also possible some modern Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard assemblies also employ TouchStyks instead of TrackPoint as implied by Synaptics' advertising.
🔗TrackPoint
The TrackPoint is a family of strain gauge pointing sticks introduced by IBM in 1992 with the IBM ThinkPad 700 series. TrackPoint II was the first implementation in the traditional stick format, with the original TrackPoint being an unrelated convertible trackball/ball mouse for the IBM PS/2 L40SX laptop from 1991. TrackPoint is considered a staple feature of ThinkPad laptops and keyboard products. TrackPoint II was followed by III in 1994 which added a negative inertia firmware feature to improve cursor reaction speed, and IV in 1997 which allowed for a possible third mouse button and press-to-select feature. Lenovo has continued using TrackPoint IV since purchasing IBM Personal Computing Division in 2005 and has introduced increasingly lower-profile versions of it. TrackPoints iconically uses a red protective/grip cover as its cap.
🔗Triomate
Also known as: TRIO-MATE
Triomate is a family of 2.54mm (0.1") pitch flexible flat cable sockets currently made by TE Connectivity. They have been used as membrane flex cable sockets for many Model M family keyboard variants. They could also be used for cables running between a controller card and a lock-light LED daughterboard.
🔗Tsangan bottom row
Also known as: Unicomp 103
A keyboard with a "Tsangan" bottom row has 1.5-unit sized Ctrl and Alt keys separated by 1-unit GUI keys and a 7-unit spacebar. It's based on the Enhanced layout bottom row but with the spaces filled in. Unicomp refers to this bottom row as "103" style (which refers to a 101-key US English ANSI layout keyboard with the two extra GUI keys). It's not to be confused with the Tsangan layout in general, which has this bottom row but also has other traits that diverge from Enhanced's ANSI and ISO layouts. They're named after a geekhack community member who liked this style of bottom row and had several modifier keycap adapter kits named after them.
🔗Two-key rollover
Describes a keyboard design that only guarantees a minimum of two simultaneous pressed keys together without dropped keystrokes. In practice, many keyboards that are limited to two-key rollover will, in fact, handle more key combinations in use, but there will be some instances of this limit on the keyboard.
Typematic
Also known as: typamatic
If a keyboard is said to be typematic, it's capable of repeating a key at the keyboard's controller level for the duration a user holds down a given key. Effectively all modern PC keyboards are typematic, thus this capability is no longer apart of keyboard/computer advertising. But for older keyboards such as those for terminals, not all were typematic and the ones that were may have a selective layout where only specific keys were typematic.
UltraNav
UltraNav is an IBM and Lenovo marketing term for the pairing of a pointing stick and a programmable/configurable trackpad on a ThinkPad laptop or ThinkPad/ThinkPad-style discrete keyboard. Typically, an UltraNav will consist of a TrackPoint and a trackpad produced by Alps, ELAN or Synaptics, but for some keyboards such as the IBM/Lenovo SK-8835/SK-884x family, a TouchStyk is used in place of a TrackPoint. Typically, IBM and Lenovo laptops with an UltraNav get two sets of mouse buttons (one below the spacebar for the pointing stick and one below or integrated into the bottom corners of the trackpad).
🔗Unsaver
"Unsaver" describes a tenkeyless keyboard similar to "battleship" and "battlecruiser" that omits an integrated numeric keypad but retains a 10-key block and two rows of program-function keys to the left and on top of the alphanumeric keys respectively. The term is almost exclusively used to describe the Model F based 104-key keyboard for IBM 3290 and 5080, the original IBM Converged Keyboard design.
🔗Winkeyless
A winkeyless keyboard is any keyboard that lacks Windows (aka, GUI or Super) and context menu keys. However, a winkeyless keyboard typically takes the form of a keyboard's bottom row with unused 1-unit spaces between the Ctrl and Alt keys. The term has only existed since after the Windows key's widespread adoption following Windows 95, but many older keyboards have been retroactively referred to as "winkeyless keyboards". The 101-key and 102-key Enhanced layouts are perhaps the most famous example of a standard winkeyless design despite predating Windows keys.
🔗Workstation Element
A Workstation Element (WSE) is simply a large general component of an IBM workstation, professional-grade personal computer, or terminal. These can be basic components one might associate as being a part of a typical computer such as monitors, tower or desktop PC units, keyboards and mice, and non-consumer computer/terminal components such as logic bases and light pens. For example, an IBM Display Station may have a "video WSE" (ie, a monitor), a "logic WSE", and a "keyboard WSE". Some IBM keyboards such as 31XX-75 and 31XX-87 type Model F keyboards can have stickers referring to themselves as a "KEYBOARD WSE".
🔗XT
Also known as: PC/XT
"XT" can refer to multiple things associated with the IBM 5150 Personal Computer, the namesake 5160 Personal Computer XT, their derivatives and third-party clones.
- "Model F/XT": the modern nickname for the IBM Personal Computer Keyboard.
- XT connectivity/protocol: the combination of a 5-pin DIN plug, 9-bit "Mode 1" serial data packet, and IBM scancode set 1.
- XT layout: the IBM Personal Computer Keyboard's layout.
XT layout
The XT layout refers to the key arrangement of Model F-based IBM 5150/5160 Personal Computer Keyboard from 1981 that was once a de facto standard for PC keyboards in the early 1980s. The XT layout was derived from the IBM 5250 typewriter layout originally used on the IBM 525X-83 type Model B. Early PC clones such as 1983's Compaq Portable adopted the layout, propelling it as a standard for a short period of time. XT is specifically known for its high number of stepped keycaps, vertical but thin enter key, and no separation between the alphanumeric and numeric keypad sections. The "XT" name is derived from the IBM 5160 Personal Computer XT to retrospectively distinguish it from the AT layout.
🔗- Keyboard lexicon - GOLEM keyboard project
- Just how Many Things Does the Term “Keyboard Layout” Refer to? - Miguel Farah
- Lenovo - Parts - Yoga Book 9 13IRU8 - Type 82YQ [accessed 2023-11-07]. License/note: photos used under fair dealing.
- themk - donated photo. License/note: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- webwit - Index of /input/ibm_misc [accessed 2023-01-06]. License/note: public domain.
- email donations - donated photo.
- Keycaps.info - Comparison of Mechanical Keyboard Keycap Profiles [accessed 2024-10-29]. License/note: website screenshots, used under fair dealing.
- D. Fischer - File:IBM-3279.jpg [accessed 2022-12-14]. License/note: CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com - 500+ photos of my IBM Keyboards [accessed 2022-05-02]. License/note: permission requested and explicitly given via direct correspondence.
- Lenovo - Parts - X12 Detachable Gen 1 (Type 20UW, 20UV) Laptop (ThinkPad) - Type 20UW [accessed 2024-01-25]. License/note: photos used under fair dealing.
- WorthPoint - IBM 122 Key Host Connect Keyboard [accessed 2024-01-23]. License/note: photos saved from WorthPoint, used under fair dealing.
- doomsday_device - donated photos.
- tamsin - donated photos.
- Brandon @ clickykeyboards.com - photo used with attribution [accessed 2024-04-21]. License/note: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Help:Contents#Copyright.
- eBay - photos saved from past listings & used under fair dealing.
- photekq - permission to use photos requested and given via Discord.
- snuci - File:IBM PC Model F Type 1 - capacitive PCB.JPG [accessed 2022-11-05]. License/note: public domain.
- ASK Keyboard Archive - P/N 1390123 (1988, IBM-US) [accessed 2024-07-16]. License/note: saved from volatile eBay listing, used under fair dealing.
- IBM - ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com [accessed 2022-06-29]. License/note: archived from IBM public FTP & used under fair dealing.
- BORYS - permission to use photos requested and given via Discord.
