Keyboard

A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to produce some symbols requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence. While most keyboard keys produce letters, numbers or signs (characters), other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or computer commands.

The standard computer keyboard is used to enter text into a computer system. The electronic components within the keyboard continually scan the rows of keys to detect the pressing of a key or a combination of keys. When the key(s) are depressed an electronic signal is sent to the Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The most popular type of keyboard is the "QWERTY" keyboard, it is so named as the left six letters spell out this word, however throughout Europe and the rest on non-English speaking civilisation there are many different adaptations of the keyboard to suit the user's country/ language.

A General QWERTY Keyboard

An example of a European keyboard, this is the general layout from a French keyboard