Education
Keyboar S
ince the 1990’s students have been taught how to use a computer in IT lessons at school. Although we live in a time where technology
permeates every aspect of our lives and so it is unlikely a child hasn’t encountered a computer before, these lessons still serve a valuable purpose. Getting a child used to using a keyboard and mouse is one of the most important skills they need to navigate the modern world. It’s not just used on desktop computers - laptops, tablets, and smart phones all use the typical “QWERTY” keyboard layout too. While they can seem old fashioned, keyboards and mice are the interface to modern technology – and aren’t going anywhere. What we would recognise as a QWERTY keyboard originates
from typewriters and punch card machines from the end of the 19th century, about 50 years aſter pioneers Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage designed the first computing program to perform a sequence of calculations. A keyboard is, at its core, just a way to interact with and send commands to your machine. Over 120 years later, the design, function, and layout of the keys is essentially the same. Modern keyboards are a lot less barebones and are designed with the end users comfort in mind – for example, aſter being pressed, keys are designed to lose pressure as they return to the original position – preventing nerve damage to the end of your fingers and decreasing the chances of developing RSI. As keyboards have evolved, they have branched out into more specialist areas –
22 | May/June 2024
yboard
technologies in education
in education
David Louch, solutions manager at Ceratech, takes a look at just how far keyboards have come, and gives us a glimpse into the future.
sterile keyboards for hospitals, rugged keyboards for factories, and keyboards designed for education. IT suites in schools are constantly evolving and
changing to meet the demands of modern life. Twenty years ago an IT suite was simply rows of desktop computers, whereas now they include other technology such as laptops, macs, and tablets. Keyboards have evolved in the same way – although it may not be as obvious. While the fundamental design and layout of a keyboard hasn’t changed, the technical elements have - such as wireless devices having inbuilt Bluetooth that can hot swap between connected devices. Having a keyboard with the ability to connect to macs and tablets is a useful tool
for a student, as they can get used to navigating new technologies by using an interface they are comfortable with. Having one device that can connect to all the IT suite peripherals is a practical solution for schools too, who are oſten constrained by their budget. Designing keyboards and mice specifically for children is a
relatively new, but increasingly prominent concept. A typical keyboard can be a difficult thing for a child – the precision required to press the keys, the seemingly illogical layout of letters, and the assortment of additional commands like “Ctrl” and “Alt” seem so simple to adults we oſten don’t need to think about it, but for a child can be incredibly confusing. As a keyboard and mouse manufacturer, the solution is to create child-friendly versions of computer peripherals. Tese can take the form of smaller,
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