NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Caps Lock

The caps lock is a key on a computer keyboard. Pressing it will set a keyboard mode in which typed letters are capitalized by default; the keyboard remains in this mode until caps lock is pressed again. ImageMetadata File history File links Keyboard-left_keys. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Keyboard-left_keys. ... A computer keyboard is a peripheral modeled after the typewriter keyboard. ... Capital letters or majuscules (in the Roman alphabet: A, B, C, ...) are one type of case in a writing system. ...

Shift lock

In QWERTY keyboards, though the caps lock mode capitalizes letters, it does not affect other keys, such as numbers or punctuation, in the way that the shift key does. A version of caps lock that affects all keys as shift does exists on certain layouts such as the French AZERTY and those of some older computers, including the Commodore 64; this function is called shift lock. The origin of the function is found on mechanical typewriters, where the shift key causes the type apparatus to physically shift to produce capitals and secondary characters. To lock this mechanism in place, a special non-character key could be depressed along with shift. The mechanism would not unlock until after pressing a shift key or shift lock again. Some operating systems and window managers allow caps lock to be used for a similar function. The QWERTY Layout QWERTY, (pronounced ) is the most common modern-day keyboard layout on English language computer and typewriter keyboards. ... The shift key on a modern Windows keyboard The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate upper characters. ... Computers and other typing devices offer many different keyboard layouts, for people to be able to input data in different languages. ... For the hip hop group, see Commodore 64 (band). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... On Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and ME you can enter the Windows device manager by clicking Start, Settings, Control Panel, System icon, and clicking on the Device Manager tab. ...

Cultural significance

The original utility of the key allowed the typing of all caps where appropriate, such as titles at the top of a page, without requiring the typist to manually keep the shift key depressed as long as needed. However, with the advent of modern styling such as small caps and section headers entered only once, this function has depreciated in usefulness. In typography, small caps (short for small capitals) are uppercase (capital) characters that are printed in a smaller size than normal uppercase characters of the same font. ...

On Internet chat systems and Usenet, typing in all capitals is considered rude, the large letters akin to shouting or yelling within the social context. On a more practical level, caps lock may be difficult to read. ^[1] A user who excessively uses capital letters may be advised to "lay off the caps lock." Usenet is a distributed Internet discussion system that evolved from a general purpose UUCP network of the same name. ... Netiquette (neologism, a portmanteau formed from Internet etiquette) is a catch-all term for the conventions of politeness recognized on Usenet, in mailing lists, and on other electronic forums such as internet message boards. ...

Use of the caps lock is also associated with newbies who do not consider the appearance of their writing. On the PC keyboard used with most operating systems (Mac OS X excluded), holding the shift key with caps lock on will produce a lowercase letter, yielding a text style considered typical: Noob redirects here. ... One of the first PCs from IBM - the IBM PC model 5150. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mac OS X (officially pronounced Mac Oh-Ess Ten) is a line of open source graphical operating systems, with proprietary higher level API layers, developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Computer, the latest of which is pre-loaded on all currently shipping Macintosh computers. ...

Case sensitivity, a common security feature, can also conflict with caps lock. Many services and pages that utilize this feature warn the user up front to check the status of the caps lock function before entering a username and/or password. FAQ pages and other help guides also include this advice to reduce the incidence of complaints to support technicians for such a minor and easily-prevented issue. Text sometimes exhibits case sensitivity, that is, words can differ in meaning based on the differing use of uppercase and lowercase letters. ...

In 2002, users on a now-defunct IRC network for community weblog Metafilter pronounced October 22 the official "Caps Lock Day", observed by leaving the caps lock mode on all day.^[2] For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a form of instant communication over the Internet. ... A weblog (now more commonly known as a blog) is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles (normally, but not always, in reverse chronological order). ... Metafilters main page MetaFilter, known as MeFi to its members, is a community weblog whose purpose is to share links and discuss interesting websites. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ...

In 2006, Pieter Hintjens began a campaign to remove the caps lock key from the standard keyboard layout. While some manufacturers produce keyboards without caps lock, the vast majority have retained the key.^[3] 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pieter Hintjens Is the president of the FFII(Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure) an association that is well known for fighting against software patents He is also the CEO of iMatrix He has also written Free software,an example is his first program relased under GPL called libero Sources...

Other caps lock facts and functions

Despite its non-essentiality, the key is included (and located in the same position) on the Dvorak keyboard, a layout designed to provide a simplified alternative to typical keyboards. The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard is a keyboard layout designed by Drs. ...

The Colemak layout omits caps lock, reassigning the key to a backspace function. Colemak is an alternative keyboard layout designed for English. ... Backspace is the keyboard key that originally pushed the typewriter head one position backwards, and in modern computer displays moves the cursor one position backwards and deletes the preceding character. ...

Where a keyboard replaces a game pad for frequent use such as fire, there is the risk of damaging the key if used too often. This symptom most notably risks damaging the spacebar, which would render the keyboard practically useless. Because caps lock is non-essential, and because of its size and location, the key is recommended for use in computer games when possible. ^{[citation needed]} Categories: Stub | Computer keys ...

External links

References

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Computer keys 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A computer keyboard is a peripheral modeled after the typewriter keyboard. ... In computing, a modifier key is a special key on a computer keyboard that modifies the normal action of another key when the two are pressed in combination. ... A Control key (marked Ctrl) on a modern Windows keyboard In computing, a Control key is a key, which when pressed in conjunction with another key, will perform a special operation. ... The shift key on a modern Windows keyboard The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate upper characters. ... The Alt key on a modern Windows keyboard The Alt key on an IBM PC keyboard is either of two keys located next to the Space bar, used to change the function of other pressed keys. ... The Option key, also known as Alt key is a modifier key present on Apple Macintosh keyboards. ... The first Macintosh computer, introduced in 1984, upgraded to a 512K Fat Mac The Macintosh, or Mac, is a line of personal computers designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed by Apple Computer. ... AltGr is a modifier key on PC keyboards used to type many characters, primarily ones that are unusual for the locale of the keyboard layout, such as foreign currency symbols and accented letters. ... The command key The Command key, known as Apple key in documentation previous to the Apple Macintosh family of computers, is a modifier key present on Apple Macintosh keyboards. ... The Meta key was a special key on old MIT computer keyboards. ... The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is a private research university located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Its mission and culture are guided by an emphasis on teaching and research grounded in practical applications of science and technology. ... A Windows key on a black laptop keyboard The Windows key or Windows logo key (in short WinKey, or rarely Flag key) is a keyboard key expressly introduced for Windows 95 and later operating systems. ... Fn key can also refer to the function keys on a computer keyboard. ... Computers and other typing devices offer many different keyboard layouts, for people to be able to input data in different languages. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Combining character. ... On some computer systems, a compose key is a key which is designated to signal the software to interpret the next keystrokes as a combination in order to produce a character not found on the keyboard. ... Lock is a function that locks part of the keyboard keys depending on the lock settings selected. ... Scroll Lock is a key (with an associated status light) on most modern desktop computer keyboards. ... Num Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most keyboards, used to switch that pad between number entry and arrow keys. ... Motion involves change in position, such as this perspective of rapidly leaving Yongsan Station In physics, motion means a change in the position of a body relative to a reference point, as measured by a particular observer in a particular frame of reference. ... Arrow keys Arrow keys are buttons on a computer keyboard that move the cursor in a specified direction. ... The page scroll keys among other keys The page scroll keys are two keys commonly found on computer keyboards, the page up key and the page down key. ... The home key among other keys The home key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. ... The end key among other keys The end key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. ... Editing is the process of preparing language, images, or sound for presentation through correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications. ... Originally, carriage return was the term for the key, lever, or mechanism on a typewriter that would cause the cylinder on which the paper was held (the carriage) to return to the left side of the paper after a line of text had been typed, and would often move it... Backspace is the keyboard key that originally pushed the typewriter head one position backwards, and in modern computer displays moves the cursor one position backwards and deletes the preceding character. ... The Insert key (often abbreviated to INS) commonly found on keyboards is mostly used to switch between the two main modes of entering text on a computer. ... The user pressing the delete key on a Macintosh On computer keyboards, the delete key (sometimes shortened Del), should, during normal text editing, discard the character at the cursors position, moving all following characters one position back towards the freed place. ... This article is about the use of the term Tab in computing. ... For Wikipedias categorization projects, see Wikipedia:Categorization. ... SysRq or SysReq (short for System Request) is a key on keyboards for PCs that has no standard use. ... The Print Screen on a computer keyboard is used to copy the content of the screen to memory. ... The break key is a special key on computer keyboards that no longer has a well-defined purpose. ... A computer keyboard. ... In computing, the Menu key is a key found on Windows-oriented computer keyboards. ... A computer keyboard Space bar is a key on an alphanumeric keyboard in the form of a horizontal bar in the lowermost row, significantly wider than other keys. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A 102-key PC US English keyboard layout with the function keys in orange. ... The power management keys are three keys on a computer keyboard which control the computers power management status. ...

Contents

Cultural significance

Other caps lock facts and functions

External links

References