Decoding a computer keyboard. Laptop - how to use the keyboard

Hello to all blog readers. Tell your friends, have you ever wondered what great functionality the keyboard has in itself? Most people do not even suspect that with its help you can perform actions that can facilitate and. Isn't it sad that application developers sit and write commands for hours every day that assign useful functions to key combinations, and only a few use these combinations.

So, it seems to me that the time has come to correct this oversight, so that it would be easier to work, and the work of the developers was not in vain. In this article I will try to analyze in detail how to use the keyboard on a laptop. Agree, not everyone knows what it is for, for example, the "pg dn" button. But there are still a lot of such buttons, and they all carry some useful function. These are the functions they conceal, we will understand together today. For clarity, I have placed below two photos with keyboards: with and without a number pad. They are most commonly found in laptop designs.

Numeric keypad

Keypad without number pad

Entering text information

Entering numerical information

Any keyboard contains numbers in the top row, but it is not always convenient to type numbers from it. It is more usual to work with the arrangement of the buttons as on a calculator, therefore the keyboards have an additional numeric block.

The first step is to learn how to turn on the digital panel, although it should be said right away that it is not found in all laptop models, but now it is already a rarity and, as a rule, is installed in almost every laptop computer.

To better understand how to include numbers, we will use two keyboards from different laptops (for clarity), one with the built-in Numpad, and the other without it.

1. A laptop with a digital block (see the picture at the beginning of the article). In order for it to be activated, click on "Numlock".
2. A laptop without a digital block (picture below).

If you do not have it, then you can use an additional one, although this was provided for by laptop manufacturers. When you turn on " Numlk»On a laptop keyboard without a separate numeric block, certain symbolic keys begin to play its role. In the next photo you can see it.

The red circles show what will be printed on the screen when “ Numlk».

On keypads, the mode of switching on the digital block is usually signaled by an LED indicator. Try pressing the button " Numlk" or " Num lock»Observe which indicator signals this mode on your keyboard.

Function Keys

This section will be completely devoted to an overview of the main functional buttons that are used in the computer, as well as talk in detail about the purpose of these keys.

"Scroll lock"

This button is almost never used today, at least for me. When turned off, it does not perform any functions, except for changing the position of the cursor, and when turned on, it makes the mouse cursor move the screen itself, for example, moves the page in the browser without any clicks.

"Break"

When translated from English, it can be understood that the main function of this button is to stop or cancel an action.

"Insert"

It is also at the stage of extinction, since the combination "Ctrl + C" and "Ctrl + V" has been used instead of it for a long time. Perhaps you have already guessed about its function, and if, then its function was to copy and paste files, folders. It is most often used in conjunction with Ctrl and Shift. If used together with the first key, the "copy" command will be issued, and if used together with the second, the "paste" command will be initialized.

"Fn"

Now let's talk about the button, which today is a universal solution for all laptops. Its essence lies in the fact that, when combined with different keys, it is able to turn on and off different hardware parts of the laptop and change their states. Its functionality is best seen when combining with f1… f12. Take a closer look at the icons next to the names of these keys, they are highlighted in the same color as the "Fn" button. With the help of them you can understand what will happen when used together with "Fn".

Below is a series of function buttons with icons, they may differ on your laptops. Let's figure out their purpose.

Pressing together with the " Fn":

• F1 - enable or disable computer sleep mode
• F2 - enable or disable the WiFi module on the laptop
• F5 -Decrease the brightness of the monitor screen
• F6 -increase the brightness of the monitor screen
• F7 - monitor off
• F8-switching display modes between the laptop monitor and an external device - a second monitor or projector
• F9 - disable the touchpad when using a computer mouse
• F10 - mute
• F11 -decrease sound volume
• F12 -increase sound volume

"Page up" and "Page down"

Translated from English, "page" is a page, and "up, down" is up, down. These buttons are used to scroll the visible part of the screen exactly to the height of the viewed application window in the operating system. But today, the mouse wheel is more commonly used for this purpose.

"Win"

This button on the keyboard is presented in the form of a logo, a flag in a circle. Also referred to as "win". Used to activate the "start" menu, which in turn serves as one of the ways to launch various kinds of programs. Also, in some applications, it is used in combination with others in order to activate or launch some additional option, function.

For example, Win + L - blocks the computer. To continue working, you must enter the user password.

"Del"

I think it's not worth talking a lot about the "del" button, that is, "delete", as it is immediately clear that it is used to delete various files and folders.

Some keys have been overlooked, such as Ctrl, Alt and Tab, due to the fact that they are normal shortcut keys and do not perform any important functions by themselves. Although "Tab" performs different functions: switching between items in system windows, tabulation in a word processor. But for all the time that I use a computer, I rarely used it, only "Alt" + "Tab" - switching between windows.

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PS: Interesting facts about the keyboard

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The next key - "modifier" - is the Ctrl key.

It is used to expand the capabilities of the keyboard. It is often used in combination with other keys to activate an action in the program. That is, the Ctrl key, used in combination, allows us to access some of the most frequently used commands of a program or operating system.

The next key - "modifier" - isAlt... It, like Ctrl, is used in combination with other keys.

Next comes Caps Lock... Pressing it turns on or off the mode for entering uppercase, uppercase letters. If you want to enter a word with a capital letter, then you just need to press the Shift key and, while holding it, enter the first letter of the word in order for it to be capitalized. Then you can release Shift and continue typing. By doing this, you will enter ordinary characters, that is, ordinary lowercase letters.

If you want to enter all the text completely in capital letters, then it is easier for you to press the Caps Lock key, and after pressing it, you already have all the letters that you will enter into your text document in capital letters. Accordingly, pressing this key again turns off this mode and you will again return to entering in lowercase letters.

KeyTab allows tabulation. Tabs are the process of horizontally aligning characters. A tab character is usually eight regular characters. That is, it is equal to eight presses of the "Space" key. Tabs are used when creating text documents. Also, sometimes the tab key is used in some programs to switch between some work areas of the program, or to go to some next command.

Next - keyEnter. It allows us to complete the text input, create a new paragraph in the text, or execute some command. That is, if we have selected some command and want to execute it, then the Enter key is usually pressed. Or if, when editing text, we want to move the text cursor to a new line or create a new paragraph, this key is also pressed. We will talk about all this in the future.

The next key is Backspace... It allows us to delete the character to the left of the text cursor. What's happened text cursor By the way, if we have already started talking about it, then it probably makes sense to tell about it right away. A text cursor is called such a flashing vertical, sometimes there is a horizontal line, which shows us where on the screen a new character will appear if we press any "symbolic" key on the keyboard. You've probably seen it if you ran any text-entry program. So, the Backspace key allows you to delete the character that is to the left of the text cursor.

There are also two more keys in this area. The first is keyWindows... It is usually located between the Ctrl and Alt keys, on both sides of the spacebar, and appears when pressed. That is, you can invoke the Start menu by simply pressing this key. And one more key that allows you to call the context menu of the object on which the mouse pointer is currently located. This key duplicates the right mouse button.

Next, let's take a look at the area that contains the four arrow keys. These keys are called Cursor keys... They are responsible for moving the text cursor in the appropriate direction. These keys are also used in many games during object control. And these keys are also used in many programs, for example, when navigating a document page or viewing photos to move to the next image. Usually these keys perform the functions that are depicted on them - scrolling up, down, right, left.

Additional keys are usually located slightly above the cursor keys. They also have to do with cursor control. These keys are commonly used in text documents when entering text. KeyInsert allows us to enable or disable the so-called insert mode. KeyDelete allows you to delete the character at the cursor position. Backspace deletes the character that is to the left of the text cursor, and Delete, respectively, to the right. KeysHomeandEnd allow you to move the cursor either to the beginning of the line or to the end of the line. A keysPage UpandPage Down allow you to move the cursor one screen up, or one screen down.

There is another area on the right side of the keyboard. This is the so-called additional keyboard.

It contains number keys and keys for mathematical operations, but there is also an additional Enter key. Additional keyboard is activated by pressing keysNum Lock... If it is disabled, then it can be used to control the cursor, that is, its numeric keys will duplicate the cursor keys. There are arrows on keys 4, 8, 6 and 2, and, accordingly, these keys will begin to duplicate the corresponding cursor keys. Well, on the other keys -7, 9, 1, 3 and 0 - the names are also signed and these keys will duplicate respectively Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert and Delete. If we turn on the Num Lock mode, then, accordingly, this keyboard can be used to enter numbers and the corresponding mathematical operations. It is convenient to use it when working in the Calculator program, which we will talk about later.

There is more above the additional keyboard area on some keyboards.

Not all keyboards already have it, but yours may have it. These indicators light up when the corresponding keys are pressed. The Num Lock indicator lights up if it is on, that is, if you have an additional keyboard activated. The Caps Lock indicator is on if you have this mode turned on and you enter characters in capital letters. Well, the Skroll Lock indicator is on if you have pressed this key. Skroll Lock is no longer used and many keyboards do not have this button. It was previously used to change the behavior of the cursor keys.

Here we are with you and disassembled all the keys of our keyboard.

See you in the next lesson!

Nastasya Gerasimenko.

And when writing a letter, and calculating digital data, you can't do without a keyboard- the main means of entering information into a computer. This section explains the basics of using the keyboard and introduces keyboard commands.

How keyboard keys are ordered

Keys on the keyboard computers can be divided into several groups by function:

• Letters (letters and numbers)... These are the keys for letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols, just like on a regular typewriter.
• Service keys... These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform specific actions. The most commonly used service keys are Ctrl, Alt, Esc and the key with the Windows logo.
• Function Keys... The function keys are used to perform special tasks. They are designated F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. Depending on the program, the functionality of these keys may vary.
• Navigation keys... These keys are used to navigate documents, web pages, and edit text. These include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
• Numeric keypad... The numeric keypad is convenient for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped into a block, just like on a regular calculator.

The figure below shows how these keys are located on a typical keyboard. You may have a different keyboard layout.

Entering data from the keyboard

Whenever you need to enter something into a program, email, or field, a vertical bar (|) flashes on the screen. This is the cursor, also called the entry position. It shows where the input will start. You can move the cursor by clicking the desired location or using the navigation keys (see the item in this section).

In addition to letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols, the input keys also include the Tab key, Shift, Caps Lock, Enter, Space and Backspace.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Windows

Using the navigation keys

Navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, navigate documents and web pages, and edit text. The following table contains a list of the main functions of these keys.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad contains numbers from 0 to 9, arithmetic signs + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication) and / (division), as well as a decimal point, as on a calculator. These characters are duplicated on other keys, but their location on the numeric keypad allows you to quickly enter numbers or math operations with one hand.

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press the Num Lock key. Most keyboards have a light indicator that shows if Num Lock is turned off. When Num Lock is off, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of jump keys (these functions are depicted on the number and character keys).

You can also use the numeric keypad to perform simple calculations in the Calculator program.

Controlling the Calculator program from the numeric keypad

1. Open the Calculator program.
2. Look at the keyboard light to see if Num Lock is on. If Num Lock is off, press the key.
3. Using the numeric keypad, enter the first counting number.
4. On the numeric keypad, press the + button to add, - to subtract, * to multiply, or / to divide
5. Enter the next number in the tally.
6. Press Enter to end the count.

Three additional keyboard keys

We have already examined almost all the keys that can be used. But for the curious, let's take a look at three of the most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock, and Pause / Break.

PrtScn (or Print Screen) key

Once upon a time, this key actually performed the function that its name indicates (ie "Print Screen") - it sent the text of the current screen to the printer. Now pressing PrtScn captures the image of the entire screen (takes a "screenshot") and copies it to the clipboard in the computer's memory. From there, it can be pasted (by pressing Ctrl + V) into Microsoft Paint or another program and optionally printed from that program.

On some keyboards, the SYS RQ command is also marked on the PrtScn key - it is even more mysterious. SYS RQ used to stand for system request, but this command is not available on Windows.

For more information on the Print Screen key, see To take a screenshot (Print Screen key).

reference: To freeze the image of not the entire screen, but only the active window, press Alt + PrtScn.

ScrLk (or Scroll Lock) key

In most programs, pressing the Scroll Lock has no effect. In some programs, pressing the Scroll Lock changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the Page Up and Page Down keys: pressing these keys scrolls the document without changing the cursor position or selection. The keyboard may have an indicator light to indicate if the Scroll Lock feature is on.

Pause / Break key

This key is rarely used. In some ancient programs, pressing Pause / Break can pause the program, and pressing Ctrl + Pause / Break can stop the program from running.

Other keys

Some modern keyboards also have hotkeys or buttons that provide quick, one-touch access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll and zoom wheels, and other gadgets.

For more information on these features, see the instructions for your keyboard or computer, or the manufacturer's website.

Correct use of the keyboard can prevent pain or injury to the wrist and arm, especially when using the computer for a long time.

Here are some tips to help prevent problems:

• Place the keyboard at elbow level... Your forearms should be relaxed to the sides.
• Center the keyboard in front of you... If your keyboard has a separate group of numeric keys, you can think of the space bar as the center point.
• While typing, your hands and wrists should remain above the keyboard so that far away keys can be reached with a full arm motion rather than stretching out the fingers.
• Do not place your palms or wrists on any surface when entering text... If the keyboard has a wrist rest area, use it only during breaks while typing.
• While entering text press the keys lightly, your wrists should be straight.
• If you do not enter text, relax your hands.
• Keep it short breaks from work at the computer every 15-20 minutes.

Keypad buttons meaning

On the keyboard, with which we type the text, there are quite a few buttons. Each of these buttons is needed for something. In this lesson, we will look at the keyboard buttons and remember those that will be useful to us for working with text.

Keyboard keys

Key Esc... Its full name is Escape (pronounced "Eskipe") and it means "Exit". With this button we can close some programs. To a greater extent, this applies to computer games..gif "alt =" (! LANG: Function keys (F1-F12)" width="350" height="87">!}

Slightly below there is a row of buttons with numbers and signs (! "" #;%:? *, Etc.).

To print a character instead of a number, press the key with the desired character while holding down the Shift key.

If the character printed is not the one you want, try changing the alphabet (bottom right) .. gif "alt =" (! LANG: English" width="19" height="22 src=">!}

On many keyboards, the numbers are also on the right side.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/316/images/image009_91.gif "alt =" (! LANG: Num Lock" width="45" height="46 src=">!}

Let's move on to the most important part - to the central part of the keyboard keys. These are the keys used to type text.

As a rule, each button has two letters - one foreign, the other Russian. In order to print the letter of the desired language, it must be selected at the bottom of the screen..gif "alt =" (! LANG: English" width="19" height="22 src=">!}

The computer "selects" the letters of the alphabet that is installed on it.

Also, the alphabet can be changed by clicking on two buttons at once:

Shift and Alt

Shift and Ctrl

How to type a capital (capital) letter

In order to type a capital letter, you need to hold down the Shift key and press the desired letter with it.

How to print period and comma

If the Russian alphabet is installed, then in order to print a point, you need to press the last key in the lower letter row. It's in front of the Shift button.

To print a comma, press the same button while holding Shift.

When the English alphabet is selected, to print a point, you need to press the key that is in front of the Russian point. It usually has the letter "U" written on it.

And the comma in the English alphabet is located where the Russian letter "B" is written (before the English dot).

The Tab key is used to indent the beginning of a sentence. This indent is also called a paragraph or red line. Click at the beginning of the text and press the Tab key. If the red line is configured correctly, the text will shift slightly to the right.

Below the key that makes the red line is the Caps Lock key. It is used to type large letters.

Press the Caps Lock once and release it. Try typing a word. All letters will be printed in large. To cancel this feature, press and release the Caps Lock key again. The letters will be printed small as before.

The long bottom button on your keyboard is called the space bar. It is needed in order to make the spaces between words.

On the right side at the top is the Backspace button. Often it just has an arrow pointing to the left.

This button is needed in order to erase letters. It removes those letters that are printed in front of the blinking stick (cursor). Also the Backspace button is used to move the text up.

Below the key for deleting text is the Enter key.

It is designed to omit the text below and go to the next line.

Consider the buttons that are located between the alphabetic and numeric keyboards. These are buttons such as Insert, Home, Page Up, Delete, End, Page Down and arrow buttons. They are needed in order to work with text without the aid of a mouse.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/316/images/image020_44.gif "alt =" (! LANG: Print Screen" width="150" height="56 src=">!}

In this article, we covered the keyboard keys. Many of them, most likely, you will never need. But there are those keyboard keys that you will use quite often.

Keyboard buttons to remember

https://pandia.ru/text/78/316/images/image021_45.gif "alt =" (! LANG: Caps Lock" width="78" height="42">- после нажатия этой кнопки все буквы будут печататься большими. Чтобы вернуть печать маленькими буквами, нужно еще раз нажать кнопку Caps Lock.!}

- indents (red line).

Space. With this button you can make the distance between words.

Drops one line below. To do this, put a blinking stick (blinking cursor) at the beginning of the part of the text that you want to move down, and press the Enter button.

Deletes the character in front of the blinking cursor. Simply put, it erases the text. Also, this button raises the text one line higher. To do this, put a blinking stick (blinking cursor) at the beginning of the part of the text that you want to move up, and press the "Backspace" button.

A traditional keyboard - a laptop, or a "desktop", despite the prevalence and widespread prevalence of "sensors" on smartphones and tablets - when using which people sometimes begin to forget what keys are - a subject that is in widespread demand. Stylish and - a welcome detail of the computer interior of any IT-enthusiast.

Ease of use of the corresponding PC hardware component, and not just its appearance, is also an important criterion for the comfort of the computer owner. The keyboard is, historically, the first PC control, the mouse was invented later. And therefore, device keys - especially in combination with others - by default, are a very effective and functional tool in the hands of the user. There is a version that the technological features of "desktops" and laptops predetermine some difference between the capabilities of keyboards, with the help of which the corresponding types of devices are controlled.

Does the type of computer keyboard matter in terms of the functionality of the keys? Is there a difference between the standardization policies in this aspect of different laptop brands? What keyboard shortcuts can we highlight as the most useful?

Keys on laptop and desktop: comparison

As a rule, there is no fundamental difference between how the keyboard of a laptop and a "desktop" is structured. This is understandable - computer makers are trying to release the appropriate controls, adhering to standards so that people are more willing to buy equipment without fear of having to adapt their skills to the new key layout. It is worth noting, however, that this thesis is true if a computer is taken into consideration in the most popular architecture today - there are other standards for the hardware and software layout of PCs, such as, for example, Macintosh.

Function standardization

Therefore, it does not matter, provided that we are talking about the same platform that we have at our disposal - the buttons in the "desktop" version or the keyboard of a laptop - the assignment of the keys will be almost the same in all cases. However, there are still some nuances. In many respects they are caused, first of all, by the difference in the dimensions of the "desktop" and the laptop. As a rule, an ordinary PC user has a whole table at his disposal. It can accommodate a very large keyboard. In the most daring design formats. Another thing is the laptop keyboard. The assignment of the keys on it, although practically the same as on the "desktop" - the buttons have to be placed extremely compactly. As a result, the laptop manufacturer may decide to, in principle, remove some groups of keys.

Does the designation differ depending on the specific brand? For the most part, no. And this is also largely due to the marketing factor: the manufacturer wants the user, relatively speaking, accustomed to having a Lenovo laptop keyboard at his disposal, could easily adapt to a similar hardware component from ASUS, and vice versa. Differences, if any, they usually lie in the design of the buttons, their height, shape, color, material of manufacture. The keyboard for Acer laptop, therefore, is almost identical to counterparts from ASUS, HP, Dell and other brands, based on the purpose of the buttons.

However, it will be useful to know the key features of the distribution of functions associated with specific keys. It doesn't matter - we are talking about buttons adapted for the "desktop", or the laptop keyboard is being studied. The assignment of keys to functional groups, especially in combination with others, is a very interesting area of ​​studying the capabilities of a computer. So let's start by examining the respective types of buttons.

Function Keys

Functional keys on a laptop keyboard are almost always present - if we are talking about equipment produced by well-known manufacturers - Acer, Lenovo, ASUS. Consider what each is responsible for. There are 12 function keys in total. They are located above all the others. Let's examine what they are responsible for.

The F1 key is almost always programmed to invoke help - in the operating system or in some separate program. This function, one might say, is unchanged for all PC models - a keyboard is used for an HP, Lenovo, or ASUS laptop - no difference. In some cases, if the built-in help file is not provided by the program, pressing F1 can command the computer to load the software manufacturer's website with the necessary information.

The traditional purpose of F2 - the keys on a laptop or desktop keyboard - is to rename a selected file or folder.

The F3 button in most cases is responsible for calling the Windows search engine - loading its general interface, using which you can search for files throughout the computer, or the local one - in a separate window. If a folder is open, then the search will be carried out by the objects located in it, if the browser window or, say, Word is active, then by the text on the page.

The F4 key is mainly adapted to the use of third-party file shells such as, for example, Total Commander. Its usefulness in Windows is estimated by many experts as not so obvious. But you can argue with this opinion: by pressing F4, say, in the browser, you can open the address bar - this is faster than a similar action using the mouse.

The F5 key is used to quickly refresh the contents of the application window, desktop, or Windows Explorer. At the same time, its use in third-party file shells, as a rule, is completely different. For example, in Total Commander, using this key on the laptop or desktop keyboard, files and folders are moved.

The F6 key has approximately the same functionality as the F4 key. True, in this case, as a rule, the list with the history of sites in the address bar of the browser is not activated.

Some buttons on the laptop and desktop keyboard - F7, F8, F9, as well as F12 do not have a strict functional binding. Depending on the specific program, or the model of the device, they can be programmed for different commands. This is exactly the case when we can observe the dissimilarity of technologies used by brands-manufacturers of equipment or programs.

In turn, the meaning of the keyboard keys of a laptop or "desktop" F10 and F11 is fairly standardized - when it comes to using them in the Windows system. The F10 button is responsible for opening the application menu. F11 is usually programmed to switch windows from normal to full screen and vice versa.

The functions of the keys on the laptop keyboard have distinctive specifics: as a rule, actions are programmed in them, implying their combination with a specific Fn button, which in most cases is absent on "desktop" keyboards. Now we will consider the features of working with them.

Fn key

On a laptop, as a rule, it is highlighted in a separate color - for example, white or blue - so that the user can easily spot it on the keyboard. There are usually one or two such keys on the device. Pressing Fn in its pure form, as a rule, does not imply any function. But its combination with function keys is programmed for a large number of useful actions. Their specific content depends on the brand of laptop. An ASUS laptop keyboard may thus differ in terms of Fn key activation from a similar hardware element in Lenovo or Acer devices. However, experts identify several common patterns for all computers in relation to the use of the capabilities of Fn. Let's consider them.

Combined with the F1 key, the Fn key can, for example, instruct the computer to shutdown (power off). This saves time when compared to a similar procedure performed with a mouse.

In combination with the F2 key, the Fn key in some cases allows you to call up a window for settings related to power saving. This option can be useful if, for example, it was discovered that the laptop is running out of battery power, and it urgently needs to be switched to another, more economical mode of operation.

The Fn key on a laptop, in combination with the F3 button, can be responsible for turning wireless interfaces on and off, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This is useful if, for example, the computer case does not have hardware switches that can be used to perform similar actions.

When combined with the F4 key, the Fn key is typically programmed to tell the computer to go to sleep (no power off). In some brands of laptops, the same combination is also responsible for "waking up" the computer.

Using a combination of Fn and F5 on most models of technology, you can activate or deactivate the video signal output to an external display connected via a wired interface to the video card. At the same time, on many laptops this is the only way to carry out this kind of action using the hardware method - an alternative can be a rather long procedure for outputting a video signal with software settings.

Turning off the monitor, as a rule, allows a combination of Fn and F6 or F7. This key assignment is useful if, for example, the user decided to leave the computer for a while - in this case, you can save electricity by turning off the display.

A fairly useful combination is Fn and F8. It allows you to enable or disable the sound on the computer (in this case, the current sound level is not reset - after pressing this combination again, the settings are restored). This key assignment is useful if, for example, someone has called a person on the phone, needs to be answered urgently, and loud music is playing on the PC.

Many laptops are designed to temporarily disable the Touch Pad, a built-in touch-type device that performs similar functions to a mouse. This action can be performed by pressing the combination of Fn and F9.

If you use a combination of Fn and F10, you can change the keyboard layout. This is useful if, for example, more familiar keys do not work for some reason.

If the laptop has a numeric keypad (usually located on the right), then you can activate or deactivate it by using the combination of Fn and F11.

The combination of Fn and F12 can be programmed for a fairly wide range of actions, depending on the specific computer model. An HP laptop keyboard might have one thing, and a similar hardware component from Acer might have another. In some cases, this combination implies some programmatic action - for example, activating the screen movement function, which works, in particular, in Excel.

Also note that the Fn key can be programmed for any function in combination not only with the buttons with the F index, but also in combination with the usual ones located below on the keyboard. Again, it all depends on the device model. ASUS laptop keyboards may have their own rules; for Lenovo they may be completely different. For example, in some device models, the combination of Fn and a key that displays the number 1 (and an exclamation mark) can adjust the brightness level of the display. The combination of Fn and the button with the number 2 (@) can in turn control the sound volume.

So we have studied what features the laptop keyboard is characterized by, the purpose of the functional type keys. Now let's move on to the study of the most interesting category of buttons. These are called "hot keys". What are their features?

"Hotkeys

Almost all keyboards designed for PCs in the IBM architecture and running under Windows, and therefore also in laptops, have so-called "hot keys". They are designed to quickly activate some hardware or software function of the OS, which is usually longer and more difficult to call using mouse actions. Consider the range of the most popular features provided by hotkeys in Windows 7, one of the most popular operating systems today. Note that the combinations of buttons that we will present below work if we have at our disposal any device for inputting data - the "desktop" version, or the keyboard of an ASUS laptop. The purpose of the "hot" keys, in general, is the same on all devices. Provided, of course, that they have Windows installed.

ALT hotkeys

One of the basic keyboard buttons used when activating various functions in the "hot" mode is ALT. What possibilities are opened by pressing it in combination with other keys? Among the most notable functions is the activation or deactivation of the file panel: for this you need to use a combination of ALT and P.

The combination of ALT and TAB allows you to quickly navigate between windows of active applications running in Windows. The ALT key in combination with the UP button allows you to move higher in the structure of open windows with folders. The combination of ALT and F4 closes the active application window, or exits the program or computer game. The combination of ALT and space allows you to open the context menu of the running window.

CTRL hotkeys

Another group of useful combinations is "headed" by the CTRL key. Let's consider examples of popular combinations. The combination of CTRL and A allows you to select all files and folders in a window, or all text and other objects located on a document page or, for example, in a browser. The combination of CTRL and C is a convenient and well-known tool for copying text and other objects. If you replace the second letter with V, then you can insert the selected one. When using X instead of C - the object is "cut", and after pressing V - moves to the user-specified location.

The combination of CTRL and N allows you to create a new file or document in the corresponding editor program, if you replace N with O, then open the object. The combination of CTRL and P sends text or other data from the screen to be printed to the printer. The combination of CTRL and Z allows you to undo the last action taken by the user. The combination of CTRL and F4 is a little like pressing ALT and F4 - the active window with the document is closed, while in the second case, the program is completely exited. Pressing CTRL and ESC opens the Start menu. Using a combination of three keys - CTRL, SHIFT and N, you can create a new folder. The Task Manager can be invoked by pressing the combination of CTRL and TAB.

Hotkeys and WIN button

In most cases, the buttons on a laptop or desktop keyboard contain the WIN key. This button looks like a proprietary Microsoft checkbox. It is, in a way, adapted for the Windows operating system. By the way, it was introduced into the structure of keyboards relatively recently (if we compare it with the evolution of the corresponding hardware component of a PC) - in 1995, after Windows 95 entered the market. In other operating systems, it is usually not functional. Although, this is not always the case - in many modern open source operating systems, the functions based on the WIN button are fully implemented. Still, the trend reflecting the standardization of technologies is typical not only for the hardware area, but also for software. Let's consider what possibilities are opened by using the WIN key in combination with other buttons.

If you press the combination of WIN and UP, you can expand the active application window to full screen. In turn, if you replace UP with DOWN in this combination, the window will be minimized, or its original size will be restored. Pressing WIN and the left arrow moves the active window to the left of the screen. If you press the "right" button, then the window will move in the same direction. The combination of WIN and HOME allows you to simultaneously minimize or maximize all windows, except for the one that acts as an active one. With the combination of WIN and E, you can open Windows Explorer. You can enlarge or reduce the image on the screen by using the combination of WIN and the "+" or "-" buttons. The combination of WIN and F starts the file search system.

Standardization of "software"

Let's note the most important nuance - all the above-described regularities in aspect are fully functional when working in Windows. If the user has a different operating system at his disposal - for example, Linux or Google OS, then there may be discrepancies in the aspect of assigning button combinations to certain functions. At the same time, as many IT experts note, the universalization of technologies is observed not only at the hardware level - in relation to the assignment of keys (we said at the beginning of the article), but also in the software direction. That is, if we talk about the newest versions of the OS, other than Windows, then in many of them the algorithms for implementing "hot" functions or activating, say, the WIN keys, are similar to those (or even completely identical) that are present in the most popular world operating system.

Note also that historically Windows is not the first operating system for which the keys that we studied today were adapted. By the time this OS entered the market, keyboards with the arrangement of function and other buttons - identical to how we see them now, or in a very similar way - had existed for more than a decade. So, it is more fair to say that the functionality of many keys is dictated not only by the leadership of Windows, but also by historical prerequisites.

conclusions

Having studied the design features of keyboards for desktops and laptops, we can draw a number of conclusions.

Firstly, there are groups of keys that have a fairly strict binding to some specific functions - and there are most of them. There are, in turn, buttons that allow you to send commands to the computer, depending on the context of a particular application.

Secondly, we have the right to note a fairly wide variety of keyboard shortcuts. In many cases, they can be used as a viable alternative to using a mouse, and as a result, use a PC more efficiently.

Thirdly, we have the right to note a high level of standardization not only in terms of the location and purpose of keys, but also at the level of interpretation of their various combinations by PC software elements - an operating system, applications for viewing and editing files, browsers.