SEMI-FINAL HAND IN KEYBOARDING AND

DOCUMENT PROCESSING
Keyboarding is the process through which information is keyed into the computer or the
typewriter by the use of various keys of the keyboard. It is also defined as the ability to utilize
the complete set of keys of the keyboard, usually hand-operated to feed in data into the
computer. Letters, reports and various documents produced in schools and offices are all
done through keyboarding. The keyboard is a very important aspect of computer and
typewriter part as it is the basis for efficient computer or typewriter use. Without the knowledge
of keyboarding the leaner cannot perform any meaningful task with the computer.

Importance of Keyboarding

1. Speed: it enable the user of the computer or typewriter to do a lot of work faster than when
he applies sight system
2. Accuracy: Learning to use the appropriate singer to manipulate a specific key reduces
errors in typing as well as the wrong stress
3. Efficiency: speed and accuracy bring about efficiency of work
4. Easy production of work: a good knowledge of touch system enable the operator to
produce whatever work he does in computer or typewriter
5. Sense of Happiness and Encouragement: the achievement of speed, accuracy, and
efficiency give joy and encourages one to strive to greater height in the course of
keyboarding
6. Career Opportunity: it will make a job seeker more marketable as most jobs in society
requires some degree of computer work
7. Personal use: individuals own computer nowadays. A good knowledge of keyboarding will
enable one work on One’s Personal computers

Correct Keyboarding Techniques

To learn the correct operation of the keyboard you must mater the keyboard very well.
For the operator to master the keyboard and thus thoroughly. This, the operator achieves by
taking a form decision not to look at the keyboarding. There are 26 alphabets in the computer
keyboard and more than 20 different signs and marks such as division (/), full stop (.)
exclamation mark(!) and other standard functions keys.

The Keyboard Rows

The Keyboard rows are made up of the following:

1. Top Row Keys In Computer: they are the letters of the following alphabets.
Q,W,E,R,T,V,U,I,O,P. Other keys (not alphabets) that make up the top row are [.], {.}, L, and //

2. Upper Row Keys: upper row keys comprise of numerical keys found at the upper row of the
keyboard namely, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0. Others found on top of them Are @,&,^,*,(,),-,+, = etc.

3. Home Row keys: the home keys are asdf, jkl; they are called home keys or home rows
because they are the key where the operator rests his hand and only move the fingers from
these keys to lit other keys and then return back to these row.

Division of the Keyboard - The keyboard is divided into two the left hand side and the right
hand side.

For the left hand fingers

1. The finger that types A also type Z and Q
2. The finger that types S also type X and W
3. The finger that types D also types C and E
4. The finger that types F also type R,T,G and V

For the Right hand Finger

1. The finger that types ; (Coloum) also type P
2. The finger that types L types O and , (comma)
3. The finger that types K also types I and M
4. These finger are also used to types figured strike the special function keys to keys and do
other operations.

Home Row and Home Keys

The home keys are the keys where the fingers are returned when they are not doing active
work. Each finger after striking the appropriate key come back and rest at the home key. The
home keys are 8 in number, they are the first and the last four of the keys show below. [A] [S]
[D] [F] [G] [J] [K] [L] [;]

WHAT IS COMPUTER KEYBOARD?

A keyboard is a portable wired or wireless electronic device that contains all the alphabets,
numerics, symbols and special characters, which is used for entering input data into a laptop/
desktop computer system. The various types of computer keyboards typically used by
computer users for different purposes are a qwerty keyboard, a gaming keyboard, a virtual
keyboard and a multimedia keyboard. Based on the connectivity options used for a keyboard
to connect with a computer, it is classified as a wired keyboard, a wireless keyboard, a
Bluetooth keyboard and an USB keyboard.

TYPES OF COMPUTER KEYBOARD

A computer keyboard is a pretty broad term that collectively refers to a wide variety. Here are
the most popular categories of a computer keyboard:

1. Multimedia Keyboard

A Multimedia keyboard has buttons to control media playing on the computer. You can turn
up or turn down the volume, skip to the next song or video, and play or pause it. Each function
has its dedicated button or key combination on a multimedia keyboard. Some also have
dedicated buttons for launching our mailing client or a web browser.
 2. Mechanical Keyboard

A traditional mechanical keyboard is a physical keyboard with a spring-like key action. The
key action is how a key feels when pressed and released. A mechanical keyboard’s key action
feels almost like that of a typewriter. Gamers and typists love to use mechanical
keyboards because of their springiness.

3. Wireless Keyboard

Wireless keyboards use radio frequency to connect to a host device like a computer or
smartphone. It can connect by either through WiFi or Bluetooth. The best thing about a wireless
keyboard is that you can also use it from a good distance.

4. Virtual Keyboard

A virtual keyboard is a software application that looks like a keyboard. You can type on it using
a pointing device like a mouse or touchscreen. There is no physical hardware with a virtual
keyboard. More advanced or futuristic virtual keyboards may be designed with augmented
or virtual reality.
 5. USB Keyboard

Keyboards most commonly have two kinds of connectors: PS/2 or USB. Of course, both
connectors work on serial communication protocols. A USB keyboard plugs into a USB port and
is compatible with most devices that have a USB port. PS/2 connectors are normally only
present in desktops. Laptops need USB keyboards.

6. Ergonomic Keyboard

An ergonomic keyboard can be any keyboard that has been designed for long typing
sessions. It is designed to reduced stress on the fingers and the wrists. Ergonomic keyboards
are very fast to type on.
 7. QWERTY Keyboard

Any keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard if the letters Q, W, E, R, T, Y are present together in the
first row of the letters. QWERTY keyboard makes typing easier by placing frequently used
adjacent letter pairs as far from each other as possible.

8. Gaming Keyboard

Professional gamers require gaming keyboards for optimum performance. Gaming keyboards
typically have extra keys to control media, a display and a palm rest for comfort during long
gaming sessions. Gaming keyboards are more compact and portable. They are designed to
reduce stress on the hands and wrists, in particular.

9. Chiclet Keyboard
Chiclet keyboard gets its name from the chewing gum brand Chiclet. These keyboards
typically have small square keys. The corners of the keys are rounded and not slanted-edge.
Everything from PCs to calculators and even remote controls.

10. Membrane Keyboard

In a membrane keyboard, you will not find any gap between the keys. A membrane covers
pressure-sensitive keys. The keyboard is more or less a flat surface. Membrane keyboards are
affordable and noiseless while typing.

11. Thumb Keyboard

Thumb keyboards are normal keyboards but much smaller in size. They are designed to fit into
a normal-sized palm and be operated using the two thumbs only. These keyboards are
extremely portable and are great for handheld devices like handheld PCs and mobiles.
 12. Flexible Keyboard

Flexible keyboards are a hybrid between laptop keyboards and a standard keyboard. Since
flexible keyboards are made of silicone, they can be bent. These keyboards are flexible
enough to be rolled and are usually connected through USB.

13. Laptop Sized Keyboard

The inter-key distance is very short in Laptop-sized keyboards. In laptop-sized keyboards, the
number of keys is usually less as compared to a standard keyboard. Laptop-sized keyboards
may sacrifice the numeric keypad for laptop-specific controls like screen brightness, volume
etc.

14. Backlit Keyboard

Backlit keyboards are ideal for use in dark conditions where the keys themselves are not visible.
Backlit keyboards can have a single colour for the backlight or can have colour coordinated
keys.

15. Magic Keyboards

Magic keyboards are Apple’s version of wireless keyboards. They look great and work on
Bluetooth. These keyboards have a rechargeable battery. Magic keyboards can be a tad
expensive.

16. Bluetooth Keyboard

Bluetooth Keyboards are a type of wireless keyboard that works on Bluetooth technology.
These keyboards need the host devices to have a Bluetooth receiver.

17. Chorded Keyboard

Chorded Keyboards were developed using the principle of a chord on a piano. When you
press a specific combination of keys, you get a chord. Similarly, chorded keyboards produce
a character when a specific key combination is pressed. Chorded keyboards are very
compact but did not become successful because of the relatively steep learning curve.
 18. Projection Keyboard

This is a futuristic keyboard design in which the keys are a hologram projection onto any
surface. The device detects what you type on the hologram projection and records keystrokes
accordingly.

How Do I Choose a Computer Keyboard?

You should choose a computer keyboard as per your requirements. You should look for the
following things:

Functionality: Do you type for hours? Do you wish to have multimedia functionalities? Or do
you want something comfortable and satisfying to type on?
Budget: Besides functionality, you should also consider your budget. This is because the prices
of keyboards vary over a wide range.
Portability: If you are someone that travels frequently, purchase a compact keyboard that
connects via USB. A Bluetooth keyboard may be a great option for laptop users due to the
absence of tangling wires.
Comfort: If you need to type a lot or use the keyboard extensively, then you should opt for
keyboards that are designed for comfort.
Noise: While some prefer the traditional type-writer noise, others may prefer a quieter typing
experience.

How Do I Know If I Need a New Keyboard?

If some or all of your keys are not working, then it may be a good time to replace your old
keyboard. Some keys may be present more than once. However, most keys are unique and,
if damaged, could pose problems.

How to Clean your Keyboard?

You can clean your keyboard with a microfiber cloth. Just dampen the cloth with a little bit of
water and then wipe the cloth over the keys and in-between them. Isopropyl alcohol is a safer
option than water as it does not short circuit electronics.

Uses of Keyboard
Here we have pointed out the uses of the keyboard.

using the keyboard. Also, some special commands

can be done using the keyboard. Only with the keyboard, we can input data.
without the help of the mouse.
Function keys and control keys are used for special functions done by mouse.
s from the system so that mouse use can be
avoided.
the functions for various purposes.
Tips for using your keyboard safely
Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms,
particularly if you use your computer for long periods. Here are a few tips to help improve
keyboard use:

hould be relaxed at your sides.

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use
the spacebar as the centering point.
above the keyboard, so that you can use your
whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
f surface while typing. If your keyboard has
a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
ur wrists straight.

HOW THE KEYS ARE ORGANIZED

The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:

Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and
symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.
Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain
actions. The most frequently used control keys are Ctrl, Alt, the Windows logo key, and Esc.
Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labeled as F1,
F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.
Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and
editing text. They include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are
grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.

Typing text

Whenever you need to type something in a program, e-mail message, or text box, you'll see
a blinking vertical line ( ) called the cursor or insertion point. It shows where the text that you
type will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse,
or by using the navigation keys.

In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols, the typing keys also include
Shift, Caps Lock, Tab, Enter, the Spacebar, and Backspace.

Key name How to use it

 Shift Press Shift in combination with a letter to type an uppercase letter. Press Shift in
combination with another key to type the symbol shown on the upper part of that key.
 Caps Lock: Press Caps Lock once to type all letters as uppercase. Press Caps Lock again
to turn this function off. Your keyboard might have a light indicating whether Caps Lock
is on.
 Tab Press Tab to move the cursor several spaces forward. You can also press Tab to
move to the next text box on a form.
 Enter Press Enter to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. In a dialog box,
press Enter to select the highlighted button.
 Spacebar Press the Spacebar to move the cursor one space forward.
 Backspace Press Backspace to delete the character before the cursor, or the selected
text.
Using keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using your keyboard. They're called
shortcuts because they help you work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can
perform with a mouse can be performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.

In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that those keys should be
pressed in combination. For example, Ctrl + A means to press and hold Ctrl and then press A.
Ctrl + Shift + A means to press and hold Ctrl and Shift and then press A.

Using navigation keys

The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents and webpages,
and edit text. The following table lists some common functions of these keys.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 though 9, the arithmetic operators + (addition),
- (subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear
on a calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the
keyboard, of course, but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter numerical data
or mathematical operations with one hand.

Numeric Keyboard

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press Num Lock. Most keyboards have a light
that indicates whether Num Lock is on or off. When Num Lock is off ,the numeric keypad
functions as a second set of navigation keys (these functions are printed on the keys next to
the numerals or symbols).

A COMPUTER KEYBOARD’S COMPONENTS

Though computer keyboards exist in a variety of styles and configurations, the fundamental
parts of all keyboards are the same. A standard computer keyboard is composed of the
following components:

1. Function keys.
2. Typing keys
3. Navigation keys
4. Numeric Keys
5. Special keys

Function Keys
The standard computer keyboards include function keys spanning from F1 to F10. Some
advanced keyboards have 1-F12 function keys. These function keys are located on the
keyboard’s top row. For modern improved keyboards, they are labelled F1, F2, F3, F4, and F12.

Typing keys
These keys are identical to those seen on an antique typewriter. They are comprised of
alphabetic letters, Numbers and Special Characters such as comma (,), full stop (.), question
mark (?) etc.

Navigation keys
The Navigation keys are frequently referred to as the arrow keys. The text pointer is moved in
the direction indicated by their arrows using these four keys when typing. Above them are the
remaining of cursor-control keys: insert, delete, home, end, page up, and page down.
Numeric Keys
The numeric keypad is used by bankers, bank tellers, and line ticket agents especially those
that work with figures. It features keys that function similarly to calculators. Additionally, this
keypad functions as a cursor keypad. Its behavior is determined by the Num lock keys.

Special Keys
The “CTRL”, “ALT”, “WINDOW”, “SHIFT”, “TAB”, and “ESC” keys are only a few of the specific
computer keys found on a computer keyboard. These keys were created with a specific
function in mind.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF KEYBOARD?

There are various parts of keyboard, which are given below.

1. Escape Key
The Escape key is a function key on a keyboard. Originally, it was the only way to input the so-
called ‘escape sequence’. It is often used as a way of quitting or aborting the current task. It
is also used as a form of a control character in computer programming languages such as C,
C++, and Java. In modern operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS X, it has been
repurposed as a shortcut key for displaying the system's "Start" menu or "Quick Access Menu".

2. Tab Key
The tab key is a key pressed on a typewriter keyboard to move the insertion point forward to
the next tab stop when formatting copy in a monospaced font. It is typically labeled with the
T symbol. The Tab key has many different functions in different software and operating systems.
While its original use was in typewriters, later it was used as a command in text editing and
word processing programs.

3. ALT Key
The ALT key is used in combination with one or more other keys to perform various commands
in most computer programs, including word processing and web browsers.
Here are some of the basic functions of the ALT key:
Movement - Pressing the ALT key and an arrow key will move the cursor to the opposite
direction of which you pressed.
Copy - Pressing CTRL+ALT+C will copy whatever is selected (within your computer screen) and
paste it into your document where your cursor currently resides.
Paste - Pressing CTRL+ALT+V will paste whatever was copied to wherever your cursor currently
resides within your document.

4. CTRL Key
The CTRL key is used in conjunction with other keys in order to make a selection on the
computer.
For example, if you press CTRL and shift at the same time and then click on a word, it will select
all the words that are typed before and after that word. This can be helpful when you’re copy-
pasting information from one part of the document to another.
There are many different uses for CTRL key combinations such as "CTRL+C" or "CTRL+V".

5. Space Bar Key

The space bar is one of the most useful keys on your computer keyboard. Contrary to popular
belief, the space bar does not serve just one purpose. This key can function as a space, a
carriage return, or a tab. However, this key has other functions also. It is what separates words
and provides space between sentences. The space bar can also be used to pause while
reading something, or take a break while writing. The space bar is often called the 'space' key,
but it serves other purposes too.

6. Enter Key
The enter key is used to send a carriage return and an end-of-line character to a computer's
operating system. This key is typically located at the bottom left of the keyboard. Once you
press this button, you can type in more information on the same line or create a new line of
text.

7. Caps Lock Key

The Caps Lock key is a very useful and important key. It is the button on the keyboard which
locks all the letters you type in upper case or all the letters you type in lower case. The Caps
Lock key is not only used to change the case of letters, it also has other uses. You can use Caps
Lock to make your typing easier by capitalizing words automatically. You can also use it to
enter Unicode symbols without pressing any additional keys.

8. Shift Key
The shift key is a modifier key on a computer or typewriter keyboard. When this key is pressed,
the letters produced by the machine are made larger by one point size. The idea behind this
was to help with readability in printing shops. This original use of the shift key has since
expanded to allow for multiple combinations of symbols and characters when pressed at the
same time.

9. Backspace Key
The backspace key is a simple yet essential key on your keyboard. It is used to delete the last
character that you've typed. The word "Backspace" is also sometimes written as "BkSp" or "BS."
The backspace key can be found on the upper right-hand side of most keyboards. By pressing
this button, you can take out mistakes or typos to correct them.

10. Cursor Key

The cursor usually moves by one character to the right after each keystroke. A cursor key is a
key on a keyboard that moves the cursor. It can be called arrow keys, arrow buttons, cursor
control keys, navigation keys, or other similar names. Cursor keys allow for more precise control
of where characters appear on the screen and make it easier and faster to move around and
insert text.

11. Numeric Keypad

A numeric keypad is the set of keys found on most modern keyboards that are mainly used for
entering numbers. It's also called a numeric pad or ten-key, and they are usually found below
the alphabetic keyboard. Unlike the numbers on your phone, these numbers are not in
alphabetical order. They are grouped in clusters of three digits per column.

12. Function Keys

When you hit the function key on your keyboard, it will change what kind of character is
coming up.
13. Special Key
The special keys on your keyboard are usually the ones you only use when gaming, in a
graphics program, or in another specialized software. These keys can be used to do things
that would otherwise require a mouse to do.
For example, the function key is often used for opening menus in programs. The arrows are
often used to scroll through a document. And the Esc key is typically used as the cancel
button.

14. Windows Key

The Windows key can be used to open up a window with all of your active tasks in Windows,
start new programs, and close open programs. This function is most often used while you are
working on an application. When you use this key combination, you will see your taskbar
appear at the bottom of your screen with any open applications that are running highlighted
in blue text. You then have the option to either switch to one of those applications or close it
by clicking on the red “X” next to it.

HOW MANY BUTTONS ARE ON A KEYBOARD?

There are 101 buttons on a computer keyboard.

PROPER FINGER TYPING ASSIGNMENT

Your left-hand fingers should be placed over the A, S, D, and F keys, and the right-hand
fingers should be placed over the J, K, L, and ; keys. These keys are considered the home
row keys. Your thumbs should either be in the air or lightly touching the spacebar key.

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