USING THE KEYBOARD

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The Keyboard
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INTRODUCTION

The keyboard is what you type with. It is used to key in

alphabetic and numeric data (characters) into the system.
Many other functions can be performed using the function
keys, modifying keys and navigation keys.

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The Keyboard
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TYPES OF KEYBOARD

The standard layout of letters, numbers, and punctuation is known as QWERTY because the first

six typing keys on the top row of letters spell QWERTY. The QWERTY keyboard was designed in

the 1800s for mechanical typewriters and was actually designed to slow typists down to avoid

jamming the keys on mechanical units.

AZERTY is the French version of the standard QWERTY layout. AZERTY keyboards differ slightly

from the QWERTY keyboard. For example, the Q and W keys have been interchanged with the A

and Z keys.
6 TYPES OF KEYBOARD
Standard keyboard: This was the first keyboard to be manufactured. it was mainly with IBMP/
XT machines and it has 83 key ,the functions keys from F1 to F10. Standard keyboard are
obsolete and they are no more in use.
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TYPES OF KEYBOARD
Enhanced keyboard: This is an improvement of standard keyboard. It was introduced in 1987. It
has 101 keys and the function keys are F1 to F12. it also has micro keys. The internationally
common 102/104 key keyboards have a smaller left shift key and an additional key. The enter
key is also shaped differently.
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USING KEYBOARD

The computer keyboard is a lot like a regular typewriter

keyboard. It has the letters of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation keys just

like a typewriter. Holding down a key repeats that key.

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 The Keyboard
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Escape key FUNCTION KEYS PAGE SCROLL NUMBER LOCK

KEYS

Numeric
keys

Windows keys Modifying keys NAVIGATION 10KEY OR NUMERIC

KEYS SECTTION

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10 THE FUNCTION KEYS

Across the top of most keyboards, there is a row of keys called

function keys. These are special keys that do different kinds of special
tasks. The function keys do different things depending on the
Application that you’re in.

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11 THE FUNCTION KEYS

F1 – Almost always used as the help key, almost every program opens a help screen when this
key is pressed.

Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support center.

F2 - In Windows renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder in all versions of Windows.

In Microsoft Excel edits the current active cell.

Alt+Ctrl+F2 opens document window in Microsoft Word.

Ctrl+F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.

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F3 – Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Windows when at the
Windows Desktop.

In MS-DOS or Windows command line F3 will repeat the last command.

Shift+F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at
the beginning of every word.

F4 – Open the address bar in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.

Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+).

Alt+F4 closes the program window currently active in Microsoft Windows.

Ctrl+F4 closes the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.
13 THE FUNCTION KEYS

F5 – In all modern Internet browsers, pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or document
window.

Ctrl+F5 forces a complete refresh of the web page, clearing the cache and downloading all
contents of the page again

Refresh the list of contents in a folder.

Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.

Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6 – Move the cursor to the address bar in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and most other
Internet browsers.

Ctrl+Shift+F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.

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F7 – Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as
Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.

Shift+F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.

F8 – Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly used to access Windows
Safe Mode.

F9 – Refresh document in Microsoft Word.

Send and receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook.

F10 – In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.

Shift+F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link.

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F11 – Enter and exit full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers.

F12 – Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.

Ctrl+F12 opens a document In Word.

Shift+F12 saves the Microsoft Word document (like Ctrl+S).

Ctrl+Shift+F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.

Access the list of bootable devices on a computer at startup, allowing you to select a different
device to boot from (hard drive, CD or DVD drive, floppy drive, USB drive, and network).
 NUMERIC KEYS

Numeric keys are used to type in numbers and symbols.

Some keyboards have the numeric keys by the right

hand side of the keyboard, some have it on top of the

alphabetic section while others have it both at the top of

the alphabetic keys and at the right hand side of the

keyboard.
 THE MODIFIER KEYS
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Modifier keys are keys that are used together with other
keys to change the normal behaviour of those keys or to
perform special functions.
The Modifier Keys include:
Shift Key
Control Key
Alternate Key
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THE MODIFIER
KEYS
For most entries done using the
keyboard, the keys are just
pressed down and released. But
for some special key
combinations such as “Ctrl” + “Alt”
+ “Delete”, the keys are held down
instead of pressing them
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 ALTERNATE KEY
(Alt)

“Alt” + “A LETTER” is used to

display different menus in
Application software…eg:

“Alt” + “f” will open the File menu.

“Alt” + “h” will open the home menu.

etc.

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 Control key (Ctrl)
The control key performs system functions. Eg:
“ctrl” + “p” prints documents
“ctrl” + “s” saves files
“ctrl” + “a” highlights all
“ctrl” + “c” used to copy files and data
“ctrl” + “x” cuts files and data
“ctrl” + “v” pastes data and files
“ctrl” + “b” makes characters bold
“ctrl” + “z” used to Undo
“ctrl” + “y” used to Redo
“ctrl” + “u” underlines
“ctrl” + “i” changes characters to Italics.etc.
21 SHIFT KEY
The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other

alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two shift keys, on the left and right

sides of the row below the home row.

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SHIFT KEY

In most keyboards, the numeric keys on top of the alphabetic keys have two characters written

on them. Pressing any of those keys alone will input the number, but holding down the shift key

before pressing the numeric key will input the symbol, that is, the second character on the

numeric key. Example:

to input “1”, just press the numeric key that has “1” written on it but to get the exclamation

mark “!”, hold down the shift key before pressing the “1”
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NAVIGATION KEYS
The Navigation keys or as it is sometimes called, the Cursor keys are used to
move the cursor to different positions on the screen. Arrow keys are
programmed to move the cursor in a specified direction (depending on the
direction of the arrows).
24 PAGE SCROLL KEYS

page scroll keys, such as the Page up and Page Down keys, scroll the page up and

down respectively. The Home key is used to return the cursor to the beginning of the

line where the cursor is located; the End key puts the cursor at the end of the line. The

Tab key advances the cursor to the next tab stop.

NOTE: Cursor is a movable indicator on a computer screen identifying the point that

will be affected by input from the user, for example showing where typed text will be

inserted.
 KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS
KEY APPEARAN FUNCTION
CE
Escape E sc
It is used most often to "escape" or back out of a
mistaken command.
F1-F12 F1
Performs a special action, depending on the
application
Print Copies the screen display to the clipboard so that you
Screen P r in t
S crn can paste it as graphics.

Tab Moves you from one tab or field to another

Caps C aps
Toggles between typing in capital letters
Lock
Lock

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 KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS

Key Appearance Function

Shift Used with other keys to perform special
actions.
Ctrl C tr l
Used with other keys to perform special
actions.
Alt A lt
Used with other keys to perform special
actions.
Alt Gr A lt G r
Same as pressing Alt +Ctrl

Back Deletes the character to the left of the

Space cursor

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 KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS

KEY APPEARANCE FUNCTION

Enter Opens a selected icon or applies

desired settings in a dialogue box. In
word processing applications, pressing
the enter key ends a paragraph and
starts a new one.
Windows Displays the Start menu.

NUM LCK Used to lock or unlock the 10 key

(numeric section).

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KEYBOARD FUNCTION

KEY FUNCTION

Page up Takes you up by a page.

Page down Brings you down by a page.

End Takes the cursor to the end of the line.

Home Takes the cursor to the beginning of the line.

Delete Deletes the characters on the right hand side of the cursor.

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TYPING
30 Posture

Correct posture is very important in keyboarding because if you’re not sitting well when
using your computer it may pose some health problems. Good sitting posture includes:

1. Feet and Legs

Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor. Avoid tucking your legs beneath you or
extending them forward.
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32 Posture

2. Arms

Adjust your chair and keyboard height so your elbows are at a 90-degree angle and your

arms are close to your sides. Your arms should be hanging in a relaxed posture. If your

shoulders are hunched toward your ears, raise your chair height or lower your keyboard.
 Bad
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Posture

Good
Posture
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4. Head

Keep your eyes focused on the copy you are typing. If you find yourself turning your head

back and forth from copy to screen, work on improving your touch typing skills. Adjust the

position of the copy so you can see it without tilting your head excessively.
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Slouching is a
bad posture
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6. CHAIR

Start by choosing a chair that has a height adjustment and support for your lower back. If

it has armrests, make sure they don’t impede your ability to let your arms hang relaxed at

your sides while you’re typing.

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7. DESK

Next, consider keyboard height. Placing a keyboard on top of a desk often makes it too

high up for proper typing position. Consider a desk with adjustable keyboard tray. If your

desk doesn’t have one, you can often purchase and install one as an add-on.
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10. TAKE REGULAR BREAKS

It is also very important to take regular breaks. It is recommended to take a 5-minute

break after every 30 minutes of continuous activity. Stand up, stretch. In fact, if you grab a

glass of water on your break, you get bonus healthy points for keeping yourself hydrated

as well.
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MAVIS BEACON TEACHES TYPING

Mavis Beacon is a software that teaches typing. Mavis Beacon can be used for
learning purposes and this is enable by its various options such as: Take A Lesson,
Practice Area, Typing Games, Custom Lesson Designer. it is the most used software
for learning typing on computers.
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Launching Mavis Beacon and

Student Registration
42 The fingers should be placed as

shown in this picture. From these

(green) keys, the fingers should

move out so as to type the other

characters.

The left hand rests on the keys: A,

S, D, F. While the right hand rests

on the keys: J, K, L, ;.
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Colour codes have

been used in this

image to link fingers

to keys that they are

used to type.
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USING MAVIS BEACON

10 keys (Numeric)
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MAVIS BEACON GAMES

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CUSTOMIZING A LESSON
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DELETING A STUDENT, CREATING A NEW STUDENT AND

THE PRACTICE AREA
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QUESTIONS
?

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