Model model made by IBM that became the source of the current keyboard "Model M"

IBM keyboardModel MIs an existence that can be said to be the origin of the keyboard currently used. The Verge clarifies what kind of history this model made about 30 years ago and how it became the origin of the current keyboard.

King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made | The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys

The QWERTY array used in the current keyboard was designed for typewriters in the 19th century, but PC required typing characters as well as a special key, so the PC typewriter's QWERTY array It was impossible to use as it was. For this reason, keyboard layout will be explored from the 1970's to the 1980's. The following was released by IBM in 1983PC / XTof83 keyboardArray of. The function key is placed at the left end instead of the top of the keyboard, and the Enter key is indicated by an arrow instead of a letter. Although it is easy to understand by color coding, keys for control and typing keys are alternately arranged,Scroll lockI was away from other control keys.


It was released in August 1984PC / ATThe keyboard that was used in was evolved somewhat from the 83 keyboard. It is the same that the function key is divided into two columns and it is driven to the left side of the keyboard, but the control keys other than Ctrl key and Alt key are concentrated on the upper right of the keyboard. It became easier to see than the 83 keyboard, but I got the evaluation that it is a keyboard which is difficult to do by saying "It's impregnable" in a specialized magazine.


In order to create a keyboard that is easy to use for both professionals and the general public, IBM will make a special team and proceed with further research. Today including people who are not familiar with computers with tests, "Increasing important keys and placing keys that are often used together like Ctrl or Alt nearby so that they can be pressed even with one hand" But I guided the law that is being used, and as a compilation of the result "Model M" was born. There is a function key at the top of the keyboard, next to the typing key is a group of navigation keys, next to it a numeric keypad is arranged collectively and it is a very easy to understand shape.


In 1985IBM 3161Model M introduced in part of the terminal will be called "IBM extended keyboard". Version compatible with PC was announced the following spring and was released in 1987IBM PS / 2But it will be used. And as soon as Model M was used in general, keyboards of similar designs began to appear on the market.

Of course there was also a critical review against Model M, but IBM commented to the reviewer that "You should learn to love Model M, which is the future form of the keyboard" And it is left in a certain magazine.

It is Model M which became the prototype of the current keyboard, but only one point, the symbolic part has not been inherited. That is "use of spring". Because IBM wanted to make it feel soft, I used a spring-based system from PC / XT. Because the sound resonates with the use of a spring, the current Model M enthusiast seems to be said to be "noisy" from surrounding people, but as the feel and sound when pressing the key are clear There is also an advantage that fewer mistakes are made.


In 1991 IBM introduced the typewriter, printer and keyboard departmentLexmarkAs a spin-off. Lexmark withdrew from the keyboard department six years later, and in 1999 Model M disappeared from the production line. Even now we can purchase Model M for about $ 80 (about 8700 yen), but according to Neil Muyskens, IBM's former manager currently serving as president of Unicomp, since Lexmark has left the keyboard division Unicomp As we purchased intellectual property rights, it seems that there are many models that are not affixed to IBM's logo on the existing model M. IBM still sells keyboards for commercial use, but if you want a Model M with IBM's logo auction andClickyKeyboardsWe have to buy it on a website like. ClickyKeyboards is a web site that resurrects and sells the old keyboard that Ermita, a keyboard enthusiast, picked up from a recycling center etc. "It's fun to use the iPad, Kindle is useful, but I do not use the touch screen to write stories or write papers," Ermita talked about the charm of the keyboard.


In addition, a movie that performs using the type sound of the successive keyboard which was made so far has been released, and the difference of the shape of the keyboard and the operation sound has become well understood.

A chorus of keys: drop the space - YouTube


Making of how the movie was made can be confirmed from the following.

How we turned 12 clicky keyboards into a music video | The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6935097/how-we-turned-12-clicky-keyboards-into-a-music-video