Cursor keys
Contents
Overview
Cursor keys (also known as arrow keys) on keyboards were arranged in a variety of ways. The modern inverted-T layout found on most keyboards was introduced in 1982 by DEC with the LK201 keyboard for the VT220 terminal, but wasn’t universally adopted for some years. Apple used it in 1987 for their Extended Keyboard but not for the Standard Keyboard; Commodore adopted it for the Amiga 2000 and 500 (1987), having used a different layout for the original 1985 Amiga.
Examples
Some example layouts are given below, using images originally drawn for the now-dead Deskthority wiki:
Commodore PET, 1977 (later non-chiclet type illustrated):
DEC VT100 terminal, 1978:
Apple III, 1980 (illustrated) and Macintosh M0110A keyboard (1986):
Acorn BBC Microcomputer, 1981:
DEC LK201, 1982:
Apple IIe, 1983 (illustrated) and Apple Keyboard II (1990):
Amstrad CPC 464, 1984:
Acorn BBC Microcomputer, 1986 (illustrated) and Commdore Amiga (1985):
Apple IIe, 1990:
Gaming
Gamers have a preference for using the WASD keys, presumably to release their right hand for the mouse. (This may not apply to left-handed gamers.) “WASD” is a Anglo-centric term, as the normal assignment of these keys depends on layout.
WASD keys:
ZQSD keys (French layout):
The cursor keys on the BBC Micro were not suitable for gaming, and the general preference was to use one hand for each axis. The most common choices made by programmers were:
- Z and X for left and right (left hand), and : and / for up and down (right hand)
- A and Z for up and down (left hand), and “<” and “>” (, and .) for left and right (right hand)
- Caps Lock and Ctrl (left hand) for left and right (sideways motion only)
Similar practices were likely adopted on other systems until practical cursor keys were adopted.