space-cadet keyboard

The space-cadet keyboard was equipped with seven modifier keys: four keys for bucky bits ({{Key top|Control|3=true}}, {{Key top|Meta}}, {{Key top|Super}}, and {{Key top|Hyper}}), and three shift keys, called {{Key top|Shift}}, {{Key top|Top}}, and {{Key top|Front}} (which was labeled on the front of the key; the top was labeled {{Key top|Greek}}). {{Key press|Meta}} had been introduced on the earlier Knight keyboard, while {{Key press|Hyper}} and {{Key press|Super}} were introduced by this keyboard.{{Cite book

| title=The Jargon File

| year=2007

| publisher=Xinware Corporation

| pages=128

| isbn=978-1-897454-66-4

}} Each group was in a row, thus allowing easy chording, or pressing of several modifier keys; for example, {{Key press|Control|Meta|Hyper|Super}} could be pressed with the fingers of one hand, while the other hand pressed another key.

Many keys had three symbols on them, accessible by means of the shift keys: a letter and a symbol on the top, and a Greek letter on the front. For example, the {{Key top|G}} key had a "G" and an up-arrow ("↑") on the top, and the Greek letter gamma ("{{serif|γ}}") on the front. By pressing this key with one hand while playing an appropriate "chord" with the other hand on the shift keys, the user could get the following results:

Each of these might, in addition, be typed with any combination of the {{Key top|Control|3=true}}, {{Key top|Meta}}, {{Key top|Super}}, and {{Key top|Hyper}} keys. By combining the modifier keys, it is possible to make {{nowrap|(50 keys × 5 shift types) × 2{{sup|4 bucky keys}} {{=}} 4000 different inputs.}} This allowed the user to type very complicated mathematical text, and also to have thousands of single-character commands at their disposal. Many users were willing to memorise the command meanings of so many characters if it reduced typing time. This attitude shaped the interface of Emacs.{{Cite book|last1=Cameron|first=Debra|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/learninggnuemacs00came#page/408/mode/2up|title=Learning GNU Emacs|last2=Rosenblatt|first2=Bill|last3=Raymond|first3=Eric|publisher=O'Reilly|year=1996|isbn=1-56592-152-6|editor-last=Loukides|editor-first=Mike|edition=Second|location=Sebastopol, CA|pages=408–409|chapter=Emacs and X|author-link3=Eric S. Raymond|chapter-url-access=registration}}{{efn|The way the space-cadet keyboard influenced the design and usage conventions of the Emacs text editor compares with the influence the ADM-3A terminal's keyboard—notably its {{Key top|Esc}} key feature—had upon the competing vi text editor.{{Cite web

| url=http://xahlee.info/kbd/keyboard_hardware_and_key_choices.html

| title=History of Emacs ＆ vi Keys (Keyboard Influence on Keybinding Design)

| author=Xah Lee

}} In both cases, these were the keyboards used by each editor's respective original developers.}} Other users, however, thought that so many keys were excessive and objected to this design on the grounds that such a keyboard can be difficult to operate.

Emacs uses "M-" as the prefix for {{Key top|Alt}} when describing key presses: the "M-" stood for {{Key press|Meta}} on the space-cadet keyboard, and when Emacs was ported to PCs, the {{Key press|Alt}} key was used in place of {{Key press|Meta}}.

This keyboard included a {{Key top|Macro}} key which had limited application support. It also included four Roman Numeral keys ({{Key press|I}}, {{Key press|II}}, {{Key press|III}}, and {{Key press|IV}}) which allowed for easy interaction with lists of four or fewer choices.

• Lisp machine
• Symbolics
• Knight keyboard

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150112030657/http://home.comcast.net/~mmcm/kbd/SpaceCadet.html Space Cadet]: Mike McMahon's discussion of the keyboard, with illustrative pictures and technical documentation
• [http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/S/space-cadet-keyboard.html Jargon File entry] on the space-cadet keyboard
• [http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=98 The Lisp keyboards]: overview of the space-cadet and other famous Lisp keyboards
• {{Cite web

| title=Space-cadet Keyboard and Lisp Machine Keyboards

| author=Xah Lee

| date=2011-10-27

| url=http://xahlee.info/kbd/lisp_keyboards.html}}

{{Keyboard keys}}

Category:Computer keyboard types

Category:Lisp (programming language)