On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 21:14:28 -0000, suzmccarth <suzmccarth@...>
wrote:

> but most keyboards require a dead keystroke first, then the vowel with
> the diacritic displays.

Such details are handled by the keyboard software in the computer
(keyboard "?driver?"). Ordinary keyboards put out one number (called a
"raw" keycode, just about sure) when you press a key, and a slight
modification of that number when you release it. Users are only very
rarely aware of this; it's normally no concern of the user. It's the
software that creates "dead" keys and redefines keys, ordinarily. (Gateway
did sell a programmable keyboard, though, and it was probably not the only
one.)

Many, but not all Dvorak conversions are done by keyboard-specific
software.

The relationship between "raw" key codes and the characters (or other
functions) they represent is done in the software, as I've said; this
relationship is collectively called a key map (or keymap).

Fwiw, I use a DvortyBoard[s], a custom version of a so-so ordinary
keyboard, called the Adesso Eagle Touch. The extreme most-distant,
rightmost key switches instantly between the Dvorak letter layout (love
it!) and qwerty. The Scroll Lock LED has been redefined to be lit for
Dvorak.

===

Sorry to have been away for a while; I'm badly backlogged with more e-mail
than I can handle. I do intend to catch up, one of these days, though! I
do notice Subject lines as I scan incoming messages. Qalam has been quite
active; Seshat must be proud!

The e-mail software I use doesn't distinguish between messages to Qalam
and off-list messages to me, btw. I think it's unlikely that anyone has
sent an off-list message, but, if so, I apologize! I do keep all incoming
mail (except spam), and date and time woud be enough to find any such
message.

I do wish you all well!

--
Nicholas Bodley /*|*\ Waltham, Mass.
<http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/081704V.shtml>
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