The QWERTY Project
International Computer Keyboards
Keyboards are stagnant - a person can't simply rearrange or replace buttons to their liking. Therefore, international keyboards can demonstrate the ways in which speakers of different languages perceive communication.
Jump to:
Arabic Keyboard (Windows)
Category: Computer Keyboards
Language: Arabic
Primary Characters: Roman
Additional Characters: Arabic
Summary:
In addition to a standard QWERTY layout, this Windows laptop keyboard includes a series of Arabic characters. This is useful for native speakers of both languages learning the other as it is easy to interchange between the two using a few simple keyboard shortcuts. However, it should be noted that the Roman characters are significantly more prominent than their Arabic counterparts. Arabic has 28 characters and numerous accents and short vowels, contributing to the somewhat crowded appearance of the keys. Note that the Windows keyboard varies from its Windows counterpart.
(source: Wikipedia)
Distinguishing Features:
-
Multiple characters on each key
-
European/West Arabic as well as Arabic-Indic numbers
Arabic Keyboard (Apple)
Category: Computer Keyboards
Language: Arabic
Primary Characters: Roman
Additional Characters: Arabic
Summary:
In addition to a standard QWERTY layout, this Apple keyboard includes a series of Arabic characters. However, this keyboard is clearly tailored more to native Arabic speakers, with a different layout and features such as Arabic labels on keys and the prevelance of characters not present on a standard American keyboard. This layout is tailored for use within an Arabic-speaking cultural context. Arabic has 28 characters and numerous accents and short vowels, contributing to the somewhat crowded appearance of the keys. Note that the Mac keyboard varies from its Windows counterpart.
(source: Wikipedia)
Distinguishing Features:
- Multiple characters on each key
- European/West Arabic as well as Arabic-Indic numbers
-
arrows pointing both directions
-
large "enter" key
-
section sign
-
Arabic descriptions of keys (enter/caps lock/shift/ctrl)
-
quote arrows (?)
Arabic Keyboard Overlay for Apple MacBook
Category: Keyboards - Other
Language: Arabic
Primary Characters: Arabic
Additional Characters: Roman
Summary:
This keyboard overlay is designed for those who wish to transform a standard American keyboard into Arabic - primarily non-native speakers of the language. On this surface, the Arabic elements are more prominent than the American layout. As demonstrated in the secon image, this overlay allows for smooth transition between languages, and the keyboard can be transformed back to its monlingual layout at any time. Arabic has 28 characters and numerous accents and short vowels, contributing to the somewhat crowded appearance of the keys. Note that the Mac keyboard varies from its Windows counterpart.
(source: Wikipedia)
Distinguishing Features:
- Multiple characters on each key
- European/West Arabic as well as Arabic-Indic numbers
-
quote arrows
-
section sign
-
symbols on shift key
Finnish Keyboard (Hewlett-Packard)
Category: Computer Keyboards
Language: Finnish
Primary Characters: Roman
Additional Characters: N/A
Summary:
This Finnish keyboard still follows QWERTY format; however, the layout of the keyboard includes key styles and symbol placement that is different from a standard American keyboard.
Distinguishing Features:
-
Letter accents: ö ä å
-
Different layout of symbols over numbers and on righthand side of keyboard
Distinguishing Features:
-
AZERTY layout
-
Numbers above symbols on keys
-
Numerous additional symbols
Summary:
The layout of this keyboard is AZERTY rather than QWERTY, making typing incredibly difficult for those not accustomed to this layout. The AZERTY keyboard is a French variation on the American QWERTY and is used primarily in France and Belgium.
(source: Wikipedia)
Category: Computer Keyboards
Language: French
Primary Characters: Roman
Additional Characters: N/A
French Keyboard (Hewlett-Packard)
German Keyboard (Microsoft)
Category: Computer Keyboards
Language: German
Primary Characters: Roman
Additional Characters: N/A
Summary:
The layout of this keyboard is QWERTZ rather than QWERTY, making rapid typing more difficult for those used to the positions of Y and Z on a QWERTY keyboard. The QWERTZ layout is used in Germany and Switzerland, because Z is much more commmonly used than Y in the German language.
(source: Wikipedia)
Distinguishing Features:
-
QWERTZ layout
-
"Strg." instead of "Ctrl"
-
Umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü)
-
Alt. Gr. key
Greek Keyboard Stickers for Windows/ASUS Laptop
Category: Keyboards - Other
Language: Greek
Primary Characters: Latin
Additional Characters: Greek
Summary:
This keyboard is designed for primary English-Language users, but includes stickers with Greek characters for typing in that language. The Greek layout uses the same layout as the Latin letters with their Greek counterparts. Note that the Greek and American keyboards overlap in some areas - some keys have no sticker on them. It should also be noted that Greek has 2 fewer letters than English.
(source: Wikipedia)
Distinguishing Features:
-
Some overlap between characters
-
Extra symbols
Mandarin Chinese Multilingual Keyboard (Apple)
Category: Keyboards - Other
Language: Mandarin
Primary Characters: Latin
Additional Characters: Chinese
Distinguishing Features:
-
Some overlap between characters
-
Extra symbols