Marcin WicharySo excited!
In the museum store of National Museum of Computing you can buy a framed magazine. I spotted one issue with Lillian Malt (!) so I bought it and ditched the frame.
I think this describes the beginnings of the Maltron keyboard. I’ll scan it all once at home!
Finally, one bit-paired keyboard that’s not afraid to tell the whole truth.
Double soft keys, a very peculiar molly guard, and an arrow key layout from hell.
William H. Grover
Hypertalking
Paolo Amoroso@mwichary The vi arrow key layout is not much different.
Resuna
Ben@mwichary
That guard reminds me of a Thérac 25 console, in a way.
That guard reminds me of a Thérac 25 console, in a way.
@ben_zen Tell me more!
@mwichary
The Thérac 25 was a computer-controlled radiation therapy device, which took an earlier design with manual interlocks and… removed those interlocks. It turned out the delete key did not clear fields (amongst other issues that led to horrifying consequences), and instead of fixing the software the key was blocked off.
It's one of the pivotal cases of software failures resulting in loss of life. https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/case-study/therac-25
@ben_zen Thanks! I am familiar with the story – thought maybe this type of guard had a specific meaning (for Therac 20 or 25). As far as I understand they asked the operators to remove the keycap and tape over the switch of the key.
@mwichary
That's what I thought, but it still had that vibe of "oh, this key totally doesn't do what we expected."
That's what I thought, but it still had that vibe of "oh, this key totally doesn't do what we expected."
Henry Wilkinson@mwichary 8 Bit Guy released a good video on some wacky cursor key layouts recently... Though I feel like you may already know about many of them! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BytowtVycc0
The History of Cursor Keys
@hank Thanks! I saw that. If you liked that, my book will have quite, quite a few more. 😀
Erik@mwichary the 8-Bit Guy did a video on all the different variations of arrow keys
https://youtu.be/BytowtVycc0
https://youtu.be/BytowtVycc0
The History of Cursor Keys
Dr. Juande Santander-Vela@mwichary you have to use two hands to play games with that… (clearly not the first time I’ve seen that layout 😉)
Tony Finch
老张之剑 
jimray@mwichary Transistorised!
Here’s the scan! https://archive.org/details/dataweek-25-03-1970/mode/2up
Kim Slawson@mwichary cool! I look forward to reading it
Smotchkkiss@mwichary say hi to Alan
Gareth Potter@mwichary The ABC layout. Who says we don’t innovate in Britain these days.
Doug Simpkinson@mwichary
I spent way too much time thinking you were excited by the on-screen keyboard.
Can't wait to see the pictures!