Arrow Keys History
First Keyboard with Embedded Arrow Keys
Who invented the arrow keys?
The first keyboard to have embedded arrow keys is probably SAIL Keyboard. 1970. Although not dedicated arrow keys. It has arrows ← → ↔ ↑ ↓ embedded on J K L ; :
← → ↔ ↑ ↓ j k l ; :
![SAIL keyboard 1DZOu](iold51593/SAIL_keyboard_1DZOu.jpg)
The ADM-3A Terminal year 1976 is probably also a big influence.
First keyboard with dedicated arrow keys
The first to have dedicated arrows is maybe Space Cadet Keyboard (year ~1980) It has thumb keys 👍 👎 👈 👉 But these keys are not documented in manual. Not used by default.
![space-cadet keyboard 12](lisp_kbd/space-cadet_keyboard_12.jpg)
Arrow Keys Arrangement
Inverted T
↑ ← ↓ →
First inverted T arrangement is probably ADDS Consul 880 Terminal (1970).
DEC VT220 Terminal, LK201 Keyboard is famous for first having made a conscious ergonomic design of the inverted-T arrangement.
![DEC LK201 arrows W3rsk-s300](ilayout/DEC_LK201_arrows_W3rsk-s300.jpg)
IBM Model M keyboard (1985) is probably the computer that made the inverted-T design most popular.
left down up right
← ↓ ↑ →
First is probably ADM-3A terminal, 1976
![ADM-3A keyboard arrows 6gZ8H](iold51593/ADM-3A_keyboard_arrows_6gZ8H.jpg)
up down left right
↑ ↓ ← →
![DEC VT100 arrow keys 2013-08-30 ZB5qT](iold51593/DEC_VT100_arrow_keys_2013-08-30_ZB5qT.jpg)
left right down up
← → ↓ ↑
![apple keyboard arrows t6t4J](ilayout/apple_keyboard_arrows_t6t4J.jpg)
Cross
↑ ← → ↓
![arrow xerox 1109 lisp kbd 2019-11-16 v7tzv](imisc/arrow_xerox_1109_lisp_kbd_2019-11-16_v7tzv.png)
Vertical Diamond
↑ ← → ↓
SHARP MZ-700 PC, Year 1982
SORD M5 Computer, 1982
SEGA SC-3000 Computer, Year 1983
Nintendo Family Basic Keyboard HVC-007 (1984)
![arrows NEC PC-9801 z44pg-2](imisc/arrows_NEC_PC-9801_z44pg-2.jpg)
![arrows ms natural elite grzcr](imisc/arrows_ms_natural_elite_grzcr.png)
Horizontal Diamond
↑ ← → ↓
Arrows Square
↑ ↓ ← →
![Atari 800 Computer FL arrows sdVnG](iold51593/Atari_800_Computer_FL_arrows_sdVnG.jpg)
Split Arrows
← → ↑ ↓
All Possible Arrows Configurations in a Line
← → ↓ ↑
→ Apple IIe, 1983 • Apple Standard Keyboard M0116, 1987← → ↑ ↓
→ TRS-80 Model 100← ↓ → ↑
← ↓ ↑ →
→ TRS-80 Model 102, ADM-3A Terminal← ↑ → ↓
← ↑ ↓ →
→ ← ↓ ↑
→ ← ↑ ↓
→ ↓ ← ↑
→ ↓ ↑ ←
→ ↑ ← ↓
→ ↑ ↓ ←
↓ ← → ↑
→ Centurian↓ ← ↑ →
↓ → ← ↑
↓ → ↑ ←
↓ ↑ ← →
→ Televideo↓ ↑ → ←
↑ ← → ↓
→ HP 2621 [see HP 2648A, year 1978]↑ ← ↓ →
↑ → ← ↓
↑ → ↓ ←
↑ ↓ ← →
→ DEC VT100 Terminal↑ ↓ → ←
The 8-Bit Guy
Apr 30, 2023
xtodo
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 182613-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_182613-2.jpg)
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![arrow keys 2023-05-06 183248-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_183248-2.jpg)
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![arrow keys 2023-05-06 183657-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_183657-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 183804-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_183804-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 183807-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_183807-2.jpg)
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![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184123-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184123-2.jpg)
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![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184253-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184253-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184412-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184412-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184436-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184436-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184457-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184457-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184547-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184547-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184627-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184627-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184807-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184807-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 184813-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_184813-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 185005-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_185005-2.jpg)
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 185050-2](iold51593/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_185050-2.jpg)
Efficiency of Arrow Keys Arrangement
Arrow Keys Arrangement Efficiency: vim HJKL vs IJKL
[history of the inverted T arrow key arrangement on keyboard By Jim Burrows. At http://www.eldacur.com/~brons/NerdCorner/InverseT-History.html ]
2018-07 thanks to Marcin Wichary
2018-07-12 to read 〔The Keys To Success. A lot of early video game consoles secretly wanted to be home computers, too: Their makers either sold keyboard add-ons or failed miserably in the process. By Ernie Smith. At https://tedium.co/2017/04/27/video-games-keyboards-intellivision/〕
![arrow keys 2023-05-06 SSDkD](i/arrow_keys_2023-05-06_SSDkD.jpg)