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 ; :

The ADM-3A Terminal year 1976 is probably also a big influence.

• ADM-3A, 1976

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.

Inverted T

  ↑
← ↓ →

First inverted T arrangement is probably ADDS Consul 880 Terminal (1970).

• 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 VT220 + LK201, 1983

IBM Model M keyboard (1985) is probably the computer that made the inverted-T design most popular.

• IBM Model M keyboard (1985)

left down up right

← ↓ ↑ →

First is probably ADM-3A terminal, 1976

• ADM-3A Terminal

up down left right

↑ ↓ ← →

• DEC VT100 Terminal

left right down up

← → ↓ ↑

• Apple IIe, 1983
• Apple IIe Platinum, 1987
• Apple Standard Keyboard M0116, 1987

Cross

  ↑
←   →
  ↓

• LISPM Keyboard

• MSX, 1983
• Mykey, 1994

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)

Horizontal Diamond

 ↑
← →
 ↓

• Truly Ergonomic 2016

Arrows Square

↑ ↓
← →

• Atari 400/800, 1979
• IBM 3276 Display Station

Split Arrows

← →    ↑ ↓

• Kinesis Model 100 (1992)
• Maltron Keyboard

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

• ↑ ↓ → ←

xtodo

Efficiency of Arrow Keys Arrangement

Arrow Keys: vim HJKL vs Inverted T

〔history of the inverted T arrow key arrangement on keyboard 1998 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. 2017-04-27 By Ernie Smith. At https://tedium.co/2017/04/27/video-games-keyboards-intellivision/〕