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.
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.
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.
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
up down left right
↑ ↓ ← →
left right down up
← → ↓ ↑
Cross
↑ ← → ↓
Vertical Diamond
↑ ← → ↓
Horizontal Diamond
↑ ← → ↓
Arrows Square
↑ ↓ ← →
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
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/ ]