New keyboard layouts

[Paul Fox]

tiago wrote:
 > On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 5:21 PM, Paul Fox <pgf at laptop.org> wrote:
 > 
 > > tiago wrote:
 > >  > I must ask, what's the default behavior of function keys in the new
 > > layout?
 > >  > Fn changes them to F keys, or are they F keys without Fn pressed?
 > >
 > > the labels on the function keys are just alternate meanings, not
 > > alternate scancodes.  i.e., the key labeled 'network
 > > neighborhood' on an XO has always generated the F1 scancode.
 > > this will continue to be the case, with no modifiers required.
 > >
 > > i believe the only keys the Fn key modifies, currently, are the arrow
 > > keys, which generate pgup/pgdn/home/end when modified by Fn.
 > >
 > > (yes, you've been caught by an ambiguity in the keytop labeling.)
 > >
 > 
 > I know :|
 > Not understanding anything of the underlying software or hardware, wouldn't
 > it be possible to have the Fn keys really modifying those keys? That could
 > bring some benefit, at least for me. I frequently find myself needing the F
 > functions in gnome.
 > 
 > Also, if that's the case, and the default are the sugar actions, why not
 > make those the big symbols at make the F* keys smaller?

maybe i'm misunderstanding you, but i think i didn't do a good
job up above.  the 4 keys used by sugar for network, friends,
home, and activity _are_ F1 through F4.  those keys have never
been special, and they're not special on the new keyboard.  all
that's changed on the new keyboard is that the keys now have two
names:  the symbolic sugar icon, and the traditional F{1,2,3,4}
name.

this is in contrast with the arrow and pgup/dn/home/end keys where the
secondary meaning is available only when you press the Fn key.

paul

 > 
 > Best regards,
 > Tiago
 > 
 > 
 > >
 > > paul
 > >
 > >  >
 > >  > Tiago
 > >  >
 > >  > On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Mikus Grinbergs <mikus at bga.com> wrote:
 > >  >
 > >  > > > The following are the keyboard layouts and legends for these
 > >  > > > new keyboards.   Much thanks to Walter Bender for developing
 > >  > > > these given a bad set of constraints.
 > >  > > > http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_English_Non-membrane_Keyboard
 > >  > >
 > >  > > There may be users who wish to plug in an external keyboard.  Such
 > >  > > external keyboards often have function keys grouped in sets of four.
 > >  > > Such grouping places F5 at the beginning of a row of four keys, and
 > >  > > places F6 in the middle of a row of four keys.
 > >  > >
 > >  > > Suppose users might be pressing the key for 'frame' more often than
 > > the
 > >  > > key for 'search'.  Should the 'frame' function be assigned to the F5
 > >  > > key, since on external keyboards the F5 key might be easier to locate
 > > ?
 > >  > >
 > >  > > mikus
 > >  > >
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 > >  > >
 > >  > part 2     text/plain                 129
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 > >
 > > =---------------------
 > >  paul fox, pgf at laptop.org
 > >

=---------------------
 paul fox, pgf at laptop.org