Alternatives / discussion
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This is the discussion related to the wiki page Alternatives.
My alternative for the current keyboard layout
JvHJvH 1204537974|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

A switch on the keyboard to physically disable the Caps Lock key. This way users who don't use the key can't accidentally press it.

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Unfold My alternative for the current keyboard layout by JvHJvH, 1204537974|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
And yet another alternative
JvHJvH 1204538133|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

As is already mentioned in the list above: a programmable key.
The thing I would like to explicitly add is that it should also be possible to program it to function as the Caps Lock key.

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Unfold And yet another alternative by JvHJvH, 1204538133|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
2 more alternatives
JvHJvH 1204539153|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

1) Make Caps Lock only work in combination with Left Shift. This way the user always has to press 2 keys, and is less likely to enter Caps Lock mode.

2) Always put an LED on the Caps Lock key so the user can see he/she is in Caps Lock mode without having to look at the screen.

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Unfold 2 more alternatives by JvHJvH, 1204539153|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Re: 2 more alternatives
cbencben 1270993759|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I've been using CapsLock as layout switch (I'm trilingual) on linux for years.
The standard XKB option to do this moves capital locking to Shift+CapsLock, as you propose.

Despite years of practice with it, I keep pressing Shift+CapsLock accidentally (never intending it) because the keys are adjacent.
So it might not be enough of a guard.

[Today I learned that xmodmap -e "remove lock = Caps_Lock" kills capital locking without killing the layout-switch meaning of CapsLock. I'm very happy now :-)]

Last edited on 1270994022|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover By cben + Show more
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Unfold Re: 2 more alternatives by cbencben, 1270993759|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
BackTAB below TAB
cbencben 1270993424|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Tab, Alt+Tab, Ctrl+Tab are used a lot for GUI navigation.
There is no separate key for BackTab, so users are forced to use Shift+Tab, Alt+Shift+Tab, Ctrl+Shift+Tab.
I propose that BackTab deserves a separate key, and the place below Tab vacated by killing CapsLock is perfect for it!

Alt+Shift+Tab is bad not only because any 3-key combo is awkward.
And any pair of commands having opposite effect will be frequently used in back-and-forth alternation.

  • Think about arrows - are you careful to press Right just exact number of times, or do you frequently overshoot a little and then go back?
  • Think about undo/redo - you usually don't know where to stop, so you deliberately undo too much, then redo a little.

Have you used programs that use

  • Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Y for redo vs. Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Shift+Z?
  • Ctrl+F/Ctrl+G for next/previous search match vs. Ctrl+F/Ctrl+Shift+F?

If so you know what I'm talking about.
Even Z/Y, far as they are, allow resting to separate fingers on them for quick alternation!
Toggling Shift is much harder, especially in combos like Ctrl+Shift+Tab, where you much control a finger that is between 2 already pressed fingers.
Try it now, and you'll feel my pain. Literally. Ouch.

Historical evidence:

  • VI/Emacs (designed by keyboard effeciency freaks) spend a lot of double letters for paired commands and never took the Shift way.
  • Navigation keys are already doubled (arrows, Home/End, PgUp/PgDown). So are Delete/Backspace (though these don't undo each other).
Last edited on 1270993793|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover By cben + Show more
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Unfold BackTAB below TAB by cbencben, 1270993424|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
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