February 13, 2008
Delete the caps lock key
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a little perplexed by the Caps Lock key on my computer’s keyboard. I understand its purpose—to allow a user to type multiple capital letters without having to hold down the oh-so-heavy Shift key—but its relevance is beyond me.
Who’s typing that many sequential capital letters? With the advent of content management systems and cascading style sheets, do we really need the Caps Lock key anymore? Couldn’t that space on the keyboard be put to better use, say with a Finish My Document For Me key?
According to usability experts, text written in all capital letters slows down a user’s reading speed. On the Web, readers tend to gloss over all-caps sections of text and ignore the content—the complete opposite effect of what the Caps Lock-pressing author intended.
And I think we’ll all agree that when we receive a text message, IM, or email in all caps, we get the sneaking suspicion that the sender is SHOUTING AT US.
Well, apparently I’m not alone in my disdain for the Caps Lock key. In fact, there are organized groups of people out there who are lobbying for its removal from standard keyboards.
CAPSoff.org calls the key “ludicrous” and has an open letter to keyboard manufacturers on its site. anticAPSLOCK.com founder Linus McCabe refers to the key in question as a “bug” and, together with CAPSoff, has declared war on Caps Lock. There are all sorts of online tools and instructions for disabling the Caps Lock key. And some radicals have gone so far as to physically remove it from their keyboard.
In time, I believe the antiCapsLockers will win out and the Caps Lock key will go the way of the floppy disk drive. Until then, keep that left pinky under control and use caution with your capital letters. PLEASE.
Filed by rebecca at 7:22 am under Copywriting, Grammar guide
I could not agree with you more!! and i love your website and blog….. congrats!
Thanks, Christine! Keep reading -
How stupid do you think I felt when I called tech support because my password didn’t work only to find out that my CAPS LOCK WAS ON. Sorry for shouting!
Man can you write!
Hey, hey. Every since we (those in computer science) let our invention be used for practical matters - like writing. It’s never been the same. There are some computer systems and computer languages that require commands be written in UPPER CASE. My pinkies would get tired if I had to hold ‘em down for every letter. I suppose tape could work if you ever succeed. Let’s take computers back for what they we’re suppose to be used for fun, games, and killing time.
Hi, Bill -
OK, you made a good point about writing computer languages in uppercase; I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe the solution is an optional Caps Lock key. Personally, I’d opt for the keyboard without one. LOL I like your assessment of proper computer use — especially “killing time.”