Agency Dictionary

Keyboard

noun

In Portuguese: Teclado

Technology & AI

What does “Keyboard” mean?

An input peripheral device composed of an arrangement of lettered, numbered, and functional keys. It allows users to enter text, execute keyboard shortcuts, and control computer operations.

Etymology

A compound of key and board. Key comes from Old English caeg, of uncertain ultimate origin. Board comes from Old English bord, "plank, flat surface". The compound originally named the set of keys on a musical instrument such as a piano or organ. By the late 19th century it was applied to the key arrangement of typewriters, and from there to computer input devices.

Usage note

Keyboard can refer to a musical instrument (a keyboard player) or a computer peripheral (a keyboard shortcut). Context usually makes the sense clear.

Synonyms

keypad

Word family

key
board
keyboardist

Rhymes with

cord
lord
sword
ford

Usage examples

screens, mice, and keyboards are still very necessary
Design.2 - Demystifying UX/UI Design Pt.1
In fact, screens, mice, and keyboards are still very necessary if we need to use a machine to accomplish complex tasks with complex software, like weirdly, using a software to design another software.

Concept

Human-Computer InteractionHuman-computer interaction is a multidisciplinary field of study focusing on the design and use of computer technology between people and computational systems. It…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Design.2 - Demystifying UX/UI Design Pt.1June 8, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

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aqueductnoun: An engineered conduit or bridge designed to convey water from distant freshwater springs into urban centers using gravity flow.
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asynchronousadjective: Not occurring at the same time or coordinated simultaneously, describing workflows or interactions handled independently across time.
binaryadjective: Relating to or composed of two things, specifically a computational numbering system using base two digits.
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Databasenoun: A structured, organized collection of digitized data stored electronically in a computer system and accessible through various retrieval and querying mechanisms.

Also from these editions: terms

Buttonnoun: A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
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Screennoun: A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
wireframenoun: A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
Tangibleadjective: Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
briefingnoun: A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
intangibleadjective: Incapable of being perceived by touch or physical senses, yet possessing recognizable economic or conceptual worth.
Prototypenoun: An early preliminary model of a product from which subsequent forms and manufactured copies are developed and refined.
UX Designnoun: User Experience Design: the discipline focused on the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product, including usability, accessibility, and satisfaction.
Spacesuitnoun: A pressurized protective garment worn by astronauts to survive the harsh vacuum, extreme temperatures, and radiation of outer space. It incorporates life support, thermal insulation, and communications equipment.
Softwarenoun: The complete set of instructions, programs, algorithms, and data that direct a computer hardware system to perform specific tasks. It is intangible, adaptable, and easily updated across network connections.