Symbolics layout
The Symbolics keyboard layout is specific to the range of keyboards which was sold with the Lisp machines made by Symbolics, Inc..
Contents
Description
Since these machines ran a custom OS based on the Lisp programming language, the layout has a few peculiar features:
- Since Lisp is heavy on parentheses, the keys next to 'P' produce parentheses without having to press Shift.
- The keyboard has an unusual amount of modifiers and extra Shift keys which allow to type extra characters or have more levels of key bindings.
- There are Network and Local keys to switch between a local or remote prompt.
Other special features include:
- The key next to A is captioned Rub out and behaves like an extra Backspace or Delete key.
- The other Backspace sits one row lower than on PC keyboards and is a small key.
- Symbolics keyboards
Modifiers are black on grey, function keys are white on grey, and alpha keys are white on black.
Later variant with beige instead of white text.
The last generation of Symbolics keyboards had red on white for modifiers and black on white for the rest.
I/O System in Lisp Machines (1981)
(See pages 276 and onwards in the Lisp Machine Manual, 3rd ed. 1981, link below).
Buttons on the keyboard
- Page - Enter a page separator.
- Rub out - Delete character to the left.
Modifiers
- SHIFT
- TOP
- GREEK/FRONT
- CONTROL
- META
- SUPER
- HYPER
There are no control characters as in ASCII, so CONTROL just sets the control modifier bit.
If Shift is pressed along with CONTROL and/or META, it sets the hyper modifier bit!
Example: Pressing CONTROL+SHIFT+A does not produce C-A instead of C-a, but H-A.
Character codes
The code table in page 279 of the Lisp Machine Manual does not show all characters and symbols on the Space Cadet keyboard. However, the 4 hands and I-IV are present. See also pages 287/288. For an example on how to use the hands symbols, see p. 437.
External links
- Bitsavers — Lisp Machine Manual, 3rd edition Retrieved 2015-07-15.
- Symbolics — New website Retrieved 2015-07-15.
