Difference between revisions of "Meta key"
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For now, some notes about the development of a "meta key" concept. Roughly in chronological order. | For now, some notes about the development of a "meta key" concept. Roughly in chronological order. | ||
| − | * "Meta Hand" on the [[TX-2]] keyboards. | + | * "Meta Hand" on the [[TX-2]] keyboards. Typed to enter a "meta command", or special directions to the assembly program. |
| − | * META on the [[LINC]] keyboard. | + | * META on the [[LINC]] keyboard. Typed as a prefix for commands, much like the TX-2 key. |
* [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]] and its preceding PDP-6 software uses [[Teletype]] model 33 Altmode key as a command prefix. | * [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]] and its preceding PDP-6 software uses [[Teletype]] model 33 Altmode key as a command prefix. | ||
| − | * EDIT on the [[IMSSS]] custom Datamedia keyboard for use with [[TVEDIT|TVEdit]]. | + | * EDIT on the [[IMSSS]] custom Datamedia keyboard for use with [[TVEDIT|TVEdit]]. Typed to enter editor commands. |
* META modifier on the [[Stanford_Artificial_Intelligence_Laboratory|SAIL]] keyboard. | * META modifier on the [[Stanford_Artificial_Intelligence_Laboratory|SAIL]] keyboard. | ||
* META modifier on the [[Knight TV system|Knight keyboard]]; used with [[Emacs editors|EMACS]] as an alternative to the Altmode prefix. Also TOP. | * META modifier on the [[Knight TV system|Knight keyboard]]; used with [[Emacs editors|EMACS]] as an alternative to the Altmode prefix. Also TOP. | ||
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* [[Sun-2]] keyboard has modifiers LEFT and RIGHT. Subsequent Sun keyboards have the diamond symbol. | * [[Sun-2]] keyboard has modifiers LEFT and RIGHT. Subsequent Sun keyboards have the diamond symbol. | ||
* The [[X Window System]] protocol has five "mod" [[bucky bit]]s, of which the first is usually mapped to Meta and/or Alt. | * The [[X Window System]] protocol has five "mod" [[bucky bit]]s, of which the first is usually mapped to Meta and/or Alt. | ||
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| + | ==External links== | ||
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| + | * [http://xahlee.info/kbd/meta_key.html History of Meta Key] by Xah Lee. | ||
Latest revision as of 09:13, 20 November 2025
For now, some notes about the development of a "meta key" concept. Roughly in chronological order.
- "Meta Hand" on the TX-2 keyboards. Typed to enter a "meta command", or special directions to the assembly program.
- META on the LINC keyboard. Typed as a prefix for commands, much like the TX-2 key.
- ITS and its preceding PDP-6 software uses Teletype model 33 Altmode key as a command prefix.
- EDIT on the IMSSS custom Datamedia keyboard for use with TVEdit. Typed to enter editor commands.
- META modifier on the SAIL keyboard.
- META modifier on the Knight keyboard; used with EMACS as an alternative to the Altmode prefix. Also TOP.
- META modifier on the Kulp "space-cadet" keyboard. Also TOP, GREEK, SUPER, HYPER.
- Stanford SUN workstation proposal from 1980 mentions a META key.
- Sun-2 keyboard has modifiers LEFT and RIGHT. Subsequent Sun keyboards have the diamond symbol.
- The X Window System protocol has five "mod" bucky bits, of which the first is usually mapped to Meta and/or Alt.
External links
- History of Meta Key by Xah Lee.
