Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with keys

Typing: from 60wpm to 90wpm

ekpyrotic — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:54:03 -0800

From a reasonably good [60wpm] looking-at-the-keys typist to a reasonably good [90wpm] touch typist. I currently type at ~60wpm. I have to look at the keyboard every 3-or-so words. I want to touch type for 2 reasons,

1. To improve speed,
2. So I can copy text effectively, i.e., not have to look at the keys now and again.

Where's the best place to go from here?

To key or not to key

AlliKat75 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:33:38 -0800

What is the probability that the worst will happen? My girlfriend lost her keys. What are the odds that someone will find all the right places to use these keys? The details: We live in the East Bay. She works in San Francisco. She took the Bart this morning and is positive that her keys were in her backpack around lunch time. The lost keys include our car key, our house key, our mailbox key and her work key. What is the probability that someone will find these keys (were they possibly stolen?) and know where to use them? Should we re-key everything?

Türkçe....!

ryanbryan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:52:02 -0800

How do you program foreign (namely the Turkish ones - ı, ş, and ğ) characters into a laptop keyboard....? I currently have my laptop keyboard set to United States-International, which allows me to type, for example:

: + o for ö
' + a for á
Ctrl + Alt + W for å

It seems however, that the Turkish characters ı, ş, and ğ (and their capital equivalents) are not programmed into this keyboard layout as standard. Does anyone know of the key combination for them, or any other alternative for programming these characters into similar keyboard shortcuts? Would be happy for a solution that required installing supplementary software, but before anyone suggests, installing the Turkish keyboard is out of the question.

Recommendations for wireless locator kit? (i.e. 'RFID-beepers I can stick on things)

jcruelty — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:34:54 -0800

Can you recommend a good wireless locator kit that will let me tag various remotes, keys, etc. so I can find them by activating the locator and listening for a beep? Key features I'm looking for would be: good range, ability to deal w/ wireless interference, small tags (one of the remotes I want to stick a tag onto is 3 inches by 1 inch), reasonable price range.

I saw along these lines with minimal response. Amazon lists a few kits like this: EZ-FIND-25-Item-Wireless-Electronic-Locator but I would really like to hear if anyone's used it and if so how's the quality.

Does my laptop need botox?

letahl — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:46:12 -0800

A patch of keys on my old Apple laptop stopped working. No recent spills. What next? Ive got an old school PowerBook G4, which I fin love, but the keyboard has gone wonky. (There would have been apostrophes in that sentence if I had them.) Ive determine its a hardware issue (not software/operating system). Id really rather not buy a new computer, but a patch of keys on my keyboard have stopped working.

Im up for a little dissembly if necessary. What should I replace, or where should I start to figure out how to fix the problem?

Thank you, MFs.

Is it safe to glue keys to a laptop keyboard?

puckupdate — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:59:33 -0800

The left CTRL key popped off of my ThinkPad T43, the casualty of a RAM upgrade. The blue nipple seems to have come unglued from both the keyboard and the key. Is it safe to glue onto the keyboard? Googling reveals warnings of not using superglue and using superglue. Would a silicon adhesive be safer? Better?

I need to Shift into a higher plane of typing!

brenton — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:10:43 -0800

I am looking for a typing program that will force me to use the right shift key for left hand letters, and the left shift key for right hand letters. When touch-typing, I have the bad habit of only using the left shift key. With intense focus, I can use the right shift key for letters on the left, but after trying many times to force myself to do this, I always find I am reverting back to my old ways (it's faster in the short term, slower in the long run).

I really want to correct this flaw before I go to grad school and start writing Truly Long Papers. But every typing program I can find fails to distinguish between the shift keys. Does anyone know of a program that is shift-specific?

I am not even sure if keyboards send a different key-code for the different shift keys. If this is the case, then I am determined to hack a keyboard and then hack an open-source typing program to do this... any suggested starting points?

How do you unstick an organ key?

HotPants — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:12:02 -0800

My roommate and I recently picked up a Kimball console organ for the price of carrying it down three flights of stairs. Unfortunately, we banged one of the keys on the lower row on the way down, and now it's stuck. While B is a solid note as far as notes go, does anybody have any tips on how to unstick it? So far the only thing that we've tried has been a lot of jiggling...

What's the best way to carry all my stuff outside when I work out?

melodykramer — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:33:38 -0800

What's the best way to carry keys, water, mp3 player, and wallet when you're working out outside? Do you have a favorite fanny pack (how...not chic) or have you come up with some alternative arrangement? Would you please share? I've decided to try to run around Philadelphia and start exercising outside. Except I keep my wallet and keys and phone and iPod in my pocket -- and carry my water -- and everything jangles about like a bell ringer at Christmas.

I was wondering if there's a brand of belt pack or backpack that works especially well with people doing things like running, skipping, and running stairs. The belt packs I encounter on the street are particularly hideous -- and I'm looking for practical, not aesthetic -- but I'm not even sure those belt packs stay put should their owners decide to race around a track.

So...how do you secure your stuff? Thank you.

Click. Click.

Skyanth — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:25:00 -0800

What is the use of double locks? Not two separate lock, just the kind of lock that you can turn once (which locks the door) and then another time, in the same direction (which locks the door... more?). If the door is only safely locked with two turns of the key, why would you offer the option to turn it only once? And if the door is just as safely locked with only one turn of they key, why offer the option for a second turn?

I've been thinking about his for some time. The only explanation I can come up with is that one turn is not enough to push the bolt far enough to really lock the door. But that would mean that all non-double locking doors are actually not safe? Surely that's not true.

How to fix laptop keyboard keys that fell off?

macsigler — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:21:29 -0800

How to fix laptop keyboard keys that fell off? I have a Dell XPS M1710 laptop, and some of the keyboard keys have popped out of their spot. I have tried to reattach the plastic retainers on the keys to their spot on the keyboard, but inevitably they never latch on like they used to, and in fact some are now broken or lost. Is there a secret to getting them to pop on, or is there an alternative, i.e. mini-springs and superglue, etc.? I'm willing to try most reasonable ideas. Thanks in advance!

A spot of friendly breaking and entering.

mostlymartha — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:35:25 -0800

How do I retrieve a key/set of keys from a mail slot? Some dear friends of mine went to Japan for their honeymoon. They'd wanted to give me their spare keys before they left, but we were never able to meet up for the exchange. I'd love to surprise them by filling their fridge up with tasty snacks for their return, but in order to do so, I obviously need to get into their house.

They dropped their keys through the mail slot hoping I'd be clever enough to figure out how to retrieve them. Obviously, I have failed them in this regard. The slot is in their garage wall; it has a sort of curved lip inside to catch mail (and keys).

How do I get the keys out? I have a strong ring magnet I was thinking of tying to a string, but when I tested that out on my own keys, only the little metal key ring was magnetic so there wasn't much for the magnet to hold onto. Would getting a stronger neodymium magnet work better? If so, where can I buy a ring shaped neodymium magnet in San Francisco? Also, now that I think about it, I don't know if it's a whole ring of keys or just the house key, and I can't really ask because they're incommunicado.

I was wondering about maybe a hook made of a coat hanger, but the tricky thing is, obviously, I can't see inside very well and I'd rather not knock the keys off with my fumbling.

Any other brilliant key retrieval ideas?

How to learn music with DIY lighted keys

mikesmeta — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:28 -0800

Is there a way to output midi data from MAC or PC so that I can have one in a series of LED lights light up when the corresponding note is played? I would like to learn playing keyboard by example, have seen the casio lighted keyboards, but I heard these keyboards cannot play midi's that I download online.

Help me stop forgetting my apartment keys

schroedinger — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:58:33 -0800

What is a sure-fire way to stop forgetting my keys when I leave the apartment? I've locked myself out three times this week already. Do you have any memory tricks or something similar that you employ to stop this from happening?

Keys to the city

micklaw — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:03:46 -0800

Help me fix a keyboard/key problem with my Vista laptop. Background. I previously had XP installed but had to move back to Vista (long story).

Since then I have noticed a few little idiosyncrasies with my keyboard that have finally gotten the better of me. When ever I type this symbol:
'
by pressing the key once, nothing happens. If I hit the key again, two become visible (ie '') so I have always just hit the key twice and deleted one.

Similarly, whenever I hit this symbol:
" (yes, same key, with shift)
I get the same thing.

I was able to handle the hit-twice-then-delete-once issue. But recently I have noticed (only it seems in Google Earth, Youtube and Gmail - all Google right?) that the @ key and the " key have been swapped around, but only for those sites/applications.

I have no idea how to fix this problem and am wondering if anyone else has experienced the same or similar. I am running a Dell Inspiron 1501 (meaty!) that is around 2 years old and the problem only arose when I switched back to the original Vista install late last year.

I don't even know what to search for online to get help.

You are my only hope.....

The "m" key is minimizing no matter what!

iliketolaughalot — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:35:25 -0800

My cat got on my roommate's MacBook and now it's minimizing windows whenever she presses the "m" key. Then it's bringing up the preferences of whatever application she's in. It happened as she was trying to search Google in Firefox, and then just type "m" in Word! I checked the sticky keys, no dice. Tried restarting, still happening. It means she can't really do anything because there are lots of m's out there! Help!!!!

Name-That-Retro-Game: top-down, moving travellator floors, color coded keys

dcbarker — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:01:26 -0800

Name-That-Retro-Game: top-down view, moving travellator floors, possibly color coded keys. Possibly on C64, Amiga A500/600/1200 or Atari ST/E. I've been trying to remember the name of this old game for a while and it has been nagging at my very soul. I played it years ago (many many years ago). I remember it from my gaming days as a kid - the only platforms I imagine it being on are the Amiga A500/600/1200, Atari ST/E or Commodore C64.

I wish I could narrow it down further. It was definitely top-down perspective, color (not greyscale), had these moving floor strips like little travellators (I want to say they were yellow but that's just a guess). I think the goals were puzzle driven (get the red key to open the red gate that then lets you do X, Y and Z to clear this level). I've spent the entire night trawling screenshots of classic games via Google and have had no luck.

Bonus if you can link to screenshots (then I'll know for certain that's the game!).

Please, help me preserve my sanity!

grab keys

raztaj — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:27:51 -0800

I dropped my keys down the elevator in my apartment building. Is there any way I can retrieve them? I was carrying an armful of laundry down to the basement, and dropped my keys. They fell down the elevator shaft. I'm on the second floor. They fell down past the first floor, to the basement (laundry level). From the basement, I can see the "bottom" of the elevator shaft - about 4.

Is there any way I can retrieve them with some magnetic pole/magnet on a stick device?

I do have copies, but lost like, my "member pass" keychain things, as well as keys when I visit family (which can be remade). This is more of a convenience factor, than dire necessity.

But seriously... has anyone had any luck with this? What kind of magnetic pole devices can I poke down into the 2.5-3" crevice?

Disable Sticky Keys

my_thai — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:18:55 -0800

How do I permanently disable sticky keys? I accidentally engaged sticky keys in Windows XP last week. I figured out how to turn it off, however everytime I reboot and log in the sticky keys are back.

How do I get rid of them forever?

MS Outlook 07 switched my @ and quote keys - how can I stop this from happening?

alrightokay — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:38:50 -0800

Outlook occasionally switches my "@" key with my " " " key [quotes key]. Does anyone know why this happens and how I can fix it? Note that this only occurs within Outlook. Other programs recognize the keys correctly (web-addresses, chat windows, etc.). I also have Shortkeys Lite installed but I don't think it's that. The problem comes and goes without warning and I don't know how it's being triggered. Any ideas would be wonderful.

A Cure for Shiny Key Syndrome

WalterMitty — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:05:45 -0800

How can I avoid shiny keys syndrome on my computer keyboards? This relates to the patches of smoothness that seem to appear on often-used keys after a few months of consistent use. On every keyboard I've used, after a few weeks of heavy use, there always seem to be certain keys which exhibit an odd, shiny smoothness compared to other keys. It is clearly because these keys are the most often used. The spacebar, for example, has a patch of shiny smoothness on the right side where my right thumb usually lands when I'm hitting the spacebar. The ⌘ key on my keyboard is pretty shiny too. In contrast, rarely used keys like "Esc" or the F-keys are in pristine condition.

It's most obvious on black keyboards but the shiny patches are also quite evident on white keyboards if viewed at an oblique angle. They keys themselves function normally, they're just really... shiny.

My question is, is there any way to avoid the development of these shiny patches short of using a keyboard cover? Is it because the top layer of plastic has been worn off by my fingers or is it an accumulation of grease and oil and dirt? Can it be "cured"?

This isn't a very well-phrased question, so if anyone has any clarifications to ask I'd be happy to make them.

How to find replacement skeleton keys for old locks?

scblackman — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:56:43 -0800

How would I find skeleton keys for all of the old locks in my house? We recently purchased a 100 year-old home in Philadelphia and there are dozens of doors (bedrooms, closets, cabinets) with skeleton-key locks. Of course there are no keys, just locks. Having keys for some of these doors would be handy, but I have no idea where to start (other than calling a locksmith). Any suggestions (besides just buying a ton of old keys and hoping to get lucky)?

Keys! Come here Keys! Common! Good Keys! Your such a good set of Keys!

thetenthstory — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:18:38 -0800

What is the best key finder on the market? I checked out Amazon and there were many mixed reviews. I perpetually lose my keys. I leave them in the same place 98% of the time. It is the other 2% variable that is a massacre to me some mornings.

One key, one wallet, one problem: how?

meowzilla — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:21:24 -0800

How do I securely carry a single key in my wallet? I've started carrying a single housekey in my wallet because my keychain is overladen with keys that it won't fit in any of my pockets without stabbing me or looking like a tumor. However, since the key is loose in the wallet pocket, it has a tendency to move around, and several times it has fallen out when I open my wallet, so far I haven't lost it, but it's bad enough when it happens.

Is there any way of securing the housekey in the wallet? I remember that there were some emergency car keys which were embedded into a plastic card, and it could be popped out: is there something similar for a generic housekey? Like a card-size object that holds one key, easily removable but secure?

I've spent a lot of time slimming down my wallet (made out of tyvek, only four cards carried) so carrying something like a dedicated key wallet would add an unnecessary amount of bulk.

Emergency duplicate Lexus key

cainiarb — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:38:11 -0800

Need a duplicate Lexus RX300 key I need to get a couple duplicate keys for my Lexus. I don't need one with all the bells and whistles to open/lock doors, etc. This is for an emergency key to be given to our daughter and one to be left at our weekend cottage in case I should lose mine. Is there anyway to get a couple emergency keys made without it costing $150 plus each?