Symbolics layout
The Symbolics keyboard layout is specific to the range of keyboards which was sold with the Lisp machines made by Symbolics, Inc..
Description[edit | edit source]
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
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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)[edit | edit source]
(See pages 276 and onwards in the Lisp Machine Manual, 3rd ed. 1981, link below).
Buttons on the keyboard[edit | edit source]
- Page - Enter a page separator.
- Rub out - Delete character to the left.
Modifiers[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- Bitsavers — Lisp Machine Manual, 3rd edition Retrieved 2015-07-15.
- Symbolics — New website Retrieved 2015-07-15.
