Research: do you use both Ctrl, Alt and Shift?

[1u1z]

Hi GH,
I'm making a research about how much people use the Ctrl, the Alt and Shift. So... do you always use both (left and right) buttons?
I'm left-handed and never (really) use the right buttons. Since I have a project to make my own ortho-linear 40% , I want to know if people really use.

Thanks in advance. Regards,
L.

[Hypersphere]

Control: I remap CapsLock as Control, so I end up having 3 Controls on my TKL boards but only one on my HHKB Pro 2. Either way, I mostly use left Control.

Alt: I use Alt/Opt less frequently, but when I do use it, I usually use the left Alt/Opt.

Command: My primary OS is Mac OS X, and so I use Command. I usually use it on the left.

Shift: I use the right Shift much more often than the left Shift.

Edit: PS -- I am right handed.

[aicrono]

Also a left hander here.

I use almost exclusively the left control/shift/alt. From time to time, I will use the set on the right sided to do ctrl+alt+del, but it is not very often I do this as I mostly use ctrl+shift+esc to access what I would normally use from the ctrl+alt+del menu.

[Sturmfrau]

For ctrl I only use the left one. For alt only the left one too. For shift I mostly use the right one but also use the left one from time to time. For command I only use the left one.

You should use google survey thing too make this easier. 

[Tiramisuu]

Been working fairly hard to use the correct meta key lately as emacs gets pretty uncomfortable if you don't

[dorkvader]

I only use the right shift, ctrl, super and alt.

I also prefer to use the navigation on the tenkey.

[jackalope]

Right handed and I only use the left side modifiers.

[Badwrench]

Right handed here.  I use the leftand right shift equally, but 90% of ctrl and alt on the left.  Winkey only on the right.

[hwood34]

Righthanded. Use Right shift, but left ctrl and alt

[Lain1911]

I'd say the only one I don't use is the right alt.

[jacobolus]

When on a standard Mac ANSI keyboard:

Right shift for all the letters (except O & P) and the num-row symbols on the left hand. Left shift for capital O and P and all the symbols on the right hand.

I pretty exclusively use my left thumb for spacebar, command, and option (unless holding two of them at once, in which case I use both my left thumb and my left pinky finger) and my left pinky for control (to the left of the A; unless a shortcut calls for cmd+opt+ctrl or shift+ctrl in which case I use my left ring finger).

On a more ergonomic programmable keyboard layout, shift gets put onto a thumb key. (Though I think using a pinky is also fine as long as the right shift key is a bit closer to reach.)

Japanese and ISO keyboards do terrible awful things to the shift keys. ANSI right shift is bad enough. Pretty much all keyboards have incredibly stupid placement for alternate/option and command/windows/meta. Keyboards that put the control key to the left of the left pinky home position are okay; keyboards that put control keys in the corners are designed by idiots or sadists (or sadistic idiots).

I present: the essence of the IBM/ANSI QWERTY keyboard layout:

cf. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61798
(and note this layout pictured is *better* than what you get on a standard keyboard, despite looking totally stupid and ridiculous.)

[Hyde]

I use both left and right shift equally when typing capital letters.

Only use the left Ctrl/Win/Alt keys, never touch any of the right Alt/Win/Menu/Ctrl keys.

Shift:  Used to type capital letters and select multiple items.

Ctrl:  Also used to select multiple items and shortcuts.

Alt:  Used in Photoshop and Maya.

[1u1z]

Is always impressive to reply speed here at GH. Thank you guys, helped a lot.

cf. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61798

I read, thanks.

Japanese and ISO keyboards do terrible awful things to the shift keys.

I agree. That's why I'll make my own. The initial idea:

- Little, symmetric  and minimalist as possible. I think most part of the keys we really don't use or use rarely, so theses key can be put on some extra layer.
I'm supporter of a philosophy of suckless and the Plan9 design on software engineering. As you can read on the link, this philosophy is being applied only on Software Engineering, but not on Hardware parts. I want to expand this and make some less "harmful" components;
- The idea is make a 45-50% keyboard. Like the SmallFry / JD40, but with accentuation key's (after this thread I'm thinking about remove the Ctrl and Alt of right and just leave the Shift key);
- It will have the ortho-linear design, like TypeMatrix, but with exactly the same position of a normal keyboard, to make the transition less "pain". The purpose is of course, minimalism (anyone can tell why we still using the not regular columns?), but too the less hand movement as possible;
- Will be foldable (it will not interfere on design), with a trackpoint (same of Thinkpads) and a extra key button for click action, so you don't need mouse and can stay with your hands just on keyboard;
- The misc: MX blue with fat O-ring, PTB keycap spherical with no marks (I don't think we need more indications on keyboard) and black;
- Designed to Workman layout, but can be reprogrammed to QWERTY or Colemak (any other):
- The implementation will be Open. It will have free schematics, the microcontroller will be open hardware (with schematics too) and all the code used will be on (free) ISC license;
- Cheap (maybe use 3D printed on some parts).

So... this is my project. Any though? 

[jacobolus]

I agree. That's why I'll make my own. The initial idea:

- Little, symmetric  and minimalist as possible. I think most part of the keys we really don't use or use rarely, so theses key can be put on some extra layer.

Seems reasonable as a design principle.

- The idea is make a 45-50% keyboard. Like the SmallFry / JD40, but with accentuation key's

What does “accentuation key's” mean?

- It will have the ortho-linear design, like TypeMatrix, but with exactly the same position of a normal keyboard, to make the transition less "pain". The purpose is of course, minimalism (anyone can tell why we still using the not regular columns?), but too the less hand movement as possible;

Have you tried using a matrix keyboard before?

- Cheap (maybe use 3D printed on some parts).

I don’t think there’s any benefit to 3d-printing any part of a keyboard with a layout like this. You need (a) a switch plate, which I would recommend getting waterjet out of steel, but on a budget you could use laser-cut acrylic, and (b) either some hand-wiring or a PCB.

So... this is my project. Any though?

Show Image

I don’t think those numbers bear much relation to the difficulty of typing the keys on this layout. How did you come up with them?

[ithinkimkorean]

I'm left handed and I only use the left side mods unless I have to use right shift to capitalize a letter on the left side of the board.

I'm not even use what I can use alt for other than alt-tab and ctrl alt delete. 

[yasuo]

i rarely use shift i prefer Caps

position shift better on homerow

[Touch_It]

I'm left handed as well, (use a mouse with my right hand.  Use left ctrl alt and shift a lot.  I have my win key mapped to right alt.  Sometimes use right shift.  Rarely use right ctrl.  When I do it would be to bring up task manager if I want to only use one hand.  Hope this helps.

[1u1z]

Thanks folks!

What does “accentuation key's” mean?

Please see the attach.

Have you tried using a matrix keyboard before?

No. But I don't see any I do not see any problem with that ... you would be against this layout? Question sincere, because I do not see a problem with it.

you could use laser-cut acrylic

Good idea, thanks. I want it something like matte black, you know if I can paint it?

I don’t think those numbers bear much relation to the difficulty of typing the keys on this layout. How did you come up with them?

This is not my. I just put it to illustrate make thinking. I download it from Workman layout page.

Thanks for your reply!

[jonathanyu]

Right hander here, I only use left ctrl alt, for shift most of the time I use the left one ane use the right one when I type question mark

[skuko]

I use both left and right shift equally when typing capital letters.

Only use the left Ctrl/Win/Alt keys, never touch any of the right Alt/Win/Menu/Ctrl keys.

Shift:  Used to type capital letters and select multiple items.

Ctrl:  Also used to select multiple items and shortcuts.

Alt:  Used in Photoshop and Maya.

this except the photoshop, i use alt for push-to-talk in teamspeak

[mougrim]

I'm right-handed, so I'm using Ctrl and Alt on the left. I'm not even have Ctrl and Alt on the right of my current keyboard.

But I need both Shifts.

[dusan]

...
So... this is my project. Any though?

Why is the top row 0.5u staggered? Why not simply ortho-linear layout e.g. like this
https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=64580.0;attach=81546;image

[osi]

Right handed user here.

99% of the time, my left modifiers are used. On a rare occasion, I will use right shift

[Ngt]

Right Handed user here.


I only use CTRL, ALT and SHIFT that are on the left.
I'm a big gamer and most of the time my right hand is not on the keyboard so I'm used to use modifiers only with my left hand. This habit kept up even when I'm not playing (i.e programing).

[Findecanor]

Right-handed.

Caps Lock is mapped to Control... but I sometimes use the right Control key with the arrow keys.

I use mostly left Shift, but right Shift together with a couple of keys on the right side.

I use left Alt only with Tab or left/right arrow (Alt-left/right = Back/Forwards in web browsers) or with the mouse when dragging files or restricting axes/dimensions in paint and drawing programs.
I use right Alt as Alt Graph together with lots of keys because I use Swedish layout - and not just for brackets and braces.

[ynrozturk]

I never use my right Ctrl.

[mogo]

I don't think I ever use any of the right-side mods. I'll go home and take off the keys and see if I hit them while I'm not actively thinking about it.

[1u1z]

Why is the top row 0.5u staggered? Why not simply ortho-linear layout e.g. like this
https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=64580.0;attach=81546;image

Because I think it will be difficult for most part of people adapt yourself to this... I think we can make a ortho-linear, but exactly the same  position of function keys (Shift, Alt, Ctrl, Enter, Super, etc.). Basically the same of the attack, but Workman layout.

[dusan]

By 'top row' I mean the number row, not the Ctrl/Alt/Spacebar row. The top row in your proposal is kept 0.5u staggered relatively to the QWERTY row. I see no points in it. From my personal experience, except some bottom corner keys like the Z key and the slash key, ortho-linear layout is generally *better* than staggered layout.

[aref]

Right handed here.  I use the leftand right shift equally, but 90% of ctrl and alt on the left.  Winkey only on the right.

+1

[JackMills]

Right-handed and I use only left for Ctrl, Alt and windows key. I try to use both shifts but i favor the left shift, even for left handed keys to combine with.

[samwisekoi]

i rarely use shift i prefer Caps

position shift better on homerow

Interesting.

I am right-handed, and I use LH Caps, Shift, Alt & Ctrl.  And RH Shift and Ctrl.  And frankly, I'd be happy with a 7.5x spacebar that squished the RH mods to just 3 keys.

 - Ron | samwisekoi
Sig auto-typed by my GH36 LH keypad.

[hwood34]

Just a question for people here who use the right ctrl, how do you do it? It just seems to me like there's no comfortable way of pressing it

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

I only use the right side if I have only one hand available and I need to CTRL+ALT+DEL. Other than that, I never use them...

[Lurch]

I'm left handed, and primarily use LCtrl, LAlt, and LShift, but will occssionally use RShift when typing certain phrases.

[JDorfler]

I use them all the time.  I suppose I am one of the few.  I probably take advantage of about 95% of what a keyboard offers for shortcuts, typing, and other such things.  I do not use the scroll lock.  Currently I use that for "gaming mode" to shutoff the Super/Windows/OS key when gaming.

[poeee]

Right handed.  Left shift, left control, right thumb space bar.  I use alt on both sides, simply because the software we use at work uses alt - enter to 'write' changes made, and I'm usually coming from the number pad.

[shut up]

Right handed, I use left shift if I'm working on the left side of the keyboard and right shift if I'm working on the right side of the keyboard. I only use left alt on occasion though and very rarely use right control.

[ddot]

For reference, I'm right handed and use a trackball with my right.

I almost exclusively use the left shift while typing.  Bad habits are hard to break, even if typing things like Shift+A are really awkward.

I always use Left Ctrl as it allows for one handed combinations with q/w/a/s/z/x/c/v ect.

I rarely use Alt for much of anything, but usually use the Left Alt as my right hand is usually on the trackball.

Notable exceptions include Right Shift + Del for immediately deleting files one handed and Right Ctrl when using VirtualBox as it’s defined as the host key.

[Richard Eul]

I'm using sticky keys, so I usually end up tapping on Ctrl / Alt / Shift once instead of holding them down (most of the time).

I would say I use the left Shift / right Shift in a 60:40 ratio - tap/hold on right Shift if I need to capitalize words I'm typing with my left hand, vice versa.

Just a question for people here who use the right ctrl, how do you do it? It just seems to me like there's no comfortable way of pressing it

I can't find a comfortable way of pressing it too - I tend to curl up my pinky before pressing it, or holding it with my thumb if I'm pressing it with some other combination. That is normally when I press Ctrl + Backspace - to erase one whole sentence 

[rowdy]

Just a question for people here who use the right ctrl, how do you do it? It just seems to me like there's no comfortable way of pressing it

Right thumb on Right-Ctrl, then usually middle finger on the few keys that I use it with, like arrow keys, Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End ...

[Data]

Left Ctrl, Alt, & Shift used heavily
Right Shift used rarely
Right Ctrl & Alt never used
Right handed

[samwisekoi]

Just a question for people here who use the right ctrl, how do you do it? It just seems to me like there's no comfortable way of pressing it

Uncomfortably.  Seriously, I use it mostly when a program has some weird RH control-key shortcut I need to use repeatedly while using the mouse.  For example, my PCB layout program uses ^U for "ungroup", and if I have to ungroup a series of individual components, I will use Ctrl_R to do that.

But this very thread has made me wonder if I might not be better servered to remap Alt_R as Crtl_R.  That would turn ^U into a simple thumb-index finger contortion instead of the horrible twisty thing it is now.

I suppose that is why AltGr is in that position on ISO keyboards.

 - Ron | samwisekoi
Sig auto-typed by my GH36 LH keypad.

[spremino]

Yes, I do use modifiers on both sides of the keyboard.

[Topper]

Except for the right Ctrl, I use both sides. I use the right Alt for entering german umlauts in the EurKey layout.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I use all three on both sides. It's more comfortable.

[Fragil1ty]

Hi GH,
I'm making a research about how much people use the Ctrl, the Alt and Shift. So... do you always use both (left and right) buttons?
I'm left-handed and never (really) use the right buttons. Since I have a project to make my own ortho-linear 40% , I want to know if people really use.

Thanks in advance. Regards,
L.

I'm the same as some of the others that have specified changing their caps lock for ctrl and vice versa, I think it's just better for ease of use and what not really. I do in fact use the left alt a lot for modifiers while gaming, I use the right shift sometimes when using caps lock on the right hand side of the keyboard. I never use the right alt though, just don't really see a purpose for that what so ever.


I use the left shift in proportion also, just for caps lock and what not really, capitalisation of the start of words and stuff like that.

[dusan]

Just a question for people here who use the right ctrl, how do you do it? It just seems to me like there's no comfortable way of pressing it

Right thumb on Right-Ctrl, then usually middle finger on the few keys that I use it with, like arrow keys, Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End ...

+1

And index finger on right Shift for e.g. Shift+Ctrl+arrow.

[Oobly]

I am right handed and use the left Ctrl and Alt, right Shift almost exclusively. I never use Caps Lock, so I suppopse I could easily switch Caps Lock and Ctrl, but I am too used to the way I use Ctrl-Z, X, C, V to try the switch. I don't like the hand twist involved.

The main exception is using the right Alt as AltGr for Finnish layout.

The only time I use right Ctrl is for Ctrl-Alt-Del on TKL and larger boards.

[davkol]

Twisted left wrist, curled pinkie and stretching index finger have resulted in RSI in my case. Therefore, I properly alternate hands for modifiers, i.e. use opposite hands. I'm toying with the idea of sticky modifiers to completely avoid any possible stretching. My layout has maximum symmetry and looks like this:

• Shift on the home row, Control right below it
• left bottom row from left to right: Control-Alt-Super-L1-AltGr (the right side is exactly the same, just mirrored), outer two keys are pressed with the edge of my palm (keycaps are pointed accordingly)
• then there are some keys in thumb clusters, such as L2 (basically the usual Fn)