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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Roguemaster8 on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:47:12

Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Roguemaster8 on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:47:12: I've been curious about it all night and Google hasn't given me an answer. I'm sure it's buried somewhere in the wiki, though half an hour of searching there didn't give me an answer either.

Does anyone know of the origins of these RGB modifier sets?

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=41602&d=1330115340)
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: MMB on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:49:30: I would like to know, too.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Roguemaster8 on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:54:51: I feel like it has something to do with airport keyboards, but I'm not sure...
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: tsangan on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:56:31: Comes from Desko BMLO which are still currently used by delta airlines to this very day

RGB used to help memorize the different combinations on the keyboards
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: MMB on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:56:35: I definitely see more of the colored key on terminal boards, so that's probably a good place to start.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: tsangan on Wed, 20 June 2012, 00:59:46: basically for noobs that can't memorize control, alt and shift

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VsvdRI-qeWo/TxNeHQGvhPI/AAAAAAAAAvs/gTBUmNhTQvk/s800/_1000798.JPG)
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:00:12: Quote from: Roguemaster8;617610
I feel like it has something to do with airport keyboards, but I'm not sure...
Someone found some expensive desko (I think) keyboards in an airport terminal in Detroit, I believe. If you page back in "great finds" there was a topic about it not long ago. I remember they looked like that elbowglue SPOS that was popular, but they were white.

Anyway, I don't know the beginning of RGB sets, but it always sort of made sense to me: Modifiers can have colours, so the specific commands can be colour coded to them. Like, if CTRL (red) + P means "print", you can have a sub legend of "p" be "print" (in red), so it's easier to find. This makes sense for printing on the keycaps, relegendables, as well as those stickers that go near the keyboard for cheatsheets on programs :p

If anyone has any actual knowledge about it (not conjecture with what I just put up) I'd like to know as well.

EDIT: Tsangan has one of the pictures I remember is his post, above.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: tsangan on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:02:12: BiNi talked about these before

Quote from: BiNiaRiS;491526
They are for sure Deskos. Only the RGB keys and the caps with orange writing are dye subs. the rest are normal doubleshots. delta airlines uses these boards. they are in every airport from what i have seen. they pay $500/keyboard for them too and they aren't even MX switches. the older versions had the trackpoint in the middle of the keys so they cut off a portion of the caps to make room for it. The newer versions have the trackpoint in the front so the GHB keys are left in tact.

United Airlines uses a smaller version of the deskos with printed or lasered RGB keys. the CTRL/ALT on their boards are 1 units each so really small.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Roguemaster8 on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:11:49: This makes me want to drive to the airport and sneak around the counter for a closer look. Think they'd mind? I'm sure it's not the first time someone has been curious about their keyboards.

Thanks for the info tsangan and dorkvader, it answered my question for the most part. I wonder if anyone on the forum has a Desko with the original colored modifiers.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:12:01: Quote from: dorkvader;617615

EDIT: Tsangan has one of the pictures I remember is his post, above.

I snapped that pic at the DTW.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: tsangan on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:13:55: pitashen with awesome photo skills!

as for who has these quite a few members on here should have them, including myself

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/7193210436_9acafa8843_b.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7193253764_35ba7d757d_b.jpg)
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Roguemaster8 on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:20:05: Quote from: tsangan;617628
pitashen with awesome photo skills!

as for who has these quite a few members on here should have them, including myself

Show Image
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/7193210436_9acafa8843_b.jpg)

Show Image
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7193253764_35ba7d757d_b.jpg)

Sorry, it's late for me and I didn't even see what I typed. I meant to ask if anyone had any Desko boards with the first RGB modifiers on them.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: tsangan on Wed, 20 June 2012, 01:22:25: Those modifiers are from the Desko board... unless I'm understanding incorrectly

As for the board itself it's a G81 so it has MY switches so it's quite terrible, so mine went in the trash I do believe
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: demik on Wed, 20 June 2012, 02:00:02: He's asking if anybody owns a desko board I think.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 20 June 2012, 04:34:41: Quote from: demik;617650
He's asking if anybody owns a desko board I think.

Bini did

but then OP also asked for the "first" ... hmm
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 20 June 2012, 07:04:14: Yes exactly, color coded for keyboard shortcuts so they are easier to remember.
I had a few of those Desko BMOL, but only stripped the keycaps and chucked the rest in the dump. Well actually I saved one of the card/passport boards too since it's amusing to play with. They come up on ebay every once and awhile, usually rawko for $25-50 depending.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]53423[/ATTACH]
Heres one of my RGB on a work in progress Chicony 5181CT I am fixing up.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Soarer on Wed, 20 June 2012, 08:09:43: Quote from: tsangan;617614
basically for noobs that can't memorize control, alt and shift

Show Image
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VsvdRI-qeWo/TxNeHQGvhPI/AAAAAAAAAvs/gTBUmNhTQvk/s800/_1000798.JPG)

Heh, pretty much! I remember getting plastic/card templates to label function keys, that were colour coded, together with little stickers for the modifier keys, with Microsoft C 5.1. Here's the WordPerfect one from roughly that era...

(http://www.mtmonthly.com/runmac/wp51keys.jpg)

Hard to say where it actually originated, but certainly back in the days of monochrome screens and limited menus, so its only purpose was to tie together the keys and such labels :-)
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 20 June 2012, 10:03:17: Quote from: Roguemaster8;617625
This makes me want to drive to the airport and sneak around the counter for a closer look. Think they'd mind? I'm sure it's not the first time someone has been curious about their keyboards.

Thanks for the info tsangan and dorkvader, it answered my question for the most part. I wonder if anyone on the forum has a Desko with the original colored modifiers.
Don't go around the airport photographing things. It's probably illegal, and you'll get searched and questioned for sure. You'll have to be discreet if you want pictures.

I mean, even if you glance over the counter at their keyboard, they'll look at you funny, unless you are incognito about it.

Thanks for the information.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: pitashen on Wed, 20 June 2012, 10:59:18: Quote from: dorkvader;617798
Don't go around the airport photographing things. It's probably illegal, and you'll get searched and questioned for sure. You'll have to be discreet if you want pictures.

I mean, even if you glance over the counter at their keyboard, they'll look at you funny, unless you are incognito about it.

Thanks for the information.

Certainly not a good idea taking photos when airport staffs are around. When I took mine at the DTW, the terminals were quite deserted lol.
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: Roguemaster8 on Sun, 24 June 2012, 04:36:31: Quote from: dorkvader;617798
Don't go around the airport photographing things. It's probably illegal, and you'll get searched and questioned for sure. You'll have to be discreet if you want pictures.

I mean, even if you glance over the counter at their keyboard, they'll look at you funny, unless you are incognito about it.

Thanks for the information.

Quote from: pitashen;617819
Certainly not a good idea taking photos when airport staffs are around. When I took mine at the DTW, the terminals were quite deserted lol.

Heh, I was only joking, with the way airport security is nowadays that would just be asking them to violate your personal space.

Quote from: lysol;617707
Yes exactly, color coded for keyboard shortcuts so they are easier to remember.
I had a few of those Desko BMOL, but only stripped the keycaps and chucked the rest in the dump. Well actually I saved one of the card/passport boards too since it's amusing to play with. They come up on ebay every once and awhile, usually rawko for $25-50 depending.
(Attachment) 53423[/ATTACH]
Heres one of my RGB on a work in progress Chicony 5181CT I am fixing up.

Wow that looks sharp! And a little shiny too. :dizzy:
Title: Where did RGB keys originate from?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 24 June 2012, 04:59:20: Coloured keys are actually a very good idea, as anyone who has worked in phone support knows. The only trouble is getting someone to let go of the Alt key once they have done the original keystroke.