The Shift key ⇧ Shift is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two shift keys, on the left and right sides of the row below the home row. The Shift key's name originated from the typewriter, where one had to press and hold the button to shift up the case stamp to change to capital letters;
the shift key was first used in the Remington No. 2 Type-Writer of 1878; the No. 1 model was capital-only.
On the US layout and similar keyboard layouts, characters that typically require the use of the shift key include the parentheses, the question mark, the exclamation point, and the colon.
The shift key on an English Windows keyboard (above the left "Ctrl" key)
Keyboard of a German mechanical typewriter (early 20th century), with shift keys labelled “Umschalter” (“switch”)
The technology of computer keyboards includes many elements. Many different keyboard technologies have been developed for consumer demands and optimized for industrial applications. The standard full-size (100%) computer alphanumeric keyboard typically uses 101 to 105 keys; keyboards integrated in laptop computers are typically less comprehensive.
Keyboard construction of a typical notebook computer keyboard, in four layers.
A typical membrane assembly
Atari 400 keyboard
Most keyboards are rigid, but this keyboard is flexible.
