Compact keyboard
According to DIN EN ISO 9241-410, compact keyboard describes a computer keyboard that, in contrast to a full keyboard , does not have a numeric keypad . The requirements for key size, key division and other requirements are identical to full keyboards.
Often mistakenly scaled down keyboards, keyboards with scaled-down keys or non-standardized key assignments are referred to as compact keyboards in which essential keys such as the space bar , the enter key and the shift keys are designed smaller than with full keyboards or with arrow keys , function keys , the escape key and the Positioning buttons are not arranged individually, but in a rectangular layout.
Many compact keyboards as well as modern full keyboards also have a so-called function shift key (Fn), which can be used to address individual, double-assigned keys.
operation area
BGI 650, the specification of the EU VDU work regulation, recommends compact keyboards for screen activities. The reason for this is the correct alignment of the keyboard on the screen (it can be placed in the center in front of the screen), while full keyboards must be positioned offset to the right so that the editing area ("letter area") is centered in front of the screen. This will move the mouse even further to the right. This leads to health problems such as "mouse arm" and neck pain. Compact keyboards support constant work with the mouse, whereas the use of the number pad is seldom. For episodes in which many numbers have to be entered, an additional number pad that can be connected is recommended.
A layout similar to that of compact keyboards is often used in notebooks , since the often smaller area for the keyboard area makes the layout of a full keyboard impossible.