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Hey, I'm the author :) I realize it comes across like I'm super worked up over something no one cares about, but I don't hate the key, I just think it's a wast

by dacoja 7y ago

Hey, I'm the author :) I realize it comes across like I'm super worked up over something no one cares about, but I don't hate the key, I just think it's a waste of space on modern keyboards, and that we should collectively reconsider its purpose. Considering the amount of time we all spend on our computers nowadays, any little efficiencies on their input devices could have a pretty large impact. I'm also someone who gets really passionate about bad design in everyday life and I have strong feelings about the way I think everyday things should be designed. On my old laptop, I remapped the key to a new kind of modifier key and made the JKLI keys behave like ←↓→↑ keys when Caps Lock was pressed down. It sped up my casual text input a ton, and that was the first time I started really thinking about it more deeply. I did an HCI study during my undergrad to try and prove that an alternate use for the key could help people input text more efficiently, but it was inconclusive. I also want to make a Mac app that would turn Caps Lock into Emoji Lock, where it would toggle between normal input, and emoji input. Something like this: https://i.imgur.com/Z5dDVUn.png https://i.imgur.com/Z5dDVUn.png I know a lot of people on this site probably don't use emojis very often, but a ton of Mac users do, and the existing methods for typing emojis on macOS (and Windows) are still super awkward and clunky. Unfortunately I don't know how to code macOS apps and I've got too much on my plate right now, but hopefully sometime in the future I'll get around to making that. And if I'm being 100% honest, I partially wrote this article so that if Apple does indeed replace the key on future keyboards, it'd make me look really good at predicting the future ;) Anyway, thanks for your feedback.

WorldMaker 7y ago
I think Windows has a pretty decent emoji interface as of a couple feature releases back: Win+. or Win+; (the Windows key [or Super key if you prefer the Linux name] with either . or ; whichever feels more comfortable) brings up a palette that can be navigated via keyboard and/or searched by typing words (and/or clicked/tapped). Most recent feature update even added common kaomoji.
- roboguy12 7y ago
  Also, for the macOS users, there's a great emoji picker interface: cmd+ctrl+space brings up a very similar-sounding menu where you can search by typing, or scroll through and click the one you want.
  - dacoja 7y ago
    That's actually the one I was thinking of as being awkward to activate :) I love the picker itself but the activation method is pretty clunky in my opinion. I wish I could just hit one key instead of having to simultaneously press three. I've been using Rocket for awhile now (https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/ https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/) which kind of takes the Slack style ":emoji_name" format to the whole computer, but it's still kind of awkward to activate and has a lot of false positive triggers. (It really makes you realize how often you type colons in everyday computer usage.)
- dacoja 7y ago
  Nice, didn't know about that! I have a PC desktop and a MacBook but lately my PC has been getting dusty, so I have to admit I'm not super familiar with the latest on Windows. Thanks for letting me know :)
ziddoap 7y ago
>I'm also someone who gets really passionate about bad design in everyday life and I have strong feelings about the way I think everyday things should be designed. I can respect anyone who has a passion and follows through on it. Thanks for your article and reply.
m463 7y ago
I think the problem with "getting rid of it" is that someone will define a terrible "what it should be" and move other keys around. Right now it is basically a user-defined key. I redefine it as control on all my systems, which is wonderful as an emacs user.

by dacoja 7y ago

WorldMaker 7y ago

I think Windows has a pretty decent emoji interface as of a couple feature releases back: Win+. or Win+; (the Windows key [or Super key if you prefer the Linux name] with either . or ; whichever feels more comfortable) brings up a palette that can be navigated via keyboard and/or searched by typing words (and/or clicked/tapped). Most recent feature update even added common kaomoji.

roboguy12 7y ago
Also, for the macOS users, there's a great emoji picker interface: cmd+ctrl+space brings up a very similar-sounding menu where you can search by typing, or scroll through and click the one you want.
- dacoja 7y ago
  That's actually the one I was thinking of as being awkward to activate :) I love the picker itself but the activation method is pretty clunky in my opinion. I wish I could just hit one key instead of having to simultaneously press three. I've been using Rocket for awhile now (https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/ https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/) which kind of takes the Slack style ":emoji_name" format to the whole computer, but it's still kind of awkward to activate and has a lot of false positive triggers. (It really makes you realize how often you type colons in everyday computer usage.)
dacoja 7y ago
Nice, didn't know about that! I have a PC desktop and a MacBook but lately my PC has been getting dusty, so I have to admit I'm not super familiar with the latest on Windows. Thanks for letting me know :)

ziddoap 7y ago

>I'm also someone who gets really passionate about bad design in everyday life and I have strong feelings about the way I think everyday things should be designed. I can respect anyone who has a passion and follows through on it. Thanks for your article and reply.

m463 7y ago

I think the problem with "getting rid of it" is that someone will define a terrible "what it should be" and move other keys around. Right now it is basically a user-defined key. I redefine it as control on all my systems, which is wonderful as an emacs user.