Illuminated keyboards use LED lights to backlight keys, making them visible in dimly lit rooms. There are two types: those with black lettering on a clear keyboard and those with illuminated characters on a matte keyboard. They come in various sizes and layouts, with some aimed at gamers and including special keys. Cost varies from $20 to $100 USD.
An illuminated keyboard is backlit with LED lights so you don’t need external lights to see the keys. If you can’t type by touch, a lighted keyboard is very useful for working or playing in dimly lit rooms. Most models use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port to connect to your computer or laptop, and have two one-inch (2.54 cm) rear kickstands to set the keyboard at an angle.
There are many sizes and layouts for illuminated keyboards, from small laptop models to standard, gaming, and full-sized multimedia keyboards. However, there are only two basic ways to design an illuminated keyboard: Illuminate a whiteboard and use black lettering on the keys; or use matte keyboards and illuminate the characters on the keys instead. Both types of illuminated keyboards have their advantages and disadvantages, and which one is better usually comes down to personal preference.
If the keyboard is clear with black lettering, it will emit a fair amount of light when turned on because the entire keyboard glows. Some people may find that the extra light generated by these models helps them see the keys better, while others may just think it’s visually appealing. Others may find that these models emit too much light for their liking, and that looking at a shiny keyboard can be hard on sensitive or tired eyes.
The other type of illuminated keyboard uses a standard-looking matte keyboard in black or bone. When the keyboard is backlit, the characters on the keys light up or glow. The LED backlight also creates a lattice of light between the keys, outlining them against the baseboard. These keyboards emit less light overall, but some people with vision impairments may find illuminated characters more difficult to read than illuminated keys.
Many illuminated keyboards are aimed at the gaming market and will include special programmable or navigation keys. Some models are larger than standard keyboards to accommodate special function and media buttons, and many have advanced features such as adjustable backlight levels for different ambient light conditions.
Aside from standard QWERTY or the placement of the letters themselves, many specialized or aftermarket keyboards incorporate designs that change the position or size of certain keys in hopes of improving the convenience of using the tab. For typists or someone already used to a standard layout, a learning curve can come with using a non-standard keyboard and sometimes that learning curve pays off and the new layout is friendlier. If, however, you prefer certain keys in certain places, be sure to check out the placement as you admire the sheen of an illuminated keyboard.
Backlit keyboards are specialty items that may not be available in all physical computer retail locations. However, many online stores sell these popular products. Cost varies widely depending on features, with most models ranging in price from $20 to $100 US Dollars (USD).
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