Wilfried F. Voss is the author of The Bleeding Hills. For more information see his website at http://wilfriedvoss.com.
I use my computers a lot, several hours a day. I have a desktop computer with two large monitors for the more serious tasks and a laptop for mobility (i.e. traveling), and they both, particularly their keyboards, have seen better days. While the technology between these two systems is quite different, they have one peculiar oddity in common.
There is this one shiny item on each keyboard: Caps Lock. After all these years, it is still clean. On my laptop it is the only key that comes with a light (LED). On my desktop hitting Caps Lock (usually by accident) triggers a noise (beep). And, despite all the efforts to make its use attractive through lights and beeps, Caps Lock appears to have inspired Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyrics writer, to create “Caps Lock seems to be the loneliest key.” They changed the title eventually, yet emphasizing the insignificance of Caps Lock. Nobody wants or dares to use it. I deemed, it was time to look into this (so far) undetected problem of our computer-dominated society.
What is it that makes Caps Lock so unattractive to computer users? The usual answer I hear is, that Caps Lock makes your writing appear as screaming at the reader. That still doesn’t answer the question for its continuing existence. It may categorize Caps Lock as a misfit in our society, but we still hang on to it. In fact, almost every household in the world has at least one Caps Lock.
Even Apple, a technology company thriving to make computing as efficient as possible, hangs on to Caps Lock. Wouldn’t the computer industry be able to lower their production costs by eliminating Caps Lock, considering that they are producing hundred of thousands of computers each month of the year? Wouldn’t a missing Caps Lock help save the environment by producing less plastic?
Does Caps Lock come with the same aura of sacredness like, for instance, amendments to the American constitution, regardless of whether they make sense in today’s society (think of the right to bear arms) or not?
Throughout my research, I was hoping to be on the way of revealing one of the most intriguing mysteries in the history of computers, yet I failed. So, in consequence, I am turning to some fellow authors to provide insight.
Lorelei Bell is the author of the Sabrina Strong Series, and she commented:
“Possibly this could be brought up to the Think Tank Team. As for me I ACTUALLY USE MY CAPS LOCK!!! There you have it. An odd-ball making comment on an oddity.
What I DON’T use is Number Lock. What the heck is that? I don’t even like nor use those numbers off to the right side of my key board. It’s in the way, actually. I’m a writer, not an accountant! If they could just illuminate that 3-4″ off my key pad I’d be a happy camper/writer.”
Ronnie Massey, author of Crimson Dawn and Unbound: Battle of the Half-Angels, wrote:
“As for my thoughts, while I would love to say that holding onto the Caps Lock key is being held onto because of some sort of aura of sacredness, I don’t think that this is the case.
I’m rather inclined to say that the absence of a redesigned keyboard, minus the often overlooked Caps Lock key, is simply a matter of laziness or oversight. Why waste time on something that may seem trivial when looking at the product as a whole?
When computer companies are tweeking their products, they’re concerned about faster processors, better cameras, etc. When commercials air, they will tout those processors, lighter weights, better displays, and new glasses-free 3D displays as reasons to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on the latest gadget. Alas, the poor Caps Lock key is the tech version of a human appendix, or a pair of tonsils.
It may also be a matter of, ‘if it aint broke, don’t fix it.’”
Peter Carroll, author of Queen of Misfortune, put it into words in his special style:
“Tis’ indeed a quandary as to why the caps lock is there at all, but you see it is trapped and cannot escape -even though, most times it is plainly redundant.
Whilst the key below tells it to shift upward and the key above indicates two -way traffic there is just nowhere for poor little old CL to go, try as it may it just cannot get away – stuck beside the big ‘A’
But for all that it still receives an accolade; because June 28th and October 22nd are annually marked as International CAPS LOCK DAYS as a parody holiday first noted in 2000.
Rivaling Caps Lock Days have been since set up, such as August 22nd.”
Last, but not least, see what Max Markham, author of Indigo Bird, has to say:
“I do not know how I would function without Caps Lock. It is necessary for letter subject-headings; I often use it for chapter headings in books. Still in books, it is normal to give certain messages in blocks; e.g. the text of telegrams. Occasionally I wish to give the impression of shouting at the reader; as in: “FUCK YOU!” shouted Richard.
The alternative, I suppose, would be to underline the important headings, and/or use a different typeface, but what a nuisance.
You are right however that the excessive use of capitals is unhelpful, as it does give the impression that you are screaming at the reader and you may not wish to give this impression at all. This is why guides to email etiquette advise against using capitals: it can be very off-putting, other than for headings and subjects. If you need to emphasise some bits of text, the use of Bold or italics is usually sufficient. Over-use of all of these effects results in something like Queen Victoria’s diaries, which are replete with underlinings, block letters, exclamation marks, italics and capitals. After a while it become merely comical or irritating.
My most annoying experience with Caps Lock is accidental. I am not a good touch-typist. Sometimes I accidentally touch the Caps Lock, to look up a minute later and discover that I have written a whole sentence in block capitals. This has to be deleted and replaced by the same sentence in ordinary lower-case. This mistake is easily committed, given that the Caps Lock is located next to the ordinary Caps Key. “
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THE BLEEDING HILLS
A Novel by Wilfried F. Voss
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
- 2 Timothy iv. 7
The Irish War is officially a part of history, but not for Finnean Whelan, an IRA veteran of almost 40 years. British Intelligence has produced evidence that he is the mastermind behind a conspiracy to assassinate the First Minister of Northern Ireland. For Whelan this is not only a mission of revenge, but marks the beginning of a journey into the past and the return to the one true love: Ireland. [More...]
The Bleeding Hills is available at Amazon.Com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, and any other good bookstore.
