Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:9597 misc.kids:2585
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!bobmon
From: bobmon@iuvax.UUCP (Bobmon)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,misc.kids
Subject: Re: Kid Proof Keyboard
Message-ID: <5166@iuvax.UUCP>
Date: 15 Dec 87 19:12:29 GMT
References: <3881@ptsfa.UUCP>
Reply-To: bobmon@iuvax.UUCP (Bobmon)
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Lines: 19

I just wrap the keyboard (somewhat loosely) in one or two layers of Saran
wrap/generic plastic food wrapping.  The material is flimsy enough to allow
speed-typing through it, as I'm doing now, and it's perfectly protective until
you eventually wear through it.  But it's easily replaceable and at a very
attractive price ("free"), and it commits you to nothing if you don't like it.
I tape it to the back side so it'll stay put.

As a side benefit, the wear patterns give me a fascinating glimpse into the
usage of my keyboard -- for example, the CTRL, "A", and Down-Arrow keys are
all worn (the plastic cover, that is) much more heavily than RETURN, and it
appears that I hit the SPACE bar almost exclusively with my right thumb.  And
nothing evil has gotten into the keyboard, even though I perform most of my
bodily functions while hunched over it.  (:-)

p.s.  I had a commercial version of this for my old C-64; it worked okay and
was obviously sturdier, but it cost about $15 and the sturdier plastic was
also stiffer so that pushing one key had a tendency to carry its neighbors
along too.  Given my choice of either, for free, I'd stay with the
lighter-weight and renewable food-wrap.