Wireless Keyboard

A wireless keyboard is a computer keyboard that uses the help of radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) or Bluetooth technology to communicate with computers, tablets, or laptops. Nowadays, wireless keyboards are always accompanied by wireless mouse. Wireless keyboards that works based on infrared technology use light waves to transmit signals to other infrared-enabled devices whereas, in the case of radio frequency technology,  A wireless keyboard communicates using signals which range from 27 KHz to about 2.4 GHz. Majority of wireless keyboards now work on 2.4 GHz radio frequency. Another broadly used technology is the Bluetooth technology. These devices connect and communicate to their parent device through the Bluetooth protocol.
A wireless keyboard can connect via the radio frequency technology with the help of two parts, a transmitter and a receiver. The radio transmitter is built-in the wireless keyboard while the radio receiver is plugged into a keyboard port or USB port. As soon as the receiver and transmitter are plugged in, the computer recognizes the keyboard and mouse as if they were connected through a cable.
Types of Wireless Keyboards
Wireless keyboards are of different types. They include:

  • Standard size wireless keyboard; as the name implies are standard size wireless keyboard.
  • Foldable-hinges; allows for the folding of keyboard.
  • Portable keyboard with touchpad; this keyboard comes with integrated touch pad.
  • Portable with stand; it comes with tablet/Smartphone stand.
  • Roll-up wireless keyboard; wireless keyboard that can be rolled up when not in use.
  • Mini wireless keyboard; Palm sized keyboard with an integrated touch pad that use thumb typing.
  • Slim keyboard.
  • With touch pad; combined keyboard and touchpad.

In 2011, Bluetooth-based wireless keyboards became popular, just at the same time portable devices generally were popular. They are widely used with such portable devices as Smartphone, tablets, laptops and ultra books.
A lot of Bluetooth keyboards have standard QWERTY layouts, but some mini Bluetooth keyboards may have a different layout though. The Bluetooth keyboards are compatible with the entire leading operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Since Bluetooth keyboards are mainly suited for portable devices, they have special function keys for Android and iOS operating systems.

Compatibility of the Bluetooth keyboards should be thoroughly checked before acquisition since not all Bluetooth keyboards are compatible across all the operating systems. The reason is because of the special function keys which differ between Android and iOS. An example of a typical wireless keyboard is the Apple wireless keyboard.
The first generation Apple wireless keyboard was a type of wireless keyboard especially made for Macintosh computers and also compatible with iOS devices. It communicated via the Bluetooth wireless technology and had no USB connectors or ports. It was discontinued and was succeeded by the Magic keyboard.  The magic keyboard is the most recent computer keyboard produced by Apple Inc. It was produced along with Magic Mouse 2 and the Magic Track pad 2. The magic keyboard has a reengineered scissor mechanism that has increased key stability by 33 percent and reduced key travel. It has a sealed non-replaceable rechargeable Lithium-ion battery which is charged via a lighting connector in the middle rear of the keyboard and can last up to a month between charges.
The keyboard is compatible with Apple Macintosh desktop and laptop computers running Mac OS X EI Capitan versions 10.11 and higher, with iPhones and iPads running iOS 9 or later, and Apple TVs running Apple TV software 7.0 or later or tvOS 10. On June 5, 2017 the Magic keyboard received a visual update; both the control and the option keys received new symbols.