Difference between revisions of "Super Key"

Latest revision as of 10:47, 2 March 2014

"Super" is the linux term for the Windows key. In the OS X environment, the super key is reference to the Command key. The Super Key is also known as SuperKey in one word. In most non-Windows operating systems the super key is mapped to the Windows key and is the preferred term for that key. Keyboard manufacturers have to pay royalties to Microsoft to include the tiny Windows logo on the Super Key, so some manufacturers simple use an empty square symbol. Some keyboards of Linux have a penguin symbol on the Super Key.

The 3 most common so called super keys are:

1. Super Key - The Windows key or Command key on the bottom left.

2. Hyper Key - Hyper is the fourth (counting Ctrl) and last modifier on the Space cadet keyboard. In Ubuntu, its function is undefined.

3. Meta Key - The Meta key is not found on modern keyboard, it's use is sometimes emulated with the right Alt key. Sun keyboards have a meta key (◆) and in Emacs the Esc key is called the Meta key.

Space-Cadet Keyboard

Tom Knight created both the Knight keyboard and the Space-cadet keyboard. The improvement from the Knight keyboard to the Space-cadet keyboard was the presence of two more modifiers for the bucky bits, hyper and super; The Super Key modified the third bucky bit (representing a 4). From the usage of the Space-cadet keyboard on Lisp machines the super key was inherited by Emacs as one of several supported modifier keys, most modern systems have to emulate the super key using another.

SuperKey in Gnome

When you press the Super key, the activities overview is displayed. This key can usually be found on the bottom-left of your keyboard, next to the Alt key, and usually has a window/squares icon on it. It is sometimes called the Windows key, logo key, or system key.

To change which key is used to display the activities overview:

1. Click your name on the top bar and select System Settings.
2. Click Keyboard, Shortcuts tab and Select System on the left side of the window, and Show the activities overview on the right.
3. Click the current shortcut definition on the far right.
4. Hold down the desired key combination.