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Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 31 Jul 2011, 18:02
by SoGone
Surely other, more descriptive names could have been found...

And why F1, F2, etc? Why not G1, G2?

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 01 Aug 2011, 07:56
by mark
do you want me to google for answers because I can if you REALLY wanna know???!!! :P Does ctrl stand for 'control'???...

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 01 Aug 2011, 19:36
by SoGone
Yeah, I think it stands for Control. That's how I always pronounce it, anyway.


If you care to find the answers for me, that'd be great.

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 01 Aug 2011, 20:56
by mark
ok - will do tomorrow - aren't I nice???!!! :D or stupid! :shock: or both! :roll:

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 02 Aug 2011, 16:54
by SoGone
How about sweet?

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 03 Aug 2011, 09:04
by mark
Very sweet - now make sure I don't forget!!!... :P

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 04 Aug 2011, 00:49
by SoGone
I'm tempted to create a "Why'd they call them Bert and Ernie?" thread now.

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 04 Aug 2011, 11:54
by mark
I googled and wiki'ed Bert & Ernie for you... and there is no answer... apparently some fans say they believe them to be named after characters that feature in 'It's a Wonderful Life' but Sesame Street have said that is merely a co-incidence and that Jim Henson had no memory for remembering those kinds of details...

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 04 Aug 2011, 11:57
by mark
You can read this if you want but I can't be bothered!!!!.. :P

http://superuser.com/questions/174945/w ... d-alt-keys

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 04 Aug 2011, 15:13
by SoGone
I think it's wrong. It claims that "alt" is used to access alternate functions for keys, but everyone knows that "Shift" is that key.

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 04 Aug 2011, 20:50
by mark
grumble! :(

Re: Why'd they call them Ctrl and Alt?

Posted: 05 Aug 2011, 03:37
by SoGone
My thoughts exactly.