By akademiotoelektronik, 18/09/2022

The Azerty keyboard will soon modernize and it's time to give your opinion

In 2015, the general delegation for the French language and the languages of France, linked to the Ministry of Culture asked the French Association of Standardization (or AFNOR) to define a new model of keyboard azerty.The reasons, I have already mentioned them in the introduction of this article: modernize the French keyboard in order to make it easier to use."On current keyboards, special characteristics commonly used today are not always easy to type and give rise to various digital acrobatics ... which campaigns to rethink the layout of the keys".

A new standard that will leave the choice between two touches provisions

After several months of work, AFNOR has just unveiled the result of its two works.Which takes the form of two "new" French keyboards.For the first, it is an "improved azerty keyboard" and for the second of the adoption of the Bépo keyboard.

The improved azerty keyboard is surely the most reassuring and comfortable option offered by AFNOR.Here is his description:

Philippe Magnabosco, the AFNOR project manager said: "There is no revolution, but a small appropriation will be necessary for users.However, the expected benefits largely compensate for the few changes to integrate."Here is what this keyboard might look like.

The second option is nothing more or less than a slightly modified Bépo keyboard.There are already many bépo keyboards and its supporters claim that this is the provision of the most logical touches that there is currently for the French language.The counterpart is that it is necessary to fully relearn to write on a keyboard.Here is what it looks like:

A public consultation to improve the future standard

Now that Afnor has finished his work, the latter is now going in the public consultation phase.In other words, anyone can now consult the proposed documents and solutions, comment on them and also offer improvements.To do this, just go to a dedicated page of the AFNOR website.Please note, it is necessary to create an account to access the documents and leave comments.

"The public inquiry allows you to make any remarks that you will consider useful on the principles of the keyboard, the inventory of signs that can be seized, and in detail of the provisions.Your comments will be treated anonymously during a counting meeting in which all respondents to the survey will be able to participate.You can also follow the project in the press and under the keyword #keyboard on Twitter ”.The counting meeting will be held on July 12, in Paris.

Ultimately, this work and this consultation will allow you to publish a new standard, numbered NF Z71-300, from next September.A standard that French keyboards may use in the coming years, without having the obligation to apply it.It will also be interesting to monitor the arrival of these new keyboards in the coming months.

• The public consultation page on the provision of French office keyboards on the AFNOR website (compulsory registration to comment on the documents)