I AM CONSTANTLY ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE CAPS LOCK KEY AND TYPING LONG SENTENCES BEFORE I REALIZE IT. IT’S REALLY AMAZING HOW MUCH IT APPEARS TO CHANGE THE TONE OF THE MESSAGE — MAKING YOU A SHOUTER OR A NEWBIE OR SOME ORDER OF MORON OR ANOTHER. IT USUALLY GETS AWAY FROM ME IN IM CHAT SESSIONS. BUT WHY IS THE CAPS LOCK KEY RIGHT NEXT TO THE “A” KEY ANYWAY? OPTIONS:
1) MAKE THE CAPS LOCK KEY ITS OWN USB DEVICE WITH A 6-FOOT LONG CABLE FAR FAR AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD.
2) HAVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY REQUIRE CAPTCHA-STYLE VERIFICATION, FORCING YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND REALLY BE SURE ABOUT IT.
3) INSTALL A HAL-LIKE VOICE MONITOR WHICH CALMLY SAYS, “Why are you shouting, David?” WHENEVER YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPS.
SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!
I’m in favor of connecting a small car battery to the key so that it will deliver a hefty electric shock anytime it is touched. One could still use it, but it would have to be important enough to make it shock-worthy. An added benefit, of course, is the Pavlovian conditioning one would acquire after several accidental pressings.