LINC keyboard. 1962

By Xah Lee. Date: .

LINC keyboard

LINC keyboard jhT65
LINC keyboard jhT65 [image source https://i.imgur.com/v7yXcau.jpeg]

2025-10-11 thanks to from Lars Brinkhoff (his git home page https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff) for telling me.

Email from Lars Brinkhoff

2025-07-05 from Lars Brinkhoff (his git home page https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff)

Hello,

  • We have previously corresponded about Lispm and Knight keyboards, and the history of the META key.
  • I have put forward the theory that Les Earnest invented the meta key, and put it on the SAIL keyboard around 1970.
  • However, now I have encountered an even earlier meta key: the one on the LINC keyboard.
  • I'm sending you a link to a photo of the keyboard, and a 1963 manual that describes the use of the meta key.
  • It's not a modifier key, but starts a command.
  • Arguably this is similar to the IMSSS and TV-Edit "edit" key, which was close in time and space to the SAIL keyboard.

history of meta key