Evolution of keyboard iconography and lost computer symbols

The history of computer keyboard design reveals a long-standing tension between the use of text and iconography. Historically, European markets favored universal icons to overcome language barriers and reduce the need for multiple product versions, whereas American designs often relied more on text.

Early computing hardware, such as the 1965 IBM 1130 and various IBM research computers from the 1970s and 1980s, featured a wide array of unique symbols. Many of these icons, including specialized marks for 'Insert' and 'Delete' inspired by proofreading marks, have since disappeared from modern keyboards in favor of text-based labels.

While many obscure symbols have been lost to time, a few essential icons—such as those for Shift (⇧), Enter (↵), and Tab (⇥)—have remained standard. Some vanished symbols still exist within the Unicode standard as specialized characters.