International Caps Lock Day 2023: Date, History, Significance, Facts

International Caps Lock Day 2023: International Caps Lock Day, observed on June 28 and October 22, requires two days on the calendar to be recognized. Software developer Derek Arnold created the initial day as a parody of “typographical conventions.” On the contrary, that day transpired as an occasion to educate colleagues and Internet friends that using all capital letters is not considered appropriate etiquette. Arnold added a second day in remembrance of “As Seen on TV” pitchman Billy Mays, who labored to increase his volume and was born on a boardwalk. Therefore, depress the Caps Lock key and yell at someone.

THE HISTORY OF WORLD PRESENTS CAPS LOCK DAY

In the year 2000, on October 22, Derek Arnold, an Iowa-based software developer, designated this date as Caps Lock Day, mandating that all users enter only uppercase letters. “International Caps Lock Day is, in fact, evidence of the narrow-mindedness of some Westerners: the majority of the world’s writing systems lack the concept of letter casing,” he stated. Hence, it is recommended to refrain from mocking individuals who use this day as a pretext to disregard regional typographical conventions; such individuals are merely mocking themselves.

Arnold facetiously addressed individuals who inadvertently fat-fingered the Caps Lock key in their daily lives, stating, “ARE YOU WILLING TO MADISON’S WEDDING WEARING THE SAME ITEM YOU wore to Bobby’s wedding?” or in professional workplace communications (IMPORTANTLY CONFIGURING IF THE AMALGAMATED MARSHMALLOW SYSTEMS PROPOSAL WILL BE READY THIS MORNING BY 10 AM).

It is unkind that he wished to remind us that uppercase letters resemble shrieking. Due to the inability of recipients to perceive our facial expressions, body language, or decibel levels, they may easily misinterpret our capitalization into a hostile tone, which is also considered impolite.

In the days before computers and shift-lock, the majority of typewriters produced only initial letters. In the 1870s, Remington, a manufacturer of typewriters, devised a cost-effective method for inputting both capital and lowercase letters. Attaching uppercase and lowercase letters or symbols to each typebar—the metallic component that caused the letters to print on the paper—made this possible. In order to transition between the two symbols, authors operated a type bar apparatus by physically relocating the entire Shift key.

Presently, certain individuals refer to the Caps Lock key as “the Billy Mays key”—a pun on the booming-voiced infomercial icon who urged us to dial the 800 number and BUY NOW! In commemoration of Mays’s passing on June 28, 2009, Arnold established a secondary, albeit additional, International Caps Lock Day on the calendar.

International Caps Lock Day 2023: FACTS

The most frequently used keys consist of the space bar, the delete key, and the letter “e.”

As alternative keys for the digits one and zero on early typewriters, a lowercase “l” and an uppercase “o” were utilized.

There are keyboards designed exclusively for the left or right hand.

In 2009, Datamancer manufactured a SCRABBLE® tile keyboard.

Characters can be formed on a chorded keyboard, also known as a keyset, by striking multiple keys simultaneously, similar to how chords are played on a piano.

WHY INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY IS IMPORTANT TO US

Are you the type to get upset by hair? Do you rage at the Mazda driver who abruptly stopped you? Instead of giving him the finger, return home, secure your caps, and confide in a friend about the incident.

An Iowa-based IT professional conceived of INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY before deciding it was acceptable to add a second component to it over six months later. Given his capability, what are your own limitations?

Employ the day to instruct your children on the appropriate applications of capital letters. Introduce them to the concept of stylebooks, such as the one the Associated Press publishes.

INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY DATES