# Famicom Keyboard

> keyboard used with Family BASIC for the Famicom

**Wikidata**: [Q3064859](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3064859)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/famicom-keyboard

## Summary
The Famicom Keyboard (model HVC-007) is a computer keyboard accessory designed for use with the Nintendo Famicom console. It functions specifically as an input device for the Family BASIC application, allowing users to input text and program code. It is classified as a product model within the broader category of computer keyboards.

## Key Facts
*   **Primary Use:** Used exclusively with the Family BASIC software application.
*   **Model Number:** HVC-007.
*   **Also Known As:** Family BASIC Keyboard.
*   **Classification:** Subclass of computer keyboard; instance of product model.
*   **Input Method:** Comprises an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text in computers.
*   **External Identifiers:** Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/122cntcw`; Wikidata description available.
*   **Documentation:** Described by the Nesdev Wiki.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Famicom Keyboard used for?
A: The Famicom Keyboard is used to interact with the Family BASIC software on the Famicom console. It functions as a standard computer keyboard to input text.

### Q: What is the model number for the Famicom Keyboard?
A: The model number for the Famicom Keyboard is HVC-007. It is also referred to as the Family BASIC Keyboard.

### Q: Is the Famicom Keyboard considered a computer keyboard?
A: Yes, the device is classified as a subclass of a computer keyboard, defined as a device comprising an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text.

## Why It Matters
The Famicom Keyboard represents a specific effort to bridge the gap between home video game consoles and personal computers. By utilizing the Family BASIC software, this device transformed the Famicom from a dedicated gaming machine into a tool for programming and text input. This classification as a "computer keyboard" highlights the multifaceted design of the Famicom hardware ecosystem, which extended beyond standard game controllers to include productivity peripherals. Its existence underscores the historical context of the 1980s home electronics market, where manufacturers often marketed game consoles as entry-level computing devices for the home.

## Notable For
*   **Hybrid Functionality:** Distinguished as a computer keyboard designed for a video game console (the Famicom).
*   **Specific Application:** Notable for its dedicated compatibility with Family BASIC.
*   **Hardware Identifier:** Recognized by its specific hardware model code, HVC-007.
*   **Input Classification:** Technically defined as a device comprising an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text in computers.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Famicom Keyboard is an instance of a product model and a subclass of a computer keyboard. It is physically a device comprising an arrangement of buttons or keys. While designed for a gaming console, its fundamental definition aligns with general computer input hardware used to input text.

### Technical Specifications and Aliases
The device carries the hardware model number **HVC-007**. It is frequently aliased as the **Family BASIC Keyboard**. It does not operate as a standalone unit but serves as a peripheral interface.

### Usage and Software Integration
The sole cited utility for this hardware is **Family BASIC**. This software application allowed users to write their own programs, necessitating a full keyboard layout rather than the standard game controller inputs. Detailed technical information regarding the hardware is documented by the Nesdev Wiki.

## References

1. [Source](https://wiki.nesdev.com/w/index.php/Family_BASIC_Keyboard)