Bloomberg Terminal

Keyboard

In Michael Bloomberg's 1997 autobiography, in a chapter titled "Computers for Virgins", he explained how the design of the terminal was slightly different from the standard IBM PC keyboard layout that was popular at that time. The keyboard layout was designed for traders and market makers who had no prior computer experience. While the look and feel of the Bloomberg keyboard is very similar to the standard computer keyboard, there are several enhancements that help users navigate through the system, from the idea for a user friendly system when originally designed in the early 1980s.

Commands for the keyboard are commonly referred to inside angle brackets. The keys were replaced from the technical name (i.e. F10) and the then standard beige color, opting for a user friendly name and a memorable color, in this example for a lookup on an Index with a yellow key. Another example, the "Esc" for most computer keyboards is referred to as red colored key in the Bloomberg system, with the red to catch one's eye to stop a task. The "Enter" key is referred to as with a green color, deriving from the Monopoly game board, by passing "Go" and collecting $200 in a hope that the user could make money on the information he would find (hence the green key.)

Crucially, the Bloomberg keyboard includes a unique

key, which serves a similar function to the "back" button in an internet browser.

The yellow hot keys along the top of the keyboard are used to enter market sectors, and must be used to allow the terminal to correctly identify a security.

GOVT - government securities (US treasury and non-US)
CORP - corporate debt
MTGE - mortgage securities
M-Mkt - money market
MUNI - municipal debt
PFD - preferred shares
EQUITY - equity shares
COMDTY - commodity markets
INDEX - indexes
CURNCY - currency markets

For example, if someone interested in the Vodafone stock listed in London market, one enters VOD LN where VOD is the company's ticker, and LN is the venue code for London. A detailed option list related to Vodafone UK stock will pop up, the person can then choose different options by pressing related keys or using the mouse to select the option.

Similarly, USDEUR displays the US dollar / Euro exchange rate.

other common Bloomberg commands for Equity:

HP - Display the detailed 1 year price of that stock
DVD - Dividend / Split Summary of that stock
CACS - Corporate Actions related to that stock
CN - News feeds related to that stock

Thus, if someone interested in the Vodafone UK stock price, they can in fact directly type in VOD LN HP .

The Bloomberg keyboard is heavier and sturdier than standard keyboards (the current version, SEA100 Bloomberg keyboard weighed around 3 kg) with 3mm key travel and 19mm key pitch; it also comes with built-in speakers for video and multimedia features. The current SEA100 version, as well as the previous version has built-in, 500 PPI, 0.26 sq inch biometric sensor to ensure the terminal remains to the registered user alone.

Bloomberg keys on a US Windows keyboard
CANCEL	HELP	GOVT	CORP	MTGE	M-MKT	MUNI	PFD	EQUITY	CMDTY	INDEX	CRNCY	CLIENT	PRINT	ScrLk	CONN DFLT

													CMAND	HOME	BACK	€ _/4	Sfr _/8	¥ _/32	£ _/64
													DEL	MENU	FWD	QUTE 1	QUTE 2	SRVYS	/16 1/2
																RPRT 1	RPRT 2	NEWS	/16 1/2
														↑		MESSAGE	MEMO	MNTOR	GO
													←	↓	→	PANEL		CODE	GO

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Bloomberg Terminal - Keyboard