Typing with the Option and Shift Keys 20

The Option (Orange/Silver) key and the Shift Key ( ) expand the available characters that you can use when typing with the physical keyboard. The Option key gives you access to all the symbols and numbers on the top-right of each key, while the Shift key allows you type with CAPITAL letters. There are three basic ways to use these keys, and while the results of each key are different, using them is identical:

1. Press once -- If you press the Option or Shift key once, a blue dot ( ) or blue up arrow ( ), respectively, will appear underneath the cursor. Then, the very next key you press will provide the corresponding number/symbol or CAPS letter for that key. After that, the keyboard will revert back to normal operation.
2. Press twice -- If you press the Option or Shift key twice in a row, a black dot ( ) or black up arrow ( ), respectively, will appear underneath the cursor. The keyboard will then be locked in to the corresponding mode until you press either the Option or Shift key again.
3. Press-and-hold -- If you press-and-hold the Option or Shift key, any keys you then press will provide the corresponding numbers/symbols or CAPS letters, respectively, until you let go of the Option or Shift key. Unlike the two methods above, that there will be no onscreen indication that you have pressed these keys.  Note that in many "type to search" areas of webOS (e.g. Email Search, Universal Search), the press-and-hold method is the only way to perform a search that starts with a number or symbol