A keyboard assembly for selecting characters to be recorded includes a substrate carrying an array of characters arranged on one face thereof. A character selection device moves between advanced and retracted positions along each of two axes of the array and, by means of an optical viewfinder, registers a given character with respect to the position of the selecting device. Registration openings distributed along each of the two axes cooperate with an associated detent carried by the selecting device so as to retain the selecting device in a fixed position relative to the locus of the character which has been selected. Movement of the character selection device to the locus of a given character serves to control the recording of the character selected. Control of the recording of a selected character can be by positioning of print elements in response to the movement of the selection device, by generating signals identifying the locus of the selected character, or by transducing information signals identifying the selected character. A single operating device associated with the entire array of characters controls the recording of the characters. A keyboard as described has been mounted to be interchangeable with keyboards employing other fonts of characters. |