Many of us have heard of the so-called "Space-cadet keyboard" from 1978 (famous for including a mind-boggling number of modifier keys including control, meta, hyper, super, shift, top, front, and Greek), but neither Wikipedia nor the Jargon File explain the reasoning behind the name.
Why was this keyboard called the "Space-cadet keyboard"? Has there ever been an explanation as to the reasoning behind the name?
- Was it named that because it was inspired by similar devices in contemporary science fiction novels?
- Was there an intention to market the keyboard to space programs for use on spacecraft?
- Was it designed by someone whose nickname was "Space-cadet"?
- Is there some other reason?
As Dúthomhas mentioned, I am not really interested in armchair speculation as to why the keyboard was called this. I am interested in either official or contemporary literature describing the reasons for naming it as such (e.g. a project kickoff plan or design document), first-hand accounts (e.g. interviews with people who were a part of the development of the keyboard at MIT or Symbolics in 1978), or any other source describing the actual or likely actual reasoning behind the choice of name. If the name was only ever unofficial, that can be an answer if it is supported by evidence (e.g. interviews) from people who remember those days and the reasoning that was given then for calling it that.