Boss key
Encyclopedia
A boss key or boss button is a special keyboard shortcut
used in computer games or other programs to quickly hide the program and possibly display a special screen that appears to be a normal productivity program (such as a spreadsheet
application). One of the earliest implementations was by Friendlyware
, a suite of entertainment and general interest programs written in BASIC
and sold with the original IBM AT and XT computers from 1982 to 1985. When activated (by pressing F10), an ASCII bar graph with generic "Productivity" and "Time" labels appeared. Pressing F10 again would return to the Friendlyware application.
s (discounting the Internet part, which wasn't available yet), when most boss keys were used to show dummy DOS
prompts. The use has faded somewhat as modern multitasking
operating systems have evolved. However, some programs still retain a boss key feature, such as instant messaging
clients or their add-ons. Currently, the most prominent example of a boss key is CBS Sports
' "boss button," which is available in the window of their popular streaming coverage
of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Certain computer games have taken the idea of the boss key and used it to comic effect. Infocom
's adult-themed Leather Goddesses of Phobos
(only the IBM PC version) had a boss key which would hide the game and show a screen designed to look like a Cornerstone
database view. Upon closer inspection, however, the screen was not exactly boss safe, being populated with order info on rather ridiculous adult items, including an "inflatable milkman". Sierra On-Line's comedy/sci-fi adventure game Space Quest III
had a so-called boss key available from the game's pulldown menu
. However, when the user selected it, the screen would cut to black and inform the user that his or her boss wouldn't be happy if he or she knew how long the user had been playing the game. It then displayed the total elapsed game time.
to the background with a keyboard shortcut. Under desktop environments with multiple workspace
s, one possibility is to maintain one "boss" workspace, and switch to it when the boss is coming. The open source project mDesktop was made just for this purpose.
An internet search on "boss key" finds a number of downloadable open and closed-source boss key programs like mDesktop, Magic Boss Key. Historically, as mentioned above, they started with just a key combination. A recent innovation came in 2008 when prDesktop's users requested the addition of an idle-timer in case a user walks away and forgets to close a private program.
Keyboard shortcut
In computing, a keyboard shortcut is a finite set of one or more keys that invoke a software or operating system operation when triggered by the user. A meaning of term "keyboard shortcut" can vary depending on software manufacturer...
used in computer games or other programs to quickly hide the program and possibly display a special screen that appears to be a normal productivity program (such as a spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
application). One of the earliest implementations was by Friendlyware
Friendlyware
Friendlyware was a set of 30 computer programs that were written in BASIC and bundled with certain IBM personal computers. They were a collection of business, gaming and personal analysis software that pushed the power of BASIC to the maximum....
, a suite of entertainment and general interest programs written in BASIC
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
and sold with the original IBM AT and XT computers from 1982 to 1985. When activated (by pressing F10), an ASCII bar graph with generic "Productivity" and "Time" labels appeared. Pressing F10 again would return to the Friendlyware application.
In computer games
The purpose of the boss key is to make it appear to superiors and coworkers that an employee is doing his or her job, when they are actually playing games or using the Internet for non work-related tasks. This was a fairly common feature in early computer games for personal computerPersonal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s (discounting the Internet part, which wasn't available yet), when most boss keys were used to show dummy DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
prompts. The use has faded somewhat as modern multitasking
Computer multitasking
In computing, multitasking is a method where multiple tasks, also known as processes, share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for...
operating systems have evolved. However, some programs still retain a boss key feature, such as instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
clients or their add-ons. Currently, the most prominent example of a boss key is CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
' "boss button," which is available in the window of their popular streaming coverage
College Basketball on CBS
College Basketball on CBS presented by State Farm is a presentation of men's NCAA Division I basketball games on CBS...
of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Certain computer games have taken the idea of the boss key and used it to comic effect. Infocom
Infocom
Infocom was a software company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced one notable business application, a relational database called Cornerstone....
's adult-themed Leather Goddesses of Phobos
Leather Goddesses of Phobos
Leather Goddesses of Phobos is an interactive fiction computer game written by Steve Meretzky and published by Infocom in 1986. Like many other Infocom titles, it was released for the IBM PC , Atari 8-bit, Amiga, Apple II, Apple Macintosh, Atari ST and Commodore 64 computers...
(only the IBM PC version) had a boss key which would hide the game and show a screen designed to look like a Cornerstone
Cornerstone (software)
Cornerstone is a relational database for DOS by Infocom in 1985. It was widely hailed upon its release for its ease of use, but is generally considered one of the leading factors that led to the demise of the company.-History and development:...
database view. Upon closer inspection, however, the screen was not exactly boss safe, being populated with order info on rather ridiculous adult items, including an "inflatable milkman". Sierra On-Line's comedy/sci-fi adventure game Space Quest III
Space Quest
Space Quest is a series of six comedic science fiction computer games that follow the adventures of a hapless janitor named Roger Wilco, as he campaigns through the galaxy for "truth, justice and really clean floors"....
had a so-called boss key available from the game's pulldown menu
Menu (computing)
In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system. A menu is used in contrast to a command-line interface, where instructions to the computer are given in the form of commands .Choices given from a menu may be selected...
. However, when the user selected it, the screen would cut to black and inform the user that his or her boss wouldn't be happy if he or she knew how long the user had been playing the game. It then displayed the total elapsed game time.
Alternatives to the boss key
On modern operating systems, applications may be minimized or switchedAlt-Tab
' is the common name for a keyboard shortcut that has been in Microsoft Windows since Windows 3.0. This shortcut switches between top-level windows without using the mouse; hence it was named Task Switcher ....
to the background with a keyboard shortcut. Under desktop environments with multiple workspace
Virtual desktop
In computing, a virtual desktop is a term used with respect to user interfaces, usually within the WIMP paradigm, to describe ways in which the size of a computer's desktop environment is expanded beyond the physical limits of the screen's real estate through the use of software, This saves space...
s, one possibility is to maintain one "boss" workspace, and switch to it when the boss is coming. The open source project mDesktop was made just for this purpose.
An internet search on "boss key" finds a number of downloadable open and closed-source boss key programs like mDesktop, Magic Boss Key. Historically, as mentioned above, they started with just a key combination. A recent innovation came in 2008 when prDesktop's users requested the addition of an idle-timer in case a user walks away and forgets to close a private program.