The Super key refers to several different keys throughout keyboard history. Originally the super key was a modifier key on the Space-cadet keyboard. Recently with Windows and Macintosh computers doing away with large numbers of modifier keys the Super key has become an alternative name for other modifier keys when using a Linux or BSD based operating systems.
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Tom Knight created both the Knight keyboard and the Space-cadet keyboard. Among the improvements from the Knight keyboard to the Space-cadet keyboard was the presence of two more modifiers for the bucky bits, hyper and super; The Super Key modified the third bucky bit (representing a 4).[1] From the usage of the Space-cadet keyboard on LISP machines the super key was inherited by Emacs as one of several supported modifier keys, most modern systems have to emulate the super key using another.
In most non-Windows operating systems the super key is mapped to the Windows key and is the preferred term for that key.[2]
In GNOME Super_L and Super_R are mapped to the left and right windows keys respectively and are treated as modifiers.[3] Under GNOME 3 letting go of the Super key defaults to showing the activities window.
In Openbox[4] and KDE the super key is an available modifier key but is not used in any default shortcuts. Under Unity the key is used to control launcher and manage windows.[5]
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