http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/events/keylistener.html
Check this tutorial
If it’s a UI based application , then ” I also need to know what I need to add to my code so that my program waits about 700 milliseconds for a keyinput before moving on to another method” you can use GlassPane or Timer class to fulfill the requirement.
For key Event:
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
int key = e.getKeyCode();
if (key == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT) {
dx = -1;
}
if (key == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT) {
dx = 1;
}
if (key == KeyEvent.VK_UP) {
dy = -1;
}
if (key == KeyEvent.VK_DOWN) {
dy = 1;
}
}
check this game example http://zetcode.com/tutorials/javagamestutorial/movingsprites/
Here is an SSCCE,
package experiment;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class KeyListenerTester extends JFrame implements KeyListener {
JLabel label;
public KeyListenerTester(String s) {
super(s);
JPanel p = new JPanel();
label = new JLabel(“Key Listener!”);
p.add(label);
add(p);
addKeyListener(this);
setSize(200, 100);
setVisible(true);
}
@Override
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT) {
System.out.println(“Right key typed”);
}
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT) {
System.out.println(“Left key typed”);
}
}
@Override
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT) {
System.out.println(“Right key pressed”);
}
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT) {
System.out.println(“Left key pressed”);
}
}
@Override
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_RIGHT) {
System.out.println(“Right key Released”);
}
if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_LEFT) {
System.out.println(“Left key Released”);
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new KeyListenerTester(“Key Listener Tester”);
}
}
Additionally read upon these links : How to Write a Key Listener and How to Use Key Bindings