function key capture

[ke.han]

I am trying to write an erlang prototype client app which will do simple read and write to a console and capture 
function keys for special commands (F1, F2...) i.e. I want one keyboard input  loop which outputs what I type to the 
screen and interprets F keys for other commands.
Is there an easy way to do this?  Should I try to get my arms around slang or can erlang base product handle this?
thanks, ke han