keyboad scanner routine(linux and windows)

[1885]

I am a beginning python programmer and I also teach introductory python.
I (we) are looking for a keyboard scan routine to capture keyboard input without entering a return.
We use Linux as out main os.
I personally have used curses but I'm looking for a simple pythonic method to teach this skill.
QUESTIONS:
Is curses used a lot?
Can curses be used with MS Windows?
What are some simple alternatives?

Thank you,
1885

example I've used :
import curses
import os

def main(win):
    win.nodelay(True)
    key=""
    win.clear()                
    win.addstr("Detected key:")
    while 1:          
        try:                 
           key = win.getkey()         
           win.clear()                
           win.addstr("Detected key:")
           win.addstr(str(key)) 
           if key == os.linesep:
              break           
        except Exception as e:
           # No input   
           pass         

curses.wrapper(main)