Taking a closer look at a computer or phone keyboard, you might notice that the keys are not in alphabetical order but arranged in a random pattern with the letters QWERTY at the top left.
This arrangement, which has been the standard for keyboards globally for more than a century, begs the question: why isn’t the keyboard in alphabetical order?
In this article, I will take you back into the history of the QWERTY keyboard layout and examine why it has remained the prevailing design for so many years.
HISTORY OF QWERTY
Christopher Latham Sholes, an American inventor, is credited with the creation of the QWERTY layout, which first appeared in its earliest form on July 1, 1874. As a newspaper editor and inventor, Sholes aimed to develop a more efficient typing machine.
To prevent the keys from jamming, which was a common issue with the original design, he created the keyboard layout to deliberately slow down users’ typing speed. Sholes achieved this by distributing the frequently used letters, such as E and A, to different areas of the keyboard, thereby reducing the frequency of jams and increasing the machine’s efficiency.
In order to achieve this, Sholes arranged the letters in a way that would force the typist to alternate between the left and right hands, which minimized the risk of keys jamming when typing common letter combinations such as TH and ST.
Manufacturers around the world later adopted the QWERTY layout since it was the standard for early typewriters.
The QWERTY keyboard type is the most widely used keyboard layout in the world, and there are several reasons why it is preferred:
Why QWERTY Keyboard is Preferred
The QWERTY keyboard type is the most widely used keyboard layout in the world, and there are several reasons why it is preferred such as:
- Familiarity: The QWERTY keyboard has been in use for over a century, and most people have become accustomed to its layout. This familiarity makes it easier for people to type quickly and accurately.
- Ergonomics: The layout of the QWERTY keyboard is designed to minimize the strain on the hands and wrists while typing. The keys are arranged in a way that makes it easy to reach them with minimal movement.
- Compatibility: The QWERTY keyboard is the standard keyboard layout for most computers and devices, which makes it easy to switch between devices without having to learn a new layout.
- Accessibility: The QWERTY keyboard is easy to learn and use, which makes it accessible to people of all ages and skill levels.
- Availability: QWERTY keyboards are widely available and are the default option for most computer manufacturers, which means that it is easy to find a replacement keyboard if needed.
Despite the advancement of technology and typewriters being replaced by computers, the QWERTY keyboard layout has remained the standard keyboard used over time.
This is a result of the fact that users were already accustomed to the layout, and retraining millions of users to a new system would have been a challenging task. While there are alternative keyboard layouts such as Dvorak and Colemak, they have not gained widespread adoption and QWERTY remains the most popular keyboard layout.
Moreover, the QWERTY layout has been entrenched in software, making it even more difficult to switch to a new system.
FAQs
Does QWERTY mean anything?
Yes, the name “QWERTY” is not an acronym or neologism but comes from the arrangement of the first six letters in the upper-left corner of the keyboard, starting with the “Q” key and ending with the “Y” key.
What is AZERTY layout?
The AZERTY layout is a keyboard layout used in France and Belgium, among other countries. Its name is derived from the initial six letters of its top row of keys. Unlike the QWERTY layout common in English-speaking regions, the AZERTY layout involves a swap between the positions of the letters A and Q, and the M key is relocated to the left side of the keyboard.
Conclusion
Despite its numerous shortcomings, the QWERTY keyboard layout has endured for more than a century, serving as the standard for keyboards worldwide.
While it may not be the most efficient layout for modern typing, attempts to create alternative keyboard layouts like the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard and the Colemak layout have yet to gain widespread acceptance. Therefore, for better or for worse, the QWERTY keyboard layout is likely to remain the default for the foreseeable future.
