2006-08-30 02:44:23 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Land Phones
The predecessor to the touch tone (DTMF) dial was the rotary dial. The rotary dial is a wheel with holes next to each number and operates on electrical pulses to signal the central office instead of tones like the DTMF dial does. The digit 1 is one pulse and the digit 9 is nine pulses. The digit 0 is ten pulses. Since the rotary dial uses a spring to recoil the dial, the digits had to be sequential and the digit 1 had to be first with the digit 0 being last (least number of pulses to most number of pulses). When the DTMF or touch tone dial was introduced in the 1960's, they maintained the same sequence so as to not confuse people and have numerous wrong numbers dialled.
2006-08-30 12:02:05 · answer #1 · answered by Max2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if they were the same, the people who use a 10 key all day long would be able to input numbers faster than the phone equipment could handle.
2006-08-30 02:48:40 · answer #2 · answered by wildbill05733 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the same with the number pad on a keyboard. It bugs the heck out of me. I have no explanation other than it makes life more difficult!!
2006-08-30 02:47:40 · answer #3 · answered by pack513 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speed data entry wasn't in mind when the pushbutton phone was invented.
2006-08-30 02:47:33 · answer #4 · answered by Tekguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋