Why are the keys on a keyboards in a random patern?

Answer 1

It's actually not random. The keys on a key board were set out for the slowest typing possible. Why? Because when they invented key boards, it was for type writters. The keys controlled the little metal arm which stamped a letter on the paper. When you type to fast, the metal arms get all jammed together, so to stop it, the keyboard was arranged in the most confusing way possible. It actually took them a long time to figure it out. Today they have new keyboards which are more efficient.

Answer 2

Hairyloon and fireballfanaticgirl are right -

Originally typewriters had keys laid out alphabetically, but the typists were just too fast and the typewriter arms kept jamming. Keyboards were re-designed in the now standard qwerty format to help slow typists down.

Now no-one uses a typewriter, but the layout has stuck!

Answer 3

Besides the QWERTY layout there is another layout that is gaining some acceptance as it is easier to use once you have gotten used to the new layout. Windows even allows you to change the mapping on you keyboard so that you can make the change if you want to. I've never used because I'm ok with using theQWERTY layout. I've read that users of the Dvorak layout claim that their hands hurt a lot less by using that over the standard layout. You can read more about it here:

Answer 4

The person who invented the layout did so by positioning the most commonly used letters in the easiest to reach places. He found what letters were used most commonly by taking the front page of the New York Times and counting every single letter in it. The most common ones went in the middle, and the least common were placed on the outer edges.

Answer 5

The QWERTY keyboard was designed to slow down typists to prevent the typewriter from jamming when typing too fast.
This is not a problem with computers which is why they invented the DVORAK key layout

Answer 6

Well, the accepted keyboard is the QWERTY default, which was devised for easy typing, and was originally used in typewriters to stop the typebars getting stuck together. It was also created for easy use with the hands, and convenient for words, as thed format allows words to be typed easily.

Answer 7

If you tried setting out your own keyboard differently you would understand why. The letters are put in this weird order so the most used letters are in the easiest places to reach although i have always had trouble with the letter's'.

Answer 8

nothing random about it

all eight octavies are there
either you have a 88 key keyboard or lower

oh you meant computer keyboard

DONT KNOW! Good question! But Ill go with Toastette's answer!

Answer 9

It was designed to slow typists down on manual typewriters to prevent the type from jamming. There are other keyboard designs which make typing faster on modern equipment.

Answer 10

They placed the letters on the keyboard in the order that would be the easiest to use. The letters you use the least coincided with the fingers that are generally the hardest to use.