Why are the keys on computer keyboards arranged as they are? That is why aren't they arranged alphabetically?

Answer 1

Back in the early days of typewriters, Christopher Latham Sholes invented a typewriter for the Remington Arms company. He used the QWERTY arrangement because it jammed less often than other typewriters because the most commonly used keys weren't bunched together. It also had the effect of slowing typists down and requiring specialized training. Later more logical keyboards were invented but companies had already invested in QWERTY typewriters and the typists were already trained on them. This resulted in a vicious cycle where companies bought equipment that the typists could already use and the typists didn't learn to type on keyboards that employers didn't use. I keep thinking that other keyboards will become more popular now that most keyboard users are not especially good typists but I've been wrong so far.

Answer 2

Its very simple - check history. Before the computer keyboard,
what was there? The typewriter. We all had typewriter class in high school (back in the 60's) the typewriter keys were arranged that way because of a proven theory that if you learned them in this order, you could connect your mind and fingers so as to hit the keys in the fastest possible manner - and it worked. so when the computer keyboard came out, of course they would mimmick the typewriter method.
Besides, everybody who could operate a typewriter (ie; at their job) were probably the same people who would be introduced to the computer first (people didn't get computers in their homes until years after they started getting them in businesses.

Answer 3

Because enough people (such as myself) first learned keyboarding on typewriters which placed the keys where they are now due to keys getting jammed on the old "key stroke" typewriters.

Before there was the IBM Selectric and its ball, there were keys, individual keys (one upper case and one lower case character) which were mechanically connected by levers and springs to the keyboard. The keys are positioned the way they are to avoid jamming keys initially, and now because we have so many of us learned this pattern that we would lose our proficiency if the keys were rearranged.

There have been experiments with alternate designs -- Dvorak was one -- but the neural patterns are established and here we are.

Answer 4

Once upon a time, typewriter typists got too fast for their machines and ended up jamming them all the time, so the designers rearranged all the keys to slow them down a little. It just kind of stuck - it's as simple as that, as far as I know.

Rawlyn.

Answer 5

It was designed to preserve the order to similar as typewriters.

Now u might want to ask why typewriter keyboards are arranged as they are.

Answer 6

as on a typewriter...its generally adhered to frequency of use.....for hand pattern thats easier to manipulate and master...in other words you use an a more than z so why put it in the corner.

Answer 7

I think it's so that you wouldn't mostly use one part of the keyboard and that you use all your fingers about the same amount.

Answer 8

Purposely, to slow you down, and to help you not to get carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer 9

who cares you learned how to type this way and so has everyone else,, so just do it

Answer 10

coz they cant make life easy for us lol