2006-10-28 10:59:21 · 6 answers · asked by libby 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
I assume you are talking about the computer keyboard, with its almost inexplicable order of keys, commonly called QWERTY, based on the first alphabetical line. In the early days of typewriters. this set-up was invented in order to keep the keys from getting jammed (read the story in the link below). While there is no longer any need for this, attempts to change the keyboard to a more logical setup have met with resistance. Why? I guess people have gotten used to this way of typing and just don't want to learn a new way. So each generation is taught in QWERTY and it just keeps going. It's like the metric system in America. Why hasn't this more logical system of measurements caught on? Simply because people are used to the old way and no generation has stood up and said: Hell no, we won't use feet and inches and pounds and ounces any more!
2006-10-28 11:14:17 · answer #1 · answered by just♪wondering 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would imagine the person who invented it arranged the keys in the order of frequency used. The most frequent keys used are the easiest to reach. The least used seem to be more difficult to reach when you are typing with all your fingers on the keyboard. Like the letter "z". I always have to look for it, while since I use the others more I just know them by memory.
2006-10-28 11:10:54 · answer #2 · answered by low_on_ram 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the first keyboards where arranged alphabetically, but the keys you use more often are not so it's quicker to type this way once you learn how.........
-or-
the first typists typed so fast that the keys would get stuck so they rearranged the keyboard to make it more of a challenge to type fast.
not sure how they came up with this order
qwertyuiop
asdfghjkl;'
zxcvbnm,.
2006-10-28 11:11:47 · answer #3 · answered by Grev 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Way way back, when typewriters were invented, the keys used to be in alphabetical order, but the people who typed on them would lock them up because they typed so fast, so someone moved them around so that they would type slower. Not sure why that particular order though.
2006-10-28 11:08:18 · answer #4 · answered by sassy_91 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started from the standard key alignment that came on the typewriter.
2006-10-28 11:07:02 · answer #5 · answered by jack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To keep the mechanical parts of typewriters from jamming, they put the frequently-used letters farther apart.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY
2006-10-28 11:07:43 · answer #6 · answered by Chris A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋