Why are letters on a keyboard arranged this way instead of alphabetical order.?

Answer 1

The first typewriters were mechanical, not electric. Pressing the keys caused rods with the different letters engraved on them to rise up and strike a colored ribbon. The ribbon was pressed between the engraved letter and the paper, so the ink on the ribbon was transferred to the page.

If two keys were pressed at once, the rods they moved would hit one another. They often hit each other while one rod was coming down and a second rod was rising up. To help prevent this problem, the keyboard layout we use today, called "qwerty", was used on these early mechanical typewriters. The "qwerty" layout seperated the keys used most often from one another, so that common words like "and" and "the" used keys on different sides of the keyboard. This lessened the chance of the rods striking each other if the typist was typing fast.

By the time electrical typewriters and computers were introduced, everybody was familiar with "qwerty". Market forces came into play. Typists would rather buy an outdated keyboard that was familiar, rather than a more logical but less familiar keyboard. So "qwerty" is still in use today.



All the best.

Answer 2

A standard QWERTY keyboard is designed according to which letters are most commonly used in language. The letters on the top line in the middle tend to be used the most then it works down and to the sides. ERTYUI being the easiest keys to get to with the index and middle fingers and so on.

A few years ago somebody redesigned the layout of the keyboard splitting the letters in half and putting each block of letters apart. The layout of the letters was changed slightly after a little research and it was found that not only was this new way faster to use , it also eliminated repetitive strain experienced by people who type a lot. Unfortunately, the new way was seen as too radical from the QWERTY setup and was never brought into main use.

Answer 3

I believe it's referred as "Qwerty" and it was designed for the fingers to work more efficiently and with less hand movement without having to look at the keyboard. This way typists can enter the characters from written text, once they've memorized where the characters are. I've been typing for a REALLY long time and have tried both "hunt and peck" and this one and find my fingers can fly over the keyboard at about 80 wpm. (on a good day!). Mind you, I've known a lot of people who can "hunt and peck" just as fast.

Answer 4

The QWERTY layout actually wasn't designed to increase typing speed; it was made for mechanical typewriters where the keys would jam if you typed too fast, so letters that were commonly used together are placed on opposite sides of the keyboard.

Answer 5

sturdy question. a protracted time in the past contained in the days of the handbook typewriter, researchers performed a statistical workout consultation and found out which of the alphabets are those maximum usually used. So, those that figured on the suited of the checklist have been given to locate a place the place they are able to be accessed by utilising the forefinger and close to the centre of the keyboard. The no longer so frequenters have been given pushed to the outer edges. Take a sturdy examine out the keyboard and it would be obtrusive.

Answer 6

I think the letters you use together are put closer together for speed. If it was in alphabetical order, it would be werid. i mean how many words have two consecutive letters in a row. I know "E" and "R" are right next to each other for a reason.

Answer 7

The letters are arranged in a way to optimize typing speed so that we hit the keys that are most often used the easiest.

Answer 8

Well in my opinion I would rather have them this way instead of in alphabetical order because just think how much harder it would be to have them that way? It's much easier having it like this. Why and how they chose this format no clue but it works.

Answer 9

Yes it has to do with typing speed, but was used back with typewriters so that the keys wouldnt stick as much.

Answer 10

most commonly used letters are easier to get to if they are set up this way