Why are the numbers on a calculator and a phone reversed?
2007-12-18 01:41:59 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Alllah the Pig - now why would U want to have anything to do with buring my mum ? - Ur psycho - get help !!
2007-12-18 01:47:06 · update #1
Tim C - your answer surely n definately give some light but that doesnt prove anything - anyhow lets wait and see for more responds
2007-12-18 02:06:19 · update #2
Bell Labs, (inventor of touch-pad dialling) thought that the accountants of the world, having earlier mastered the calculator keypad, would cause errors in the slow electro-mechanical telephone number switching stations (exchanges), due to their speed on a calculator-style keyboard. The switching equipment was designed to operate in a rotary dial environment (some central office equipment is still backward compatible to accommodate those who still have rotary phones). With modern electronic switching "dialling" speed is no problem.
They wanted typical new users of touch-pad phones, used to rotary dialling, to report that it saved time so the customer would eagerly pay extra for the feature, and for these the order of the numbers did not matter.
2007-12-18 01:46:53 · answer #1 · answered by osborne_pkg 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The most useful answer I got by searching the web for your question (the simple Q as u mentioned) saying this:
"
A significant ergonomic difference exists between traditional use of a calculator and a phone.
In using a calculator, it is normally on a desk, beyond the current paper work (essentially 'up' above the work focus). Reaching for the calculator, away from the paper, the user encounters '1' first.
A phone, by comparison is below the work focus. Typically the receiver is at or near the top, typically the phone is a little below eye level. Travelling from initial focus (grasping the receiver) to the phone keypad, the user first encounters '1', just as might be expected.
If you think of the numbers as a transition from normal work focus, it seems that the two keypads reflect the same objective. "
also i find the information which is also mentioned within the first answer you've gettin on your question is reasonable too:
"
When it came time to match letters of the alphabet up with the numbers, putting 1-2-3 across the top made a lot more sense because it was the most natural way to get ABC in the top row. If 7-8-9 had been at the top, one of two things would have happened — the letters and the numbers would have run in opposite directions, or PRS would have been the first set of letters. Either arrangement would have seemed very odd, indeed. "
it was really nice to read these informtions, thnx for the Q ;)
2007-12-18 12:26:26 · answer #2 · answered by saned 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gee, I must be older than the other responders because I do know the answer. The calculator keyboard is the same as the predecessors the adding machine and the comptometer (It was like an adding machine except without paper.) Many book keepers and accountants are extremely fast at using those keyboards: Faster than the early touch tone switchboards could deal with. So it was decided to reverse the keyboards so they could not dial too fast.
2007-12-18 09:56:48 · answer #3 · answered by Tim C 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It was decided (by whom, I don't know) that the calculator/keyboard fingerpad configuration of numbers was easier, ergonomically, than the standard phone way. (that's the same reason why a keyboard isn't actually in alphabetical order).
It causes me all sorts of problems at work, which is a call center.
2007-12-18 09:45:48 · answer #4 · answered by witchiebunny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can't wait to see the answer. It is hard to dial a phone number when you use a calculator all day long.
2007-12-18 09:44:42 · answer #5 · answered by Jessie H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, well. it was a matter of design and a matter of mastering the keyboard. probably a way to differenciate them too. many theories have been made up as to why, but it comes down to the pioneer designing done by AT&T. why did they do that. they had a research and saidthat this was the best way and loical way to design the calculator and/or telephone touchpads. i dont want to plagerize the explanation of theories like people do, so i present it to you for your reading pleasure.
cheers.
2007-12-18 09:55:45 · answer #6 · answered by ssbv_anan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The phone is based on an ascending alphabetic sequence. People are used to reading letters left to right and up and down.
2007-12-18 09:46:03 · answer #7 · answered by Hera Sent Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason we use the inefficient QWERTY keyboard: a design was chosen and people stick to it regardless of logic/consistency.
What does this have to do with R&S? Is someone going to answer "because God says so"?
2007-12-18 09:46:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well teh phone came first and well it used to be a spin dial so when the numbers came that's how they stuck em on for calcualtors it's for speed
2007-12-18 09:45:22 · answer #9 · answered by Nathan rules1313 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if I get your question (what with my not being a genius), but has it got anything to do with the fact that we read from left to right?
(But then again the Arabs don't)
Something to do with our brains?
2007-12-18 09:46:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋