Why Aren't Keyboard in ABC Order?

In the world of modern technology, the keyboard is a ubiquitous tool that many of us use daily without much thought to its design. However, have you ever wondered why the keys on a keyboard are not arranged in the familiar alphabetical order? It seems like a curious anomaly, but there's a fascinating history behind this seemingly random arrangement.

Zoom in and take a closer look at the keyboard of your electronic device. Instead of following the logical sequence of the alphabet, you'll find a layout that appears to be a mishmash of letters, a configuration known as QWERTY. But believe it or not, this arrangement is not without reason.

Let's travel back to the 1800s, where American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes was deeply engrossed in perfecting a device called a "paginator." This device was designed to efficiently type numbers onto paper, catering to the needs of businesses and offices at the time. However, Sholes' journey took an unexpected turn when his friend, Carlos Glidden, shared an article featuring an innovative machine known as the "terotypewriter," capable of printing alphabets onto paper.

Intrigued by this new invention, Sholes shifted his focus towards developing his version of a writing machine. After years of experimentation and refinement, in 1874, he successfully patented what would become known as the typewriter. This early typewriter featured a keyboard with keys arranged in the familiar alphabetical order, much like the layout we use on our computers today.

Excited by his invention, Sholes presented the typewriter to telegraph operators, who were in desperate need of a faster and more efficient way to transcribe messages from Morse code. However, to their dismay, the operators found the alphabetical layout cumbersome and prone to mechanical jams, especially when keys were struck rapidly in succession.

Taking their feedback seriously, Sholes embarked on a mission to redesign the keyboard layout, aiming to minimize these jams caused by closely positioned keys. Through numerous trials and errors, he eventually arrived at a new arrangement known as the QWERTY keyboard. The name "QWERTY" comes from the first six letters on the top row of the keyboard.

The QWERTY layout was designed strategically to place commonly used letter pairs farther apart to reduce the likelihood of jamming. This new configuration proved to be more efficient for typists, as it allowed them to type faster without the typewriter mechanisms getting tangled or jammed.

Following the successful development of the QWERTY typewriter, Sholes sold his invention to the Remington company, which then manufactured and marketed the first commercially successful typewriters featuring the QWERTY keyboard layout. This marked a significant milestone in the history of communication technology, as it enabled countless people worldwide to become proficient typists, opening up new job opportunities and revolutionizing office work.

Despite the emergence of alternative keyboard layouts over the years, such as the Dvorak layout designed for ergonomic benefits, the QWERTY layout remained dominant. The reason for this enduring popularity lies in human behavior and familiarity. Once people became accustomed to typing on the QWERTY keyboard, it became ingrained in their muscle memory and typing habits. Switching to a different layout proved challenging, as users preferred to stick with what they knew best.

In essence, the QWERTY keyboard layout is a testament to how technological standards can be shaped not only by functionality but also by user acceptance and habit. What began as a solution to mechanical issues with early typewriters has persisted through generations of typists and remains the standard layout for keyboards on computers and smartphones today.

Trivia Time: Did you know that thousands of English words can be typed using only the left hand on a standard QWERTY keyboard, while only a couple of hundred words can be typed using only the right hand? Words like "typewriter," "proprietor," "perpetuity," and "repertoire" are among the longest English words that can be typed using only the keys in the top row.

Today's Sketch of the Day goes to Via! I hope you've enjoyed learning about the fascinating history behind the QWERTY keyboard layout.