Bad Designs and planning

[Duncan]

Who designed the layout of the letters of a typewriter and the keyboard of a computer. Why are the letters not placed in order of the alphabet.?

[John Bingham]

It's to do with the frequency of key use and so we can type with both hands. It was also designed to prevent the mechanical typewriters jamming.


Here's a French keyboard for comparison.



http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-10925456

[Duncan]

I'm going to have to disagree with that answer, otherwise the numerals at the top would not read from 1 to 9 and 0.
Also if the layout was so we could type with both hands, why is there no layout of letters for people who [ like me ] are one finger typist's, and for the disadvantaged who only have one hand.

I think I'm going to have to redirect my questions to someone in China.

[vladimir]

John Bingham is correct, the keys are spread by frequency of usage in writing/typing.

I wonder what a Hawaiian keyboard looks like, only 12 letters in their alphabet.

http://www.omgfacts.com/news/4653/The-H ... rs-ab911-0

[Duncan]

But as I pointed out, if frequency of use is the reason, why are numerals still listed 1 to 9. Maybe '' one '' should be in the middle where both hands have access to it

[ali baba]

Learn to touch type, then you'll understand.

[TheGrinchSR]

The QWERTY layout was designed to slow down typing - not speed it up. It was, indeed, due to preventing mechanical typewriters from jamming. For those who want a keyboard laid out in the standard alphabet (which is the fastest typing configuration - as you might expect, having things in order is the easiest for your brain to process) you can get one - it's called a Dvorak keyboard. (They cost about the same as QWERTY layouts). Though the one figure typist might just want to buy Dragon Naturally Speaking and stop typing at all.

[cptrelentless]

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-cult ... 49/?no-ist

[Advocatus Diaboli]

Who designed the layout of the letters of a typewriter and the keyboard of a computer. Why are the letters not placed in order of the alphabet.?

Man oh man....you can ask questions !!!! Sounds a bit like "which idiot invented the alphabet and difficult words if grunting like a swine is much easier"
You just got to learn how to type

[Jamie_Lambo]

yeah i learnt how to type when we got our first family computer in the mid 90's, had some game/program to teach how to type, so glad i did spend hours playing that game as i dont need to look or even concentrate on what im doing as its all subconscious, i guess its the same for people who learn to play the guitar or piano, your brain knows which keys are where without even thinking, id hate not being able to type fluently