The Stuff of Genius - The QWERTY Keyboard

Although the keys on the original typewriter keyboard were alphabetized, consumers quickly realized the swift taps of typists would inevitably jam the machine. Learn how Christopher Sholes saved the keyboard in this episode of The Stuff of Genius.

http://howstuffworks.com
http://www.facebook.com/StuffofGenius
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stuff-of-genius/

Category:

Science & Technology

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• christopher sholes
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[cheetoman23]

you can type "typewriter" with just the top letters of your keyboard

[Goso321]

"We are still using this inefficient keyboard layout today, 140 years later" not me.

[superpoop899]

Fuck you, I LOVE THE QWERTY KEYBOARD!

[avianmotors]

What are your sources? I was under the impression that, while it did have the initial effect of slowing down typing, the placement of the keys was done to minimize collision of keys that are often pressed together (like t and h). I have no references to back this up. Do you?

[SuperRockchic101]

typewriter

[sw201444]

inefficient? my ass

[sw201444]

@Cr4pSnip3r amen

[Cr4pSnip3r]

I disagree, Qwerty > Alphabetical, there is something about the Qwerty keyboard...

[yocbjone]

well, there is no point changing it now!

[andreasboy40]

hey hey

[MyStuff774]

Colemak, dvorak is great, but the Colemak keyboard is is great because it keeps many of the QWERTY elements. Like the letters C V for copy and paste is in the same spot as in qwerty.