Why do we still use qwerty keyboards?

[Brockyman]

The way things are going w/ touch screens and voice activation software, the normal "keyboards" will be obsolete in the near future. Touch screen phones, computers and tablets (like the iPhone and the fabled Apple "tablet") will probably allow personal customization for touch keyboards.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

After researching it I realized it was because typewriters would jam a lot with a ABC layout so QWERTY was designed to minimize this. Now escapist, I for one can say I have never used a typewriter and am pretty sure they aren't a common occurrence at this point.

Actually I'm fairly sure the keys are arranged to make typing commonly used words faster.

Anyways, point is, we're all used to it.

First, wow.

Second, it seems much easier (to people) to stick with something that sucks if they know it well, and to not move on to something that actually works well.

 

[BuckminsterF]

It's an entrenched system, same reason we don't all conver to RNP, we're just not used to it

 

[crudus]

Actually I'm fairly sure the keys are arranged to make typing commonly used words faster.

Anyways, point is, we're all used to it.

ok, take a look at your keyboard and at the letters I type. Most of the letters I hit are either the pinky or ring finger. This is how it slowed us down: by putting the most common letters on your weakest fingers.

After researching it I realized it was because typewriters would jam a lot with a ABC layout so QWERTY was designed to minimize this. Now escapist, I for one can say I have never used a typewriter and am pretty sure they aren't a common occurrence at this point.

Counter-question: Why do we still us the English system when metric is much better and used by the rest of the world. You can by better keyboards and such or download (free) software to switch your keyboard to something like dvorak like my friend does(the physical keys ont switch mind you).

 

[Atheist.]

You really shouldn't ask to replace QWERTY with ABC, because that's simply foolish. Now DVORAK is another matter. Using a DVORAK keyboard increases your WPM a decent amount of QWERTY, once you learn how to use it.

 

[Xanadu84]

Go do a little research into this and you will find that the idea that QWERTY was made to slow down typing, and that Dvorak is faster is a complete myth. A grand total of 1 study has ever suggested that Dvorak is faster. Wanna guess the name of the guy behind that experiment? Ill give you a hint, his name begins with Dv, and not a lot of names begin like that. Now, wanna try and guess why his study was discredited, and repeating his study got no significant results?

Yes, we still use QWERTY because were used to it. However, we also use them because they are just as good a layout as any. Maybe this will change at some point, but right now, there is nothing wrong with QWERTY.

Of course we should totally switch to metric.

 

[Drakenian]

Today I saw my little cousin typing on the keyboard in frustration. She does know her alphabet but still hasn't learned how to properly type. In frustration she asked me why do we still have QWERTY keyboards, and to that I had no real response.

After researching it I realized it was because typewriters would jam a lot with a ABC layout so QWERTY was designed to minimize this. Now escapist, I for one can say I have never used a typewriter and am pretty sure they aren't a common occurrence at this point.

While it would be a hard change I feel that it would help in the long run. Gaming might have some troubles since we all are used to WASD to move but I think we can adjust. You do see ABC layouts on many devices nowadays but many keyboards still stick with this confusing system.

Does the escapist have an answer for this?

EDIT: I have noticed most of you are saying stuff that had to do with typewriters. Let us not forget that another thing QWERTY was famous for is slowing us down when we type. Is that a good thing? This is the 21st century using a 19th century technique on a obviously obsolete system. I believe we need a change to take advantage of computers and not typewriters.

...? QWERTY keyboards made us faster when we typed. The keys are arranged to place the most commonly used letters at the points where the fingers would normally rest... Who the hell have you been getting your info from?

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I'm used to it, the keys seem conveniently placed to me and so I shall continue to use the QWERTY system.

 

[TheDudeMan14]

Why fix what isnt broke?

 

[War Penguin]

Well, it's kinda late to change now, ain't it? Everyone's used to it.

 

[Korolev]

We're all used to it - to change it would take far, far, far too much effort. Can you imagine? Having to design it, get everyone to agree on it, manufacture it, replace all the existing keyboards, allow for secretaries and typists to get used to the new layout.... oh jeez, that's far too much effort.

Other keyboard layouts COULD be more efficient. But why rock the boat? The current layout works just fine, the placement of the keys is standard so anyone can use any keyboard anywhere, and we're all used to it. Plus, it's easy to use. I mean, court typists have extremely bizarre keyboards they use to record the court proceedings, but it takes years to train to use effectively. We don't want that - let's just stick with what we have. It's not like we NEED to type at 100 words a minute all the time/

 

[guardian001]

Cause everyone got used to it and it'd be really, really fucking annoying to change it now. Here, lets give an example. here's the key spreading for "this is the layout you propose":
ziol ol zit aqngxz ngx hkghglt

Now try typing that. Notice how the keys are really, really awkward to hit quickly and in sequence? There are lots of systems that make sense. QWERTY, DVORAK, etc, all have keys placed for ease of use or comfort. The alphabet is arbitrary and would work horribly for ease of use, since there is no organization.

Tell your cousin to go join an MMO. It doesn't really matter what one. It'll tear the living shit out of their spelling, but they'll know where the keys are.

 

[Vern]

Yeah, it's been said, but QWERTY was created not only to prevent jamming on typewriters, but also speed up typing. The most commonly used letters were spaced out, and if you went with an ABC keyboard your fingers would start getting in each others way. Once you get used to something you can use it with the same speed as any other method. If you were typing with an ABC layout you could use it just as quickly as a QWERTY keyboard, but since we're all using QERTY why change it? It's not broke, don't fix it.

 

[Zaksav91]

I would type like my grandpa if I used an abc keyboard. The qwerty keyboard is just a million times better, and qwerty imo is just an awesome word

 

[Auric]

Anyway, werent QWERTY's made so you typed slower?

I guess people just don't like change...

It works for typewriters, they keep it for keyboards. With no thought to efficiency.

 

[Wutaiflea]

Just on the subject of old style typewriters, I have used one of those typewriters before and I can tell you right now, the positioning of what letters are on what keys has absolutely no bearing on how often they jam. They just jam all the fucking time.

The QWERTY layout works on the same principle as Morse Code- all the letters you use most frequently should be the most accessible/easiest to produce, so in theory it should be much more intuitive than an ABC keyboard.