Why do we still use qwerty keyboards?

[Fudgo]

I remember my IT teacher giving a lecture on this once.

On the original typewriters, the keyboard layout was different, and that layout allowed people to naturally type pretty fast. However, the fast typing often caused the keys to jam, so the keys were rearranged to the QWERTY position so people would type slower to minimalise jamming (I can't remember exactly why QWERTY slows people down, something to do with how the fingers worked or something I think). But since we're all so used to the QWERTY keyboard now it doesn't really matter anymore.

 

[Iampringles]

The whole world is used to it.

 

[MrFluffy-X]

Why doesn't everyone in the U.S. start using the metric system?

here here!

and wtf is up with fairenheits that is such an old measurement for temperature

 

[Shurikens and Lightning]

I remember my IT teacher giving a lecture on this once.

On the original typewriters, the keyboard layout was different, and that layout allowed people to naturally type pretty fast. However, the fast typing often caused the keys to jam, so the keys were rearranged to the QWERTY position so people would type slower to minimalise jamming (I can't remember exactly why QWERTY slows people down, something to do with how the fingers worked or something I think). But since we're all so used to the QWERTY keyboard now it doesn't really matter anymore.

Thats pretty much the history. But now that we are using keyboards and not typewriters. Can you not argue that typing faster is what we want? QWERTY slows us down, that is bad. Slowing down typists is not a good thing in my opinion.

 

[AfterAscon]

It?s all about path dependency.

QWERTY was chosen for two reasons. The first, as has already been explained, was to prevent typewriters from jamming. The second was a sales technique; all the letters of Typewriter are along the top line in order to sales persons to demonstrate the speed of typewriters over handwriting.

I also read from the same text book from University that typing contest winning tend to use QWERTY keyboards, despite supposedly more efficient variations, although, I can't find anything on Google supporting or denying this.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

It's just the design that always was. For a reason, too. It's actually an ingenious design if you know the reason why but I guess it's irrelevant because these are computer keyboards and not typewriters. But if you change it now, it will screw up all the people who spent their lives typing on a QWERTY keyboard and it would actually be kind of awkward. This goes back to the original design.

 

[Shru1kan]

I'd much rather see us stick with the QWERTY system. Sure, it takes some getting used to, but we shouldn't go around altering everything just because the next generation has trouble with it. In fact, way too many people are used to texting, resulting in the general lack of spelling and grammar skills in today's youth. Should we get rid of spelling standards so that those texters don't have to worry about learning how to properly compose their thoughts in a written format?

I don't know if you're old enough to recall the attempted switch to the metric system in the U.S. What was that, the early 90s? Anyway, if I recall it lasted only a few months before us crotchety old buzzards [okay, so I was in middle school at the time] said "screw THAT hippie crap, and give me back my 12-inch ruler!"

We're all pretty well used to it by now, so screw those kids and make 'em learn just like we had to! And get offa my lawn!

This.... suck it up and it'll be natural pretty quick.

 

[Fudgo]

I remember my IT teacher giving a lecture on this once.

On the original typewriters, the keyboard layout was different, and that layout allowed people to naturally type pretty fast. However, the fast typing often caused the keys to jam, so the keys were rearranged to the QWERTY position so people would type slower to minimalise jamming (I can't remember exactly why QWERTY slows people down, something to do with how the fingers worked or something I think). But since we're all so used to the QWERTY keyboard now it doesn't really matter anymore.

Thats pretty much the history. But now that we are using keyboards and not typewriters. Can you not argue that typing faster is what we want? QWERTY slows us down, that is bad. Slowing down typists is not a good thing in my opinion.

That's what my teacher said as well, so he uses a keyboard with a different layout.

Also, if we changed layouts now, it would be hell trying to make everyone get used to the new layout.

 

[Cody211282]

Because its the norm and its easy and fast to use after you learn it

 

[Dark Knifer]

The reason we have the same umbrellas. No one has bothered making a new one.

 

[JRShield]

Don't touch my qwerty! If we don't watch out we'll all start working with azerty or something.

 

[Darth Pope]

I type 100 words a minuet as it is, I'm not sure I really want to memorize a new keyboard layout and then practice enough to return to my current skill level.

 

[jebus4you]

yeah its for the most commonly used letters first. and why would it jam with the abc layout?

 

[muckinscavitch]

They were arranged like this because it, after learning, is easier to use and to type quickly. Also allows for a nice form that prevents hands from aching and such.

If you're gonna "be angry" about it anyway, this might be for you:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/77ba/

 

[Nouw]

QWERTY is the Initial for the creator of the QWERTY keyboard. The reason for "ease" is because people are used to this set up so why bother changing? It'd be easier with QWERTY as 99% of the internet users use QWERTY keyboards. A lot of QWERTY's in this thread. QWERTY QWERTY. Okay I'll stop.

 

[EnzoHonda]

QWERTY was made because of mechanical limitations of typewriters. If the arms for T and H were together, they would always stick and jam. That was the primary reason for QWERTY. Dvorak was mean to reduce the effort and increase the speed and efficiency of typing. So, with Dvorak, typing keys like "E" doesn't require you to move your finger off the home row. If you think about it, why the hell do we need our right index finger on "J" and our right pinky on ";/:"? There must be more often used characters that could reside under your right index finger. Here's a site that lets your compare the "efficiency" of the two systems by inputing any text you want. http://www.codeaxe.co.uk/dvorak/

So, why don't we use Dvorak? Governments decided it would be too expensive to train all their employees on a new system, so we're stuck with QWERTY until a whole bunch of important non-governmental groups decide to force a change.

 

[eljawa]

now that I am used to this, why change. While learning is a pain, it seems efficient enough

 

[Bobbovski]

I would hate a ABC keyboard. =/

 

[Shock and Awe]

We are used to them.