The QWERTY (or AZERTY in France) keyboards were only necessary on mechanical typewriters and input/output devices, to prevent the hammers colliding at the type-bar fork.
With the introduction of the s/e IBM golf-ball, chain-printers and dot-matrix printers, this danger ceased to exist and obviously modern laser and bubble-jet printers don’t have that problem either.
Unfortunately, those of us brought up on QWERTY still need the QWERTY configuration. Having said that though, as a computer engineer I used QWERTY for more than 40 years. Since coming to France I converted to AZERTY very quickly but I can understand printer manufacturers being reluctant to put a simpler alphabet keyboard on the market, when the users are looking for their own configuration…
For a computer, a keyboard is a keyboard as long it configured to do what you want it to do.
A US QWERTY keyboard is different than a French-Canadian QWERTY keyboard who is also different than a US Spanish QWERTY keyboard. All these keyboards can be programmed to be use on a standard 101 keys IBM US QWERTY keyboard. I switch between them in a blink of a eye.
My understanding of the history of the QWERTY keyboard is different. The first typewriters were manual (imagine!), and the letters were on the end of long ‘keys’ that had to travel several inches to strike the paper. The keyboard was laid out the way it was to avoid the keys jamming together when the most common letters were typed. If you ever see an old manual typewriter, take a good look and you’ll see it makes sense.
I actually tried a Dvorak keyboard one time at work. (We had configurable keyboards on our “terminals” which we manufactured; it was the ’80s.) I gave it three weeks, after which I was up to 20 WPM max. I quit and went back to my normal 60+ on the standard QWERTY keyboard.
What I found amusing was the guy who claimed that Dvorak was inherently faster (having read the theory, I guess) and, basically, told me I didn’t experience what I experienced. Loudly and publicly told me. Theorists. He didn’t even argue that three weeks might not be long enough to adapt, he just told me I was wrong. But note: HE never tried it.
Apply that lesson to politics, folks. There are a lot of wild-eyed theorists out there who are simply living in a dream world. Don’t elect them!
Templo S.U.D. almost 5 years ago
How are Frank & Frank doing now after 36 years of business?
Silica Gel almost 5 years ago
Qwerty keyboard
90 – 120 WPM
Dvorak simplified keyboard
2 – 5 WPM because I still need to find the letters, lol.
Oof… I’ll stick to the less simplified option…
MosheWaisberg almost 5 years ago
there are also Alphabetical keyboards these days
A Common 'tator almost 5 years ago
The QWERTY (or AZERTY in France) keyboards were only necessary on mechanical typewriters and input/output devices, to prevent the hammers colliding at the type-bar fork.
With the introduction of the s/e IBM golf-ball, chain-printers and dot-matrix printers, this danger ceased to exist and obviously modern laser and bubble-jet printers don’t have that problem either.
Unfortunately, those of us brought up on QWERTY still need the QWERTY configuration. Having said that though, as a computer engineer I used QWERTY for more than 40 years. Since coming to France I converted to AZERTY very quickly but I can understand printer manufacturers being reluctant to put a simpler alphabet keyboard on the market, when the users are looking for their own configuration…
boniface22 almost 5 years ago
Most police forces still are.
Me_ almost 5 years ago
For a computer, a keyboard is a keyboard as long it configured to do what you want it to do.
A US QWERTY keyboard is different than a French-Canadian QWERTY keyboard who is also different than a US Spanish QWERTY keyboard. All these keyboards can be programmed to be use on a standard 101 keys IBM US QWERTY keyboard. I switch between them in a blink of a eye.
James Wolfenstein almost 5 years ago
They were all convicts!!!! :D
Greg Y almost 5 years ago
“…every cop is a criminal… and all the sinners, saints…”
Breadboard almost 5 years ago
Speed does not matter any more because most people use their thumbs on a smart phone with the same set-up ;-)
Pickled Pete almost 5 years ago
LOOK at ME. . .I don’t photograph well! , , I wonder if MAC cosmetics would help ME?
julianhoward Premium Member almost 5 years ago
My understanding of the history of the QWERTY keyboard is different. The first typewriters were manual (imagine!), and the letters were on the end of long ‘keys’ that had to travel several inches to strike the paper. The keyboard was laid out the way it was to avoid the keys jamming together when the most common letters were typed. If you ever see an old manual typewriter, take a good look and you’ll see it makes sense.
Michael G. almost 5 years ago
Set a thief to catch a thief!
ekke almost 5 years ago
I actually tried a Dvorak keyboard one time at work. (We had configurable keyboards on our “terminals” which we manufactured; it was the ’80s.) I gave it three weeks, after which I was up to 20 WPM max. I quit and went back to my normal 60+ on the standard QWERTY keyboard.
What I found amusing was the guy who claimed that Dvorak was inherently faster (having read the theory, I guess) and, basically, told me I didn’t experience what I experienced. Loudly and publicly told me. Theorists. He didn’t even argue that three weeks might not be long enough to adapt, he just told me I was wrong. But note: HE never tried it.
Apply that lesson to politics, folks. There are a lot of wild-eyed theorists out there who are simply living in a dream world. Don’t elect them!
russef almost 5 years ago
MIB in reverse.
Ricky Bennett almost 5 years ago
The Qwerty keyboard theory is false. The layout is to keep the keys from jamming together on old typewriters.
craigwestlake almost 5 years ago
Speed up your Dvorak keyboard by playing the New World Symphony while typing…
David Peters almost 5 years ago
And in some countries the police are still criminals in uniform
Running Buffalo Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I found it more interesting that M-A-C stands for “Make-up Art Cosmetics”. But like somebody saying SSN number, it is Make-up Art Cosmetics Cosmetics.