Why are the letters on the keyboard arranged the way they are?
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Like, why not use the alphabet instead of "qwertyuiop, etc..."
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Answer:
All of the above answers are wrong, actually. On the first typewriters, the keys were laid out alphabetically. However, as people became proficient typists, it was common for the bars on which the letters were attached to become entangled when typing quickly. The solution was to split up letters that are commonly used in quick succession, so that they were less likely to interfere with one another. Thus, the QWERTY layout was born. The format carried over to the computer keyboard because typing (on typewriters) was already a common skill, and the QWERTY layout was well-known and widely adopted. Despite more efficient formats (such as Dvorak), QWERTY persists to this day. (QWERTY is designed to alternate keys between hands as much as possible. An unfortunate [for righties, at least] side effect of the layout is that more words can be spelled using the left-hand side of the keyboard than the right. Fun fact: the longest English word that can be typed with one hand: stewardesses.)
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Other answers
The qwerty keyboard was designed around the efficiency tests of words per minute. The letters were positioned to where its believed to require the least amount of time to type most words. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout There is another keyboard layout that others now despute being more efficient. This is called the Dvorak layout.
Dalton C
It orders them so its easier to type among the most common letters used. It would not be as efficient if they were all arranged. Good question
scandrewooka
The standard keyboard that we know today, often referred to as the "QWERTY" keyboard (after the first 6 letters on the top row of keys) was actually designed to faciliate touch-typing - a (fast declining) skill where the typist only has to read the words he/she is typing and doesn't have to look at the keyboard at all. In touch-typing you place both your hands on the keyboard so that the four fingers of your left hand cover the "A", "S", "D" and "F" keys, while the right-hand's fingers take care of "H", "J", "K" and "L". The thumbs handle the "F" key and the spacebar alternately. The typist moves up and down the rows of keys while typing and, once mastered, can produce extremely fast speeds. My father, a court clerk, could type up to 96 words per minute (no errors) on a good day!
RoySM
The qwerty keyboard was designed to be used with typewriters, part of the arrangement was to prevent keys sticking together as one typed, to this effect it had to slow slightly the speed, but it has remained on computer keyboards because people became used to the qwerty arrangement of letters.
Sprinkle
On typewriters , originally the vowls were next to each other. People go mixed up and pressed the wrong thing. They arranged it so that all of the vwls are next to consanants.
Victor H
my computer teacher said that there are other arrangements but this type is known as the QWERTY keyboard
Jaz Von D
the ones that are in the middle are used the most and on the outside less
Reagan .
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