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The Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard has been around for a long time; it’s been the standard for computers and typewriters since the 19th century.
The major advantage of the keyboard is familiarity. Since it’s the standard, most people grew up learning it. It’s much easier to use a Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard than start learning another keyboard layout.
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What is the importance of the QWERTY keyboard?
The QWERTY keyboard layout was created by Christopher Latham Sholes, an American inventor who also worked alongside a couple of people to invent the first typewriter in the United States.
The layout got its name from the first six letters (Q.W.E.R.T.Y) at the top left, alphabetic row of the keyboard.
The purpose of the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, when it was invented, was to address a typewriter issue at the time. When people type too fast, they end up jamming the mechanical keys. So, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard was designed primarily to put an end to the issue.
Furthermore, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard layout became the standard for computers and typewriters in the late 1800s. This, of course, wouldn’t be possible if not that the layout offers people tons of benefits.
That said, one of the importance of the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, as already mentioned, is that it helped to address the issue of typing fast and jamming the mechanical keys. Well, this point was only relevant at the time of invention. All thanks to the advancement in technology, the issue is no longer being experienced on today’s computers and laptops.
Furthermore, another importance of the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard is that it’s pretty much easy to use for many people. Well, it’s understandable; when you use a product for a long time, you get used to it – which is what is happening to many of us today. For data entry, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard is also important, as it enables fast speed.
What is the advantage of the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard?
The Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard has a lot of advantages. But, as with other keyboards, you need to understand that it also has its disadvantages. Before talking about the setbacks of using the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, let’s first have a look at some of its advantages below:
Pros
Familiarity
One of the many advantages that the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard has over other types of keyboards is familiarity. The keyboard has been around for a long time. Besides, it became the standard for computers and typewriters in the 19th century. Even when smartphones were introduced, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard was chosen as the standard for most mobile devices.
That said, many people across the world are familiar with the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard compared to other types of keyboard layouts. Although there are a couple of better keyboard layouts out there, asking people to start using them will most likely not work.
That’s because most people will feel reluctant to learn other layouts. After all, they are used to the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, and it’s working pretty well for them.
Availability
Another great advantage that the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard has over other types of keyboard layouts is that it’s readily available. You can always find the layout in several styles, designs, and sizes.
Furthermore, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard is available in different styles for almost all functions, including office work, gaming, and web/mobile use.
Touch typing
Touch typing is a typing style – it involves typing without utilizing the sense of sight to locate keys on the keyboard. Furthermore, touch typing is a cognitively complex process, which only works after that body has developed muscle memory.
As you already know, the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard layout has been around for a couple of centuries. Since it’s the standard for computers, smartphones, and typewriters, many people have developed muscle memory from making use of the layout for their day-to-day activities. This is an advantage that the layout has over others.
The Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard is very popular today and many people can type with it without necessarily having to use their sense of sight to locate keys. To start using a new layout means you will have to develop new muscle memory for the layout and many people are reluctant to try that out.
Is there a better keyboard than Q.W.E.R.T.Y?
Apart from the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, there are several other keyboard layouts that one can choose to use. However, only a few of them are easier to use when compared to the standard layout.
You can check below to find out the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard layout alternatives.
Dvorak
Apart from the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, Dvorak is another popular keyboard layout that you’ll find out there. Invented by August Dvorak and patented in 1936. The keyboard layout is known to be the faster alternative for the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard. Well, that’s because of the arrangement of the keys.
Here’s the thing; the Dvorak layout has the commonly used letters on the home row of the keyboard. With this arrangement, people won’t have to move their fingers too much to type.
So, one of the benefits of the Dvorak keyboard layout is that it makes typing a lot easier and faster for people. One of the setbacks of the layout is that it’s only good for typing in English.
Colemak
Colemak is another great Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard layout alternative. The layout was invented in 2006 by Shai Coleman. One can say that the Colemak keyboard layout is a better alternative to the QWERTY keyboard because of the arrangement of its keys.
Colemak is designed in a way that enables typing to become more efficient. Coleman arranged the keys by placing the most commonly used letters of the English language on the home row.
This is the same approach used by the Dvorak keyboard layout. The only key difference, however, between Dvorak and Colemak is that the former focuses on alternating hands while the latter focuses on “rolling” fingers movement.
Maltron
Maltron is another popular QWERTY keyboard layout alternative. The keyboard layout, designed by the South African-born inventor Lillian Malt, is more than just a layout. That’s so because it utilizes a different concept than the common keyboard that we use today.
Here’s the thing; Maltron has 3D and 2D keyboards, and both of them are designed with the three of the most popular layouts; QWERTY, Dvorak, and Maltron.
AZERTY
The AZERTY keyboard layout is mostly popular in the French-speaking countries of Africa and Europe, such as France, Belgium, and Russia. Like the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard, this layout took its name from its first six letters,
(A.Z.E.R.T.Y) at the top left, alphabetic row of the keyboard.
So, the key difference between AZERTY and QWERTY keyboards can be seen in the way both layouts are arranged. While the Q.W.E.R.T.Y keyboard is the standard in America and several countries in Europe and Africa, AZERTY is the norm in France and Belgium.
Conclusion
The qwerty keyboard is a popular keyboard layout that has been around for quite some time. Its major benefit over the other keyboards is that it’s very easy to use and pretty much available for all styles and environments, however it may not be the most efficient at typing.
