The “QWERTY” Keyboard

The keyboard is an input device that is used to type information into the computer and run a variety of instructions or commands into a computer. Therefore “QWERTY” keyboard is a collection of word processing is widely used in today’s computer keyboard.

The Basic of Typewriter

Creation inspired by the creation of a computer keyboard typewriter basic drafted by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868 and marketed in 1877 by Remington Company.

The first computer keyboards were adapted from the pit cards (punch cards) and long-distance delivery technology writing (Teletype). 1946 ENIAC computer using a card reader slot-maker (punched card reader) as a means of input and output.

When you hear the word “keyboard” then our minds can not be separated from the existence of a computer, since the keyboard is a board consisting of buttons to type sentences and other special symbols on the computer. 

The typewriter originally developed to help the blind be able to write the first practical typewriter along with the QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Sholes and patented on July 14, 1868. After inventing the typewriter Sholes abandoned the typewriter and sold the patent that ended up in the hands of E. Remington and Sons who made it a commercial success.

The Standard Typewriter & Computer Keyboard

The QWERTY (pronounced KWEHR-tee) keyboard is the standard typewriter and computer keyboard in countries that use a Latin-based alphabet. QWERTY refers to the first six letters on the upper row of the keyboard. The key arrangement was devised by Christopher Latham Sholes whose “Type-Writer”, as it was then called, was first mass-produced in 1874. Since that time, it has become what may be the most ubiquitous machine-user interface of all time. The QWERTY arrangement was intended to reduce the jamming of type-bars as they moved to strike ink on paper. Separating certain letters from each other on the keyboard reduced the amount of jamming. In 1932, August Dvorak developed what was intended to be a faster keyboard, putting the vowels and the five most common consonants in the middle row, with the idea that an alternating rhythm would be established between left and right hands. Although the Dvorak keyboard has many adherents, it has never overcome the culture of learning to type on a QWERTY.

Alternatively referred to as the Sholes keyboard, the QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Sholes who was issued a patent for a typewriter on July 14, 1868. The QWERTY keyboard is named after the five-letter keys located at the top left side of the keyboard and is now the official standard of computer keyboards (ISO 9995). Today, the QWERTY keyboard is the most commonly found and used computer keyboard in the United States. Above is an image of the keyboard keys layout on the QWERTY keyboard. For more information about please go and find it here.

The only recognition is coming from ANSI (American National Standards Institute), which approved the Dvorak keyboard layout as a version of “alternative” around 1970. Another keyboard layout is still the development of the QWERTY layout is QWERTZ used in countries such as Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, etc. AZERTY by the state of France and Belgium, QZERTY, etc!. And for more information find here.

The Keyboard Buttons

Today, typewriters are rarely used or found and have been widely replaced by the computer with its computer keyboard and Word Processors. However, the QWERTY keyboard layout is still used on almost every US keyboard. In the picture below is an example of what a typewriter may have looked like.

On the keyboard are buttons letters A – Z, a – z, numbers 0-9, buttons and special characters such as: `~ @ # $% ^ & * () _ – + = <> /,. ? :; “‘\ | As well as other special buttons that total number is 104 button. While the button is Typewriters number 52 buttons. The form of the keyboard generally rectangular, but the current model of the keyboard is very varied. The most famous keyboard is the QWERTY keyboard which has 101 pieces of key (button). Most keyboards have a key that is organized into the following sections:

• Alphanumeric Key
• Numerical Keypad
• Function Key
• Modifier Keypad Cursor Movement Key.

In addition, the application uses Ms. Office (especially MS. Word) there are some keyboard buttons that have a function when combined or combined with other buttons, such as the example below:

• Ctrl + A = Select All
• Ctrl + B = Bold
• Ctrl + C = Copy
• Ctrl + D = Font
• Ctrl + E = Center Alignment
• Ctrl + F = Find
• Ctrl + G = Go To
• Ctrl + H = Replace
• Ctrl + I = Italic
• Ctrl + J = Justify Alignment
• Ctrl + K = Insert Hyperlink
• Ctrl + L = Left Alignment
• Ctrl + M = Hanging Indent
• Ctrl + N = New
• Ctrl + O = Open
• Ctrl + P = Print
• Ctrl + Q = Normal Style
• Ctrl + R = Right Alignment
• Ctrl + S = Save / Save As
• Ctrl + T = Left Indent
• Ctrl + U = Underline
• Ctrl + V = Paste
• Ctrl + W = Close
• Ctrl + X = Cut
• Ctrl + Y = Redo
• Ctrl + Z = Undo
• Ctrl + 1 = Single Spacing
• Ctrl + 2 = Double Spacing
• Ctrl + 5 = 1.5 lines
• Ctrl + Esc = Start Menu

By the way, you can directly prove the usefulness of these tips on your devices (PC/Laptop).

Conclusions and Data Credit*

Regardless of how he developed it, Sholes himself wasn’t convinced that QWERTY was the best system. Although he sold his designs to Remington early on, he continued to invent improvements and alternatives to the typewriter for the rest of his life, including several keyboard layouts that he determined to be more efficient, such as the following patent, filed by Sholes in 1889, a year before he died and issued posthumously. 

Perhaps a gesture-based system based on shorthand? Or some sort of swipe-to-type system? This is not to say that such a system would be better, it’s merely an observation that our most bleeding-edge communication technology still dates back more than 150 years to some guys tinkering in their garage. Truly, the more things change, the more they stay the same.