It’s the same thing for many of us from Monday to Friday: We get to work, turn our computers on, take a few big swigs of coffee, and begin to type. Emails, reports, articles, memos, and more: So much of our work involves typing, and thankfully, we have efficient keyboards with which to do so. But it hasn’t always been this easy: Not so long ago, keyboards were totally different, and people had to use them in much different ways. Take a look at your keyboards now. You’ve probably noticed that they aren’t in alphabetical order (or any kind of order that makes sense, really). Surprisingly, keyboards used to be in alphabetical order — but it turned out that alphabetizing the keys was not the best way to increase typing efficiency. So, even before there were computers, typewriter keyboards got a major overhaul. Through trial and error, designers figured out how to create the fast-typing, intuitive keyboards that we use today. Learn more about the evolution of the keyboard below.Initially, the QWERTY keyboard was put on typewriters. The model of the keyboard was introduced by a man named Christopher Latham Sholes.
The trouble was that too many of the keys were close together. That means that often, two or three keys would stick together on one push, especially the most used letter combinations, “s-h, t-h, e-a, e-io-u.”
With designs like the QWERTY layout, typing could be more effortless.
It was in alphabetical order, which makes sense but somehow looks weirdly unnatural.
This was another model of keyboard that seems even more counterintuitive than the one in alphabetical order.
Especially if you’re taught proper hand placement on the keys.
Because the keys are a bit farther apart, there’s no longer the issue of sticking.
Typing has become more effortless, because advances in technology made keyboards more responsive.
Including phones, tablets, and mobile devices.
So remember: Don’t take your efficient typing skills for granted. It wasn’t always so simple.
