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qwerty |
2 definitions found From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: QWERTY /kwer'tee/ adj [from the keycaps at the upper left] Pertaining to a standard English-language typewriter keyboard (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard after its inventor), as opposed to Dvorak or non-US-ASCII layouts or a {space-cadet keyboard} or APL keyboard. Historical note: The QWERTY layout is a fine example of a {fossil}. It is sometimes said that it was designed to slow down the typist, but this is wrong it was designed to allow _faster_ typing -- under a constraint now long obsolete. In early typewriters, fast typing using nearby type-bars jammed the mechanism. So Sholes fiddled the layout to separate the letters of many common digraphs (he did a far from perfect job, though; `th', `tr', `ed', and `er', for example, each use two nearby keys). Also putting the letters of `typewriter' on one line allowed it to be typed with particular speed and accuracy for {demo}s. The jamming problem was essentially solved soon afterward by a suitable use of springs, but the keyboard layout lives on The QWERTY keyboard has also spawned some unhelpful economic myths about how technical standards get and stay established; see `http://www.reasonmag.com/9606/Fe.QWERTY.html'. = R = ===== From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: QWERTY/kwer'tee/ (From the top left row of letter keys of most keyboards) Pertaining to a standard English-language typewriter keyboard (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard after its inventor), as opposed to {Dvorak} or foreign-language layouts (e.g. "keyboard AZERTY" in french-speaking countries) or a {space-cadet keyboard} or {APL keyboard}. The QWERTY layout is a fine example of a {fossil}. It is sometimes said that it was designed to slow down the typist, but this is wrong it was designed to allow *faster* typing - under a constraint now long obsolete. In early typewriters, fast typing using nearby type-bars jammed the mechanism. So Sholes fiddled the layout to separate the letters of many common digraphs (he did a far from perfect job, though; "th", "tr", "ed", and "er", for example, each use two nearby keys). Also putting the letters of typewriter" on one line allowed it to be typed with particular speed and accuracy for {demos}. The jamming problem was essentially solved soon afterward by a suitable use of springs, but the keyboard layout lives on [{Jargon File}] (1998-01-15)
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