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Posted by patrick j on 04/08/07 22:48
On Apr 8, 2007 dorayme wrote:
> Blue underlining is a variety of the QWERTY phenomena. But, with
> the QWERTY keyboard layout, there were mechanical reasons (the
> keys were laid out to make old typewriters less prone to sticking
> via their key wires jamming). From then on, of course, all
> attempts at different layouts have been highly marginalised.
As a touch typist I'm quite glad in one way that QWERTY has remained so
ubiquitous. However part of me wishes the (imho) much better chording
keyboard had been a success.
I believe you are absolutely right that the QWERTY keyboard has the keys as
they are so that old typewriters were able to function with fewer clashes,
but in fact the whole concept of the keyboard that we use, regardless of
the actual position of each key, is a legacy from a mechanical system for
which it had to be that one key is used for one letter.
Once the keyboard is electronic then there is no need for one key to be for
one letter and so the wonderful chording keyboard can happen:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chording_keyboard>
I think the ideal is to have the keyboard designed for the left hand
leaving the right hand free which for right handed people would be very
handy for sipping coffee, that kind of thing.
The chording keyboard is much faster to learn how to use than touch typing.
You would be surprised how fast it is to get into the way of it.
I think the primary reason for the chording keyboard not becoming popular
is that it is simply different and requires comprehension and of course in
the free market anything that is different and cannot just present its
advantage in an extremely immediate way will have a difficult time.
--
Patrick - Brighton, UK
If you wish email me from my web-site: <http://www.patrickjames.me.uk>
Inventory service in Sussex: <http://www.inventoryworks.co.uk>
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