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 keybo
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 demos. 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.
[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 keybo
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 demos. 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.
Related:
- QWERTY: /kwer'tee/ [from the keycaps at the upper left] adj.
Pertaining to a standard English-language typewriter... - bit-paired keyboard n.,obs.
(alt. `bit-shift
keyboard') A non-standard keyboard layout that seems to have
originated with the Teletype ASR-33 and remained common for several
years on early computer equipment.
The ASR-33 was a mechanical device (see EOU), so... - space-cadet keyboard n.
A now-legendary device used on MIT
LISP machines,
which inspired several still-current jargon terms ... - QWERTY
Type of keyboard designed to slow the typist down and confuse
people who are learning to type.
Daniel Bowen's TOXIC... - Has everyone noticed that all the letters of the word database are
typed with the left hand?
Now the layout of the QWERTYUIOP typewriter keyboard... - Has everyone noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
typed with the left hand?
Now the layout of the QWERTYUIOP typewriter keyboard... - Has everyone noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
typed with the left hand?
Now the layout of the QWERTYUIOP typewriter keyboard... - Has everyone noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are typed
with the left hand?
Now the layout of the QWERTYUIOP typewriter keyboard... - double bucky adj.
Using both the CTRL and META keys.
"The command to burn all LEDs is double bucky F...
