The QWERTY keyboard is the most common keyboard layout in the world. It is used on typewriters, computers, and other devices. But how did it come to be?

The QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868. Sholes was a newspaper editor and printer who was looking for a way to improve the typing speed of his employees.

At the time, most typewriters used a layout called the “alphabetical keyboard.” This layout placed the letters in alphabetical order, which made it easy to type words but also caused the typebars to jam frequently.

Sholes’s solution was to rearrange the letters on the keyboard in a way that would prevent the typebars from jamming. He chose the letters for the QWERTY keyboard based on how often they were used in English, and he also spaced them out in a way that would make it difficult for the typebars to collide.

The QWERTY keyboard was a success, and it quickly became the standard keyboard layout for typewriters. It was also adopted for computers when they were invented in the 1970s.

Why is the QWERTY keyboard still used today?

There are a few reasons why the QWERTY keyboard is still used today. First, it is very familiar to most people. We have all been typing on QWERTY keyboards since we were children, so it is what we are used to.

Second, the QWERTY keyboard is relatively efficient. It is possible to type very quickly on a QWERTY keyboard.

Third, there is no clear alternative to the QWERTY keyboard. Other keyboard layouts have been proposed, but none of them have been as successful as QWERTY.

Is there a better keyboard layout?

There are a number of keyboard layouts that have been proposed as alternatives to QWERTY. Some of these layouts are designed to be more efficient, while others are designed to be more ergonomic.

However, none of these alternative keyboard layouts have been as successful as QWERTY. This is likely because QWERTY is very familiar to most people, and it is also relatively efficient.

The QWERTY keyboard is a legacy of its time. It was designed to solve a problem that no longer exists, but it has become so familiar that it is unlikely to be replaced anytime soon.