Fun Facts about QWERTY and Typewriter

Typewriter

Here’s some interesting facts about QWERTY and Typewriter, not just our standard QWERTY keyboard, but we also look at some of the other types out there.

• The Typewriter and computers today use the same key layout.
• Most modern keyboards use the "qwerty" layout.  This name comes from the first five letters on the top row.
• The qwerty layout was designed for manual typewriters initially by Christopher Sholes all the way back in 1868.
• The QWERTY keyboard was designed in 1873 to put common letter pairs far apart to reduce the chance of keys jamming and raise typing speed.
• Most early typewriter would have a bell to warn the typist that the were nearing the end of the paper.
• According to Mark Twain, his “Tom Sawyer” in 1876 was the first novel written on a typewriter.

• The word 'typewriter' can be typed entirely using the top row of keys. It has been speculated that this may have been a factor in the choice of keys for ease of demonstration.
• The longest word that could be types only the left hand is 'stewardesses'.
• The longest words that can be typed using only the right hand in proper typing form are ”lollipop” and “monopoly”.
• 'Skepticisms' is the longest word that alternates hands when typing.

• The QWERTY layout was never changed when computers started hitting the market. Secretaries and people using typewriters were used to the old layout and even when other, more efficient layouts, have been proven effective, the old layout has remained with us, and will for many years.
• DVORAK'S unsuccessful layout, in 1932 Professor August Dvorak attempted to make the ultimate keyboard that would be easier to use than QWERTY. What an odd name as well, August? He wasn’t even born in August! I’m jealous. Anyway Dvorak’s idea to make it better than the original was by arranging the letters according to frequency.