this post was submitted on 22 May 2026
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me_irl
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My favorite example is the QWERTY keyboard being based on typewriters. Just something whimsical about how no matter how much technology advances we will still be using our cyber-typewriters.
Well also it's just a good way of organizing keys for the english language at least, while it may have meant more for type writers where mistakes were permanent it's still good for keeping pace with modern computers and phones.
Qwerty was introduced to slow down typing speed so that skilled typists wouldn't damage the typewriters.
I don't think you can argue it's good design for keeping pace with computers and phones when it literally slows people down compared to layouts like Dvorak.
This! It was made specifically to limit functionality to match mechanical constraints. Nothing about QWERTY is inherently 'good' for English.
Additionally QWERTZ and AZERTY were adapted from QWERTY to perform the same role for other languages - to reduce jamming by slowing down common letter combinations or separating their input across two hands