chopper

In agreement that it's time to re-address the interface issue.

I still think there's a million to be made out of looking at tradtitional computer interfaces and thinking about modern usage - what about a mini mouse and keyboard for these young 5 years old whizz kid generation who know more about computers already than we old crusties do, yet with tiny fingers to type with...don't see that one on sale in dixons and it should be.... we could have a whole market of mini spderman keyboards for the masses etc....



[Edited by chopper - 7/2/2002 9:00:27 PM]

carl

The QWERTY layout is, IMHO, a bit more than just 'to slow typists down'. You'll find there are certain combinations of letters you can type quickly without the hammers jamming, and there are those you can't. The hammers on the outsides ('q' is one of them, iirc) move away sideways from the striking area quite quickly, whereas the ones in the middle ('g' or 'h' is one of them, iirc) fall away vertically so have more trouble getting out of the way before the next hammer comes in. I believe that part of the ethos behind the QWERTY layout (and the layout of the hammers) is to make the combinations that cause jamming (i.e. using lots of letters sequentially whose hammers are in the middle) slower to type.

PS: 'Speak and Spell' used to come with an A-Z keyboard. It was a complete nightmare to use -- I can't touch-type, but I'm used to the QWERTY keyboard. I typed this lot without looking at the keyboard, but I don't use the correct fingers to do it.

[Edited by carl - 7/2/2002 10:42:47 PM]

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

It just struck me as I plodded through typing yet another e-mail: is it true that the "qwerty" keyboard was invented to slow down typists as old fashioned typewriters couldn't cope with the speed of typing they would get up to using an alphabetical one?
Even if this is b*ll*x, WHY don't manufacturers offer an alphabetical version now for all us non-typist types? Surely it'd be easier to use than this stupid thing??
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr rant, rave.

Scooby Snax

The original typrwritters used to jam up so they invented qwerty. When the new technology came out everyone was used to qwerty and it did not change.

druddle

You should try a Belgian azerty one. Fekkin nightmare.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

azerty?? Are you winding me up?

druddle

Nah mate, they are a nightmare (German are the same) if you are used to qwerty.

AndiThompson

notice how easy it is to type typewriter on a qwerty keyboard...

druddle

...and pert...

Scooby Dooby Blue

...and quieter...

dsmith

its all to do with frequency of letters used in English. In an old typewriter common letters had to be spread out over the keyboard so the little arms that hit the paper (technical term ?) didn't jam together.

Brendan Hughes

I was just telling my family the same thing the other day. I believe they have tried to bring out new designs to make typing faster on computers, but the point is that all the secretaries understandably don't want to take six months off work to retrain.

Isn't there a layout called Dvorak, or something like that? (Not to be confused with dead Czech composer!) I always thought it was a keyboard layout like Esperanto, or Mac computers - absolutely perfect but the public voted for the Other One.

I taught myself to touch-type ten years ago, best thing I ever did (one of), wouldn't mind retraining as I still have another 30 yrs in front of this screen until I retire. But then every new job I go to, I'll need to carry my own keyboard - and as for laptops, doesn't bear thinking about - and internet cafes...

azerty certainly exists, wasn't fun working in Brussels. Portuguese keyboards are basically querty with some funny bits round the edges. I always liked the recent James Bond film where he was confronted with the Chinese one

BJH

jasey

... and qwerty

SiCotty

Worked in Germany for a year, the joys of pkunyip (was in the days of DOS and win3.1). Biggest problem was that after a year I got used to using a German keyboard and then came back to the UK.

Si

Olly

...and Property

boomer

No typing required - just click on http://www.howstuffworks.com/question458.htm!!

mb

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

well, well, well. Now i've got the keys off my keyboard, does anyone know how to put them back????

plug

everything will soon be verbal instruction, so the keyboard would go out of the window anyway, then you'll end up shouting abuse at your monitor instead of banging on your keyboard when the screen goes blue ! Oh joy.

boomer

"everything will soon be verbal instruction"

That will be fun on a train hey

Imagine if someone tannoyed "delete all files" just before the journey ended!!

mb

plug

lol

^Qwerty^

Get off my keyboards !!!!!