Keyboard: We use keyboards on our mobile phones and computers every day, but it rarely crosses our minds why the letters aren't arranged in a straight line like ABCDE.

Keyboard: We use keyboards on our mobile phones and computers every day, but it rarely crosses our minds why the letters aren't arranged in a straight line like ABCDE. We were taught the alphabet in this order in school, so why does everything look so jumbled on the keyboard? The story behind this is quite interesting and surprising.

The Story Begins with the Typewriter

The keyboard design didn't appear out of nowhere. Its roots are connected to typewriters that are about 150 years old. In early typewriters, if the letters were arranged in a straight line like ABCDE, the metal rods would collide when typing, especially when pressing adjacent keys. This would cause the machine to jam frequently and slow down the work.

Why was the QWERTY layout created?

To solve this problem, engineers spread out the letters so that the most frequently used keys were far apart from each other. This experiment led to the creation of the QWERTY layout, which is still used in almost every keyboard today. Its purpose was not to speed up typing, but to prevent the typewriter from jamming.

Technology has changed, so why hasn't the layout?

Today's digital keyboards don't have metal rods, and there's no risk of jamming, yet we still use the same old layout. The reason is habit and training. Millions of people have learned to type on this layout. If a keyboard with a straight line of ABCDE letters were suddenly introduced, most people wouldn't be able to type at all.

Would an ABCDE layout be easier?

A keyboard with a straight line of ABCDE letters sounds easier, but in reality, it could make finger movements more tiring. The QWERTY layout takes into account the natural position of the fingers, making it easier to type for extended periods.

Why does this mystery still persist today? The real secret is that the keyboard design is based more on history and habit than on convenience. Even though technology has changed, human habits don't change so easily. That's why a simple ABCDE layout is still only found in books, not on keyboards.