In essence, a computer keyboard is a typewriter-style device which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. The history of the modern computer keyboard begins with a direct inheritance from the invention of the typewriter. After a series of technological developments, the typewriter gradually evolved into the standard computer keyboard which is currently the modern keyboard computer. According to Wikipedia, there are several legends around the development of the modern keyboard layout, which was patented by Sholes and his partner James Densmore in 1878. The most compelling explanation is that Sholes developed the layout to overcome the physical limitations of mechanical technology at the time. Prior to its establishment, typists pressed a key which would, in turn, push a metal hammer that rose up in an arc, striking an inked ribbon to make a mark on a paper before returning to its original position. Separating common pairs of letters minimised the jamming of the mechanism. However, as computer technology improved, other keyboard layouts were invented that claimed to be more efficient, including as the Dvorak keyboard patented in 1936. Although there are dedicated Dvorak users today, they remain a tiny minority compared to those who continue to use the original model (also known as QWERTY) layout, which remains the most popular keyboard layout on devices of many types throughout the English-speaking world. QWERTY’s current acceptance has been attributed to the layout being “efficient enough” and “familiar enough” to hinder the commercial viability of competitors.
