In today’s episode of Everyday Explained, we’re looking at something you probably use every day but may never have questioned: your computer keyboard. The first six letters on the top row spell QWERTY, not ABCDEF. So, why are the keys arranged this way? The answer dates back to 19th-century typewriters, long before computers existed. (Also read: Everyday explained: Why are manhole covers always round and not square or rectangular? )
the story is not quite that simple While preventing typewriter jams is one of the most common explanations for QWERTY. Research highlighted by Smithsonian Magazine suggests that telegraph operators may also have influenced the layout. These operators had to quickly transcribe messages received in Morse code and found that certain arrangements of letters could make the process easier. Their feedback may have contributed to the positioning of letters on the keyboard.
