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Anonymous Poster

keyboard

11/11/2007 10:34 AM

Hi everybody

Why keys on keyboards are aranged in random format specially alphabates , when it could have been in systmatic format like A, B, C, ,,,,,,,X, Y , Z , typwriters also have same layout . Why , same layout for multi language support . Can i for example redo the layout like programing the keys for respective characters .

any suggestions appreciated .

regards

hamilton
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JohnDG
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#1

Re: keyboard

11/11/2007 10:40 AM

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY

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user-deleted-1105
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#2

Re: keyboard

11/11/2007 1:31 PM

It's to slow you down.!!!..from the days when typewriters were manual and if you could type too fast the arms would come up too quickly and jam eachother! Once the sysem became established it becmae a de-facto standard.

Much the same way as mobile phone keyboard layout is now standard.

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MrChevy
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#3

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 5:06 AM

Laid out for faster typing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard
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user-deleted-1105
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 5:13 AM

Hi,

Don't see how that layout helps....

I just pulled all the key tops off my keyboard and rearranged them like that Dvorak layout ... It didn't D>NL at all ... so I had to put 'em back!

Del (I used my mallet to make sure they were firmly in back in place! )

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MrChevy
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 5:25 AM

Dang, that would be the easy way, wouldn't it! My wooden mallet has dust on it, I use the computhanes now on the wood chisels...

I've been typing QWERTY since 1964, probably take me 40+ years to learn the Dvorak layout! The Wiki article says lots of computers have a software switch to switch back and forth with it now. My old desktop doesn't. : Ahhh, even the $2,000 notebook I bought last December doesn't have it. Hummm.
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user-deleted-1105
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 6:33 AM

...i've never tried those computhanes... I'm just a simple country boy (I'll keep a look out for 'em) I didn't know about the switching software...cool...don't spose I'd be any quicker with 2 fingers on either layout tho!

Del

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prbarry
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 9:12 AM

Talk and type software is the way to go.
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MrChevy
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#8
In reply to #6

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 3:58 PM

You use TWO fingers? Why use so many?
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JohnDG
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#9
In reply to #8

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 5:03 PM

If you've got a pint/cup of coffee/G & T in one hand, and a fag/pastie/sandwich/j/petit four/pie or whatever in the other, typing is slow, unless you use both 'pinkies' (US term for 'little fingers', I believe).

(Becha some smart a*s is going to start on about Talk'n'Type or whatever, now ( pr) - but how does it cope with a mouthful of any of the hereforeto mentioned?).

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#16
In reply to #8

Re: keyboard

11/22/2007 3:20 PM

Maybe "two fingers" has a specialised meaning in the area around Harlow
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LCAC32
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#10
In reply to #3

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 10:40 PM

From the Windows Help file:

"Dvorak layouts make the most frequently typed characters more accessible if you have difficulty using the standard keyboard layout. There are three Dvorak layouts: one if you are a two-handed user, one if you type with your left hand only, and one if you type with your right hand only. You do not need to purchase any special equipment to use these features. "

Some keyboards have the driver to switch the layout. You just have to pop the keys out and switch the keys physically to match, unless you have a good memory. I do not. I have always been curious about trying this myself. Maybe I can go from my blazing 10 WPM to a near lightspeed 15 WPM?

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MrChevy
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#11
In reply to #10

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 11:44 PM

Ah, thanks. Guess it has to reboot to change from one to the other.

You don't pop out the keys, you just change the caps that have the letters on them, the keys are part of the circuit board, can't change that!

Switching to Dvorak just software changes what the circuit does. Yeah, I think I would have to change the caps too. I'll probably just stick to Qwerty, since I can type it at a speedy 15WPM already

Ken
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#12
In reply to #11

Re: keyboard

11/12/2007 11:54 PM

My last keyboard driver had the software to set it up. It also allowed you to apply sounds to various keyboard events. I had mine sounding like an old manual typewriter, complete with the return "ZZZiipp-DING!" It was beautiful. It drove my wife nuts. I had to change it back for health reasons.

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#13
In reply to #12

Re: keyboard

11/13/2007 2:49 AM

"ZZZiipp-DING!"

I want .

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LCAC32
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#14
In reply to #13

Re: keyboard

11/13/2007 11:37 PM

It was on the driver disc for my old Microsoft "Natural" keyboard. I may still have the floppy around. Not sure if it is compatible withXP/2K, though.

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MrChevy
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#15

Re: keyboard

11/14/2007 1:04 AM

Google brings up all kinds of those types of files.
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