Typewriter key layout

[rmsteer]

Why are the keys on typewriters arranged as they are?

[moorby]

Because the typists on the original mechanical typewriters could type so fast that the arms with the letters on kept hitting each other. The modern typewriter keyboard was produced to slow up the rate of typing and protect the machinery. Of course that doesn't matter with word processors but now everyone is used to the current layout inertia stops a change to a more efficient pattern.

[Ginbottle]

Qwerty trained a typist on his new layout of keyboard. Then a competition was arranged between the trained expert & a typist on the old layout. Which one won & the rest is history.

[kazik]

on typewriters the arms that swing up hit each other if you typed fast until a new layout of keyboard was designed where letters were positiond in such a way that arms didnt collide.