Buzz
Ever wondered why your keyboard follows the QWERTY arrangement? Credit goes to Christopher Latham Sholes, an inventor who designed a typewriter with a top-row letter layout strikingly similar to modern QWERTY. His creation, the Sholes & Gilden Typewriter, was acquired by the Remington Typewriter company in 1873, which made minor adjustments to the design, resulting in the layout we recognize today.
QWERTY isn't the only option! Explore six other keyboard layouts that offer unique alternatives.
1. AZERTY
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Some unconventional QWERTY layouts retain the core structure of Sholes' original design, as modified by Remington, but alter a few keys. AZERTY, popular in French-speaking regions of Europe and Africa, is a prime example.
True to its name, AZERTY swaps Q for A and W for Z on the top row. Additionally, the semicolon key on the second row is replaced with the M key. In English-speaking countries using QWERTY, the top number row primarily functions as numbers (with symbols accessed via the shift key). However, in France, this row is primarily used for accents, with numbers requiring the shift key.
2. QWERTZ
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QWERTZ is another variation of the classic QWERTY layout, primarily used in Central Europe (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and neighboring countries). It’s not a single uniform layout; instead, it adapts to the linguistic needs of each region, with country-specific adjustments.
3. Dvorak
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Dvorak isn’t just a random sequence of letters—it’s named after its creator, August Dvorak. When he patented his design in 1936, Dvorak argued that the QWERTY layout was inefficient and uncomfortable, making it far from ideal. He claimed his layout was superior, and research appears to support his claims.
On QWERTY keyboards, only 32% of keystrokes occur on the home row (where fingers naturally rest). With Dvorak, this increases to 70%. Additionally, since most people are right-handed, Dvorak’s design favors the right hand, with over half the keystrokes assigned to it. In contrast, QWERTY requires more left-hand usage. Despite its advantages, Dvorak remains a niche choice.
4. Colemak
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The Colemak layout is designed for those dissatisfied with QWERTY but hesitant to learn an entirely new system. It modifies 17 keys and eliminates the Caps Lock key, replacing it with a second backspace key—ideal for those who frequently make typing errors.
5. Maltron
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At first glance, the Maltron keyboard may appear intimidating. Instead of a traditional rectangular layout, it features two square clusters of letter keys surrounding a central number pad. The left cluster’s home row is arranged as ANISF, while the right cluster’s home row follows the DTHOR configuration.
6. JCUKEN
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For certain languages and regions, QWERTY simply doesn’t suffice. Russian, for instance, relies on the Cyrillic alphabet, which is entirely distinct from the Latin-based English alphabet. Since 1917, when Russia streamlined its alphabet by removing certain letters, JCUKEN has been the standard layout for Russian keyboards. Its home row, FYWAPROLDV, is particularly distinctive for those eager to give it a try.
