What is the origin and reasoning behind the QWERTY keyboard layout?
The QWERTY keyboard layout, named for the first six letters on the top row of the keyboard, was patented by Christopher Sholes, the inventor of the typewriter, in 1868. Contrary to popular belief, the QWERTY layout was not specifically designed to slow typists down. Instead, it was developed as a solution to the mechanical issues of the early typewriters. When commonly used keys were placed next to each other and typed in quick succession, the typewriter's hammers often jammed. By placing frequently used keys far apart, Sholes managed to minimize these mechanical failures, allowing for more efficient typing.