Christopher Latham Sholes set out to develop a machine that could number book pages automatically. The idea was soon extended to the idea of a machine that could print the alphabet. An article in the "Scientific American" sent "Typewriting" jetting into the future. The first typewriter containing QWERTY- the keyboard design still used today, was put on the market in 1874 . The original design excluded the number one since the "l" could be substituted easily and the shift keys(named because the key actually shifted the carriage) because the letters were all uppercase.*1878Sholes' first model typewriter had rows arranged alphabetically. This arrangement proved to be inefficient. The location of the keys and the use of some letters over others caused the machine to jam easily. When Sholes rearranged the letters using QWERTY(top six letters on the left top corner) people accused him of trying to slow typists down to prevent frequent jamming. His goal, however, was to strategically place the letters used frequently at safe distances to keep the typebars from interlocking.
Related links: more about qwerty
Dvorak history
Sales take off after the Remington No. 2 hits the shelf. It offers both upper and lower case letters and the still present shift key.*1932
Professor August Dvorak of Washington State University used funds from Carnegie Foundation to create a keyboard that would be quicker and easier to learn.
He placed the vowels and the most used consonants on the home row. Typists were now suppose to be able to type 400 of the most common words in the English language without leaving the middle row. Despite its claims, the Dvorak keyboard was never proven more useful than Sholes' and typists didn't see the need to relearn a new keyboard. The QWERTY prevails!
*2050
Year 2050- Keyboards are now obsolete- the long living QWERTY is extinct. People speak into handheld word processors that upload files using a “send” button or print copies on voice command. Students each have a processor that will type, edit, and send their work directly to teachers who are now working from home giving audio video instruction over the internet. Compuvision takes over combining the household computer and television into one. Compuvision houses the internet making videotaping of lessons and virtual field trips easy to view at the convenience of the student. Businesses and schools finally integrate. Students use live professionals as resources. Companies accommodate students by offering incentives to employees who participate in interviews and virtual field trips. Schools are used mainly as resource centers that house multiple compuvision labs and videotapes of past lectures. Students are required to attend class meetings and problem solving forums twice a month. Paper and pencils are used exclusively by artists. Teachers no longer have to struggle to read the written word. It doesn't exist. All words are printed by machine.Other news in 2050:
Teachers’ salaries compete with physicians’ for top dollar. Government spends more on education than defense. Abundance of rain forests help eliminate hole in the ozone , U.S. increases tax incentives for one child families. Scientists discover secrets to hibernation enabling Savannah Hampson to be the first woman on Pluto.
