KEYBOARDS

COSTAATT
Subject- human and computer interface Teacher Student name- Shamika Thomas Student number- 00049723

Objective
Types of Keyboards - Qwerty, Alphabetic, Dvorak and Chord. Research the different types explain the main features of each addressing advantages & Disadvantages. How each keyboard operates. And its interaction between the computer and human. Compare the efficiency of each.

Introduction
With each new invention time and time again modern civilization has bested itself advancing our world substantially. The keyboard is one of these inventions. The keyboard is a hardware device that allows users to enter characters, text and commands onto the computer.

Introduction continued
As the modernized version to mechanical text entry devices such as the typewriter and text punches, the keyboard has been considered one of the most commonly used computer hardware devices.

Facts of the keyboard layout*

It is easier to type letters alternating between hands.

For maximum speed and efficiency, the most common letters and digraphs should be the easiest to type. This means that they should be on the home row, which is where the fingers rest. Likewise, the least common letters should be on the bottom row, which is the hardest row to reach.

Continued*

The right hand should do more of the typing, because most people are right-handed. It is more difficult to type digraphs with adjacent fingers than non-adjacent fingers.

Stroking should generally move from the edges of the board to the center (as an example, rap your fingers on a table and see which is easier: going from pinkie finger to index or index to pinkie). This motion on a keyboard is called inboard stroke flow.

Types of keyboards

ALPHANUMERIC QWERTY DVORAK CHORD

ALPHABETIC
An Alphabetic keyboard is one which

Originally originally the keys on a typewriter were placed in alphabetical order, though this was later changed due to the constant jamming of keys

KEYBOARD

QWERTY

Developed by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1896, the inventor of the typewriter Originally keys were laid out in alphabetical order which caused frequent jams of moving parts. Sholes rearranged the keys so that most frequently typed letters were spread apart to minimize the jamming

DVORAK

named for its creator, August Dvorak. Was developed for the benefit of the typist The Dvorak layout places all of the vowels on the left side of the keyboard and the most common consonants on the right. The most commonly used letters are all found along the main row where you place your fingers when you begin typing.

Benefits of using the Dvorak key board

Increased comfort Increased efficiency Better accuracy Faster Shorter learning curve (estimated 50% shorter than Qwerty)

CHORD

A chorded keyboard is a input device that allows the user to enter characters or commands formed by pressing several keys together, like playing a "chord" on a piano. The large number of combinations available from a small number of keys allows text or commands to be entered with one hand, leaving the other hand free. Differs from normal keyboards which have one button per letter or function Also known as a keyset

Disadvantages of chord

Takes practice and memorization of the combinations to become proficient. Slower

Bibliography
Wikipedia at www.wikipedia.com How Stuff Work at www.howstuffwork.com Overclock at www.overclock.net.com