The QWERTY (pronounced KWEHR-tee) layout’s name refers to the positioning of the first six letters on most Latin-based alphabet keyboards. The design was first patented in 1878 by Christopher Latham Sholes and is still considered the standard keyboard layout today.
Although we are now all pretty familiar with the QWERTY layout, and would struggle to type without it, the letters don’t appear to follow any clear order. There is, however, some method to the madness.
The history of QWERTY
The first practical typewriter was invented by Sholes in 1867 replacing the larger, more cumbersome Typographer. Beginning with the then-titled Type-Writer, Sholes and colleagues would go on to produce a number of keyboard formats starting with a 28-key, alphabetical iteration, eventually developing into the QWERTY format on the Sholes & Glidden Type-Writer in 1874. The machine was then put into production through their partnership with gun manufacturer Remington.
