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  www.customsolutions.us Issue 48: April 2008
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  Fun Facts About Computer and Typewriter Keyboards
Our Custom Typing Training web site provides everything you need to speed up your typing and improve your productivity.  There is no software to download, and you can try it for free!  For details, go to www.customtyping.com

Some interesting facts and trivia about computer and typewriter keyboards:

  • Most modern keyboards use the "qwerty" layout.  This name comes from the first five letters on the top row.
  • The qwerty layout was designed for manual typewriters initially by Christopher Sholes all the way back in 1872.
  • He purposely selected a physical layout that was difficult to type, so that typing speeds would be reduced!  This was needed to reduce the jamming of "hammers" used to create individual letters on manual typewriters.
  • The QWERTY layout was never changed when computers started hitting the market. Secretaries and people using typewriters were used to the old layout and even when other, more efficient layouts, have been proven effective, the old layout has remained with us, and will for many years.
  • The longest common English word that can be typed using only the left hand is stewardesses.
  • The longest English word that can be typed with the right hand only is johnny-jump-up (a type of flower).
  • The word typewriter can be typed entirely using the top row of keys. It has been speculated that this may have been a factor in the choice of keys for ease of demonstration.
  • Long English words that can be typed with the keys of one row only include typewriter and rupturewort.
  Tip of the Week: Using the Built-in Calculator
Windows has a built-in calculator, which you can use whenever you need to do some complex math. To start it up, go to the Start Menu, choose all programs, then Accessories, then Calculator. To use the calculator, you can either click on the numbers with the mouse, or use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard. For advanced math, such as trigonometric functions, go to the calculator's View menu and choose "Scientific".
 
 

Looking for a new job?

Prove your typing speed to potential employers by taking our online typing test, and receive an official certificate with your results.  For details, go to: www.ProveMySpeed.com

 

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