Free Online Typing Test Typing facts. The early typewriters used keyboard layouts with letters arranged in alphabetic sequence so that the typist could easily locate the keys. However, when the typist struck keys whose type bars were next to one another, the bars had a tendency to jam and become unworkable. The standard for the modern day keyboard was developed in the 1870's. This is often called the "QWERTY" keyboard because the letters Q, W, E, R, T and Y are in the upper left hand corner. This deliberate poor key location reduced the problem of jammed keys because of the lengthy key reaches required. That is, the layout of the keys was developed not to help the operator, but to hinder the operator's speed by forcing them to make cumbersome reaches. In 1930, August Dvorak and William Dealy designed a more efficient key arrangment. Letters commonly found in the English language were placed on the "home row" (the middle row) position so they could be keyed quickly. Unfortunately, by then, the old QWERTY layout had become a standard. With the advent of the electric typewriter, the concept of "touch typing" emerged. Manual typewriters required a relative high degree of force behind the keystroke in order to activate the mechanical leverage. With the electric typewriter you just "tapped" the key to activate the key (letter, symbol or number) desired. With the emergence of the modern day computer, the term "touch typing" was no longer descriptive of the activities undertaken. "Keyboarding" came into being to denote a host of data entry activities, which included typing. Although the terms might have changed, and the newer computer keyboards contain function keys, numeric keypads and a host of specialized keys, the original (and older) design has remained as the dominate layout. The idea of typing became a reality when the British inventor, Henry Mill obtained a British patent in 1741 for a machine designed to make impressions on paper. The next typewriter patent was issued in 1829 to an American, William Burt. This machine consisted of a semicircular wheel which revolved to the desired letter and then made an impression on paper. In 1833 the Frenchman, Xavier Progin, patented a basic principle found in the modern typewriter. Each letter and symbol was on a separate type bar actuated by separate lever keys. There were numerous attempts to invent a practical typewriter. Then in 1867, Sholes invented his first machine. This was refined, and in 1873 Sholes signed a contract with the Remington Arms Company, a gun manufacturer, to build the Remington typewriter. Initially the machine only contained capital letters, but it was later modified by placing two letters, upper- and lower-case on each type bar. With the use of the shift key, upper and lower case printing was possible. By 1900 the Remington was selling at the rate of 100,000 typewriters per year. The Remington had features that are still part of modern typewriters: a keyboard; a carriage containing the platen (the large roller), and a small roller (or multiple small rollers) to hold the paper in place. Of particular concern to this WEB site is the keyboard, which despite the optical scanners and other devices, remains the primary input device media for most applications.

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