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When someone refers to the QWERTY Keyboard, they are talking about something that should be very familiar to us, as it is the standard keyboard we use. Despite its widespread acceptance, many people have wondered why the keyboard is set up in this way and not in alphabetical order, or some other more practical set up. This answer lies in the origin of the keyboard.

== The Origin of the Keyboard ==
The keyboard was created to go along with the typewriter: a monumental invention that made great changes within the publishing industry. But, as many early technologies did, the typewriter had its shortcomings. It jammed easily, especially with the speed and frequency that some of the keys were hit with.<ref name=":0">Robinson, Solveig C. (2014). ''The Book in Society''. Broadview Press: 109</ref> If the most commonly used letters were in the middle of the keyboard, they would be hit with extra force, but if they were on the side, a person would need to stretch their fingers further, and would therefore exert less force on the key.<ref name=":0" /> This was optimal for the typewriter.

== Downsides ==
Unfortunately, this design has not aged well with the growth of technology. Many people learning to type are confused by the strange layout, and those who do a significant amount of typing run the risk of long of getting painful injuries overtime due to the strain.<ref>Robinson, Solveig C. (2014). ''The Book in Society''. Broadview Press: 110</ref>

== Notes ==