Dimensions Guide

Those who are just learning basic typing or are new to typing on a computer keyboard will sometimes ask why in the world are the letters all jumbled up and not arranged according to the alphabet. What they’re really asking is what is the logic behind the QWERTY keyboard layout. Typical dimensions of keyboards that have this layout are 15 3/4" x 5 3/4" x 3/4", which is enough room to work both hands.

QWERTY Keyboard Layout

The layout you see on today’s keyboard is called the QWERTY keyboard layout. This is the layout of the letters of the alphabet in an English-language computer keyboard. You will notice that this pattern follows suit with the old heavy typewriters. The same pattern of seemingly jumbled up letters appear on both old typewriters and today’s modern computer keyboards.

The QWERTY keyboard layout was designed and implemented by C. Latham Sholes all the way back to 1874. It was initially created for the Sholes and Glidden Company but was later sold Remington, another popular brand of typewriters. This keyboard layout was specifically designed to reduce the number of clashes of the type bars. Remington gained a lot success using this particular keyboard design. This design was so influential that this keyboard layout continued to be used today.

Properties of this Layout

You may not believe it at first but the QWERTY keyboard layout actually has some great benefits especially if you want to learn how to be a speed typist or touch typist. With this layout there are more words that a typist can spell using only the left hand.

An interesting thing to point out is that with this keyboard layout there are thousands of words in English that can be typed by the use of only the left hand. Given the pattern in this keyboard layout there are only about two hundred words that may be spelled out using only one’s right hand. This is an obvious benefit to those who are primarily left-handed.

Computer Keyboards and Other Modern Devices

The QWERTY keyboard layout is also the same pattern used in computer keyboards today. However, various changes were implemented as the keyboard standards were set. As a result, you’ll find that a numeric keypad is usually separated from the bulk of the keyboard where the letters are positioned. Special keys were also added like arrow keys, function keys, the escape key, and other such keys that are significant for a computer system.

Computer keyboards will have a length of about 17 inches and a width of about six and a half to almost seven inches. Of course, manufacturers can also come up with keyboards of varying dimensions to fit different hand sizes. Mobile phones that are equipped with a QWERTY based keyboard will get one that is about 4.43" x 2.45".