Early Typewriters and the QWERTY Layout :
The journey of the keyboard began with the invention of the typewriter. Christopher Latham Sholes, in collaboration with Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule, patented the first practical modern typewriter in 1868. This invention laid the groundwork for the QWERTY layout, which was designed to prevent jamming by separating commonly used pairs of letters. This layout, patented by Sholes and his partner James Densmore in 1878, is still the most widely used keyboard layout in the English-speaking world.
Technological Developments and Innovations :
The typewriter evolved through various technological advancements. The Remington No. 2, introduced in 1878, was the first to feature a Shift key, allowing typists to change case without changing typebars. The Underwood typewriter, patented in 1893 by Franz Xaver Wagner, sold five million units by 1939, thanks to its visibility of writing as it was typed.
Teletype Machines and Keypunches :
The teletype machine, or teleprinter, was a significant breakthrough, making telecommunication more practical for everyday use. Charles Krum’s work between 1907 and 1910 was instrumental in this development. By the 1930s, keyboard models combined the input and printing technology of typewriters with the communications technology of the telegraph. Keypunch systems, which became the basis of early adding machines and computers like the 1946 Eniac, were also integrated with typewriters.
IBM Selectric Typewriter :
A major innovation came with the IBM Selectric typewriter in 1961, which used a typeball mechanism instead of typebars. This allowed for easy cleaning, font changes, and became a commercial success with more than 13 million units sold.
Modern Computer Keyboards :
The evolution of the typewriter into the modern computer keyboard was a gradual process that incorporated many of the features we are familiar with today. As computers became more common, the need for a standard input method led to the adoption of the typewriter’s key layout for computer keyboards.
The history of the keyboard is a fascinating blend of mechanical ingenuity, ergonomic research, and technological progress. For those interested in a deep dive, there are numerous resources available that detail each step of this evolution.
