QWERTY Research Articles

Under the bonnet

There is a mystique surrounding computers. I f we say that these machines do no more than process information, how does this help tile nurse wishing to operate the machine? The newcomer's perception is coloured by a natural fear of new technology and a misconception of the abilities of the computer. Although many sophisticated computer systems exist, the principles of their operation can be equally demonstrated by the ordinary home computer. Looking at the basic home computer, such as a Sinclair Spectrum or Commodore 64, what does the potential user see? Tlle computer itself resembles a typewriter keyboard with its QWERTY layout, connected to a domestic television set, a tape-recorder and perhaps a printer. How do these devices combine to make such a powerful machine? First, the keyboard is the means of putting information into the computer, the TV screen displays the results of this input, and the cassette recorder can be used to store a permanent record of the data for later retrieval. At the heart of all computers is a silicon chip, called the central processing unit. This central processor is the main operational device in the computer, being responsible for the majority of functions. It controls both Read Only Memory (ROM), where the operating systems which control the computer exist, and the Random Access Memory (RAM), the area where tile programs and data reside. As well as these important activities, in many microcom-

QWERTY and keyboard reform: the soft keyboard option

The familiar QWERTY keyboard has become an international standard, and is the universal layout for computer and typewriter keyboards despite evidence that other layouts are easier to learn and can be used more rapidly. The hard-won skill of the many QWERTY users has been an effective bar to keyboard reform. However, the “soft keyboard”, in which the assignment of characters to keys can easily be changed, now offers the possibility that an improved keyboard could be chosen and implemented along with QWERTY on dual-layout keyboards. Keyboards now serve principally for computer input, rather than only as part of the typewriter: this expansion of role modifies and complicates the choice of a new standard keyboard layout. This article discusses keyboard reform and concludes that the soft keyboard does, indeed, offer a promising opportunity for progress.

Keyboard design and operating posture.

A previous study of muscle incoordination and aching (occupational cramp and myalgia) in telegraphists revealed that the layout of the standard QWERTY keyboard conferred an uneven distribution of load to the fingers. It appeared that layout also affected operating posture, shown to be linked with the occurrence of these symptoms in operating. The aims of the present study were to explore effects of design on the operator, and to examine how layout could be changed to obviate postulated adverse effects. Affected and unaffected telegraphists were interviewed and tested in various ways, and were observed and photographed while operating teleprinters. The load on each finger of the telegraphist and typist conferred by the standard keyboard was analysed and found to be maldistributed, the ring and little fingers being overloaded. Other features of keyboard design and work layout were identified as likely sources of inefficient operating postures and thus probably of symptoms in operating. An alternative keyboa...

Qwerty versus Alphabetic Keyboards as a Function of Typing Skill

A comparison was made of performance on two keyboards, a three-row alphabetic arrangement (ALPHA) and the standard typewriter array (QWERTY). Thirty subjects who ranged in typing skill from almost none to secretarial level operated the keyboards for ten half-hour sessions. Half of the subjects started on ALPHA and half on QWERTY, switching from one keyboard to the other after five sessions. Input material was a list of names and addresses taken from telephone directories. Keying rates and work output, as measured by the number of names and addresses correctly keyed, was found to be greater for skilled and semiskilled typists on the QWERTY keyboard. Performance on the two keyboards was essentially equal for unskilled typists.

HUBUNGAN BEBAN OTOT TANGAN AKTIVITAS PENGETIKAN NASKAH BALI DENGAN KEYBOARD QWERTY TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR

As a human tools, computer is used in various sectors of human life, for examples: writing documents, playing multimedia and so on. Making document withBalinese charactersusing a computer has many obstacles such as letters, points, and sign in Balinese charactershave different forms with letters, points, and sign in alphabetic. Another difficulty is the keyboard that is commonly used is not specific to type Balinese script. This research was aimed to determine the correlation between a decrease of hand muscles load activity typing Balinese scripts with QWERTY keyboard on the increase in learning outcomes. This research was done by using descriptive correlation. Samplesof this research were 23 students who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selectedrandomly. The correlation test results showed that there is a strong correlation between a decrease hand muscle load with the learning outcomes of r xy = -0.963 and p = 0.001. This shows that there is a significant correlation between a decrease hand muscle load with increase learning outcomes with p <0.05. There is a strong correlation and significant between a decrease hand muscle load with increase learning outcomes on Balinese typing activity usingQWERTYkeyboard