sciore@bu-cs.UUCP (E Sciore) (08/15/85)
Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows, therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, but a lot harder than it appears. Edward Sciore Computer Science, BU
jerry@uwmcsd1.UUCP (Jerry Lieberthal) (08/16/85)
> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are > typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was > designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows, > therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, > but a lot harder than it appears. > Edward Sciore > Computer Science, BU Well, for those of us that are left handed, it comes in handy... :-) Jerry Lieberthal Computing Services Division University of Wisconsin Milwaukee The line eater ate the quote ...
gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>) (08/16/85)
> Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was > designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. Not true of the QWERTY keyboard; true of the Dvorak (ASK).
djw@lanl.ARPA (08/16/85)
In article <578@bu-cs.UUCP> sciore@bu-cs.UUCP (E Sciore) writes: > Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was >designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. Just a little note Edward to remind you that the typewriter keyboard was "designed" to slow typist down so they wouldn't jam the keys together. The first typewriters used gravity to return the keys and any typist who typed too fast had to have the boss disassemble the platten and unjam the keys. Devorak has done a lot of research on keyboards and the DSK (Devorak Standard Keyboard) and the ASK (American Standard Keyboard) were developed to overcome the flaws of the "qwerty" keyboard. Back in the 40's when Devorak was attempting to persuade the military to specify DSK keyboards, the government held contests. After the Devorak typists broke 300 words per minute and it became obvious that the qwerty typists weren't going to break 110 wpm ( at that time ), the government discontinued the contests because "they don't prove anything". The ANSII committee has recently become quite bold and has accepted a Devorak style keyboard as an ANSII standard. You can try the keyboard on any Apple IIc by pushing the little button on the top of the computer. Anton Devorak did a lot of research and proved that good touch typists can retrain to ~double their speed in < six weeks. A "two finger" typist can learn much quicker than that. The Devorak keyboard was designed with the comfort of the typist in mind. The most used letters are under the strongest fingers; and the vowels are under the "home" row of the right hand and the major consonants the left. ( if my memory is still working. ) Dave Wade
crandell@ut-sally.UUCP (Jim Crandell) (08/20/85)
> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are > typed with the left hand? How sinister. -- Jim Crandell, C. S. Dept., The University of Texas at Austin {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!crandell
ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (08/20/85)
> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are > typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was > designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows, > therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, > but a lot harder than it appears. > Edward Sciore > Computer Science, BU Ummm, not quite. The layout of the typewriter keyboard was designed to SLOW TYPISTS DOWN, because the early printing mechanisms could not keep pace with skilled typists. Puzzle: what's the longest word that is normally typed only with the left hand? The right hand? What about the longest word with no ascenders or descenders?
jerry@uwmcsd1.UUCP (Jerry Lieberthal) (08/21/85)
> > Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are > > typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was > > Puzzle: what's the longest word that is normally typed only > with the left hand? The right hand? What about the longest > word with no ascenders or descenders? That depends. Which database would you use to enter and retrieve that information? (Severe puzzler). Would a network database be overkill? :-) NOTE: For all of you who sent mail the last time, I'M JOKING! :-) :-) - jerry ihnp4!uwmcsd1!jerry University Of Wisconsin-Milw "Database LONG recovery has just eaten this memorable quote"
leet@copper.UUCP (Lee Thomas) (08/21/85)
In article <578@bu-cs.UUCP> sciore@bu-cs.UUCP (E Sciore) writes: >Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are >typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was >designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows, >therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, >but a lot harder than it appears. > Edward Sciore > Computer Science, BU On my Dvorak-layout keyboard, the word "database" alternates evenly between both hands (all vowels are typed with the left hand). The "standard" keyboard layout (a.k.a. the "qwerty" layout) was actually designed to slow down typists on turn-of-the-century typewriters, because the keys would jam if you typed too fast. "Even use of both hands" had little, if anything, to do with it (that WAS a consideration in the Dvorak design). NOW TO REDEEM MYSELF for posting this article, by appending something to do with databases :-) : Has anyone out there investigated the relationship between databases and the "knowledge bases" of artificial intelligence? That's a research interest of mine. Reply by mail if possible, and I'll summarize if absolutely necessary. -- Lee Thomas Software Development Products Division Design Automation Group Tektronix, Inc.
henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (08/21/85)
> > Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was > >designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. > > Just a little note Edward to remind you that the typewriter keyboard was > "designed" to slow typist down so they wouldn't jam the keys together. > The first typewriters used gravity to return the keys and any typist who > typed too fast had to have the boss disassemble the platten and unjam > the keys. Sigh, this old misconception comes up again. It's *almost* true, but not quite. The keyboard was designed to put frequently-used keys far apart, because fast typing tended to jam the machine if *adjacent* keys were hit in fast succession. This does *NOT* necessarily slow the typist down; there is some evidence that it speeds things up, by promoting alternation between hands. > ... Back in the 40's when > Devorak was attempting to persuade the military to specify DSK keyboards, > the government held contests. After the Devorak typists broke 300 words > per minute and it became obvious that the qwerty typists weren't going > to break 110 wpm ( at that time ), the government discontinued the > contests because "they don't prove anything". It is worth remembering that these were *manual* typewriters. One of the biggest warts of the qwerty keyboard is that it loads the little fingers much too heavily. But this is much more serious for manual typewriters than for electronic keyboards. > Anton Devorak did a lot of research and proved that good touch typists can > retrain to ~double their speed in < six weeks... On *manual* typewriters. More skeptical people, with more modern keyboards, have been unable to replicate these results. I am told that no unbiased test with modern keyboards has shown more than a 10% improvement. Note also that retraining for a Dvorak (there's no e in the name) keyboard ruins your qwerty touch-typing; there is a severe compatibility issue here. > The Devorak keyboard was designed with the comfort of the typist in mind. No, it was designed to be as good as it could within the severe physical constraints imposed by mechanical typewriters. If you put your hands loosely on the keyboard, you will notice that they come in at about 45 degree angles from each side. This is a rather poor match to horizontal rows of keys. There has been some work with radically-redesigned keyboards with a little cluster of keys for each hand, set at a better angle. There are claims of significantly better results this way. This does not have very much to do with databases, by the way. -- Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry
michael@saber.UUCP (Michael Marria) (08/22/85)
> > Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are > > typed with the left hand? > > How sinister. > -- > > Jim Crandell, C. S. Dept., The University of Texas at Austin > {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!crandell I didn't know you could use the left hand to type!! Maybe this only applies to southpaws, like my wife. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
GMP@psuvm.BITNET (08/22/85)
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225 Sparks Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
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SZH@psuvm.BITNET (08/26/85)
Your observation is not correct. The keyboard was desgined to facilitate the
use of both hands. You can find typing books that teach you to type 'B's
with your right hand, while others use the left hand for 'B's. I use my
right hand for 'B's so, the word database is not that difficult to type.
zaki hasan
CS Penn State