jim (04/22/83)
I heard this story recently and wanted to pass it along. I understand that the reason typewritter (and by default terminal) keyboards were set up like they are is because, on the old mechanical typewriters, the keys which were most frequently used tended to jam, hence they were placed furtherest apart! An example of how a standard can get propogated just because its there, even after the technology has changed so drastically that the reasons behind the standard have evaporated. So much for ergonomic design... arizona!jim