Dr. Universe explains why keyboard keys aren’t in ABC order

Washington State University's resident feline scientist, Dr. Universe, answers a key question from Arnaaz, 10, of New Jersey: Why aren't keyboard keys arranged in ABC order?

With help from WSU librarian and trained historian Erin Hvizdak, Dr. Universe explores the origins of the QWERTY keyboard, which debuted on early typewriters in the 1870s.

Readers learn why the familiar claim that QWERTY was designed to slow typists and prevent jams may not tell the whole story. The layout could instead have helped telegraph operators quickly transcribe messages sent in Morse code.

They'll also discover why QWERTY remained the standard as typewriters spread through offices and schools, how historians use primary sources to investigate the past and how librarians can help separate popular explanations from solid evidence.

Ask Dr. Universe is a science education project from WSU that answers real questions from curious kids around the world. Readers and listeners can submit their own questions and explore more columns, videos and the Ask Dr. Universe podcast online.