QWERTY effect
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
The QWERTY effect is a phrase commonly used to describe the cause of a sub-optimal (usually anachronistic) solution to a problem where logically superior alternatives apparently exist.
[edit] Background
The most commonly given example is also that by which the term derives its name - the QWERTY keyboard layout. The QWERTY keyboard was designed to space out letter pairs which are commonly typed in the English language, and thereby avoid jamming of the hammers in typewriters. However, computer keyboards have no such limitation and placing related keys like this only serves to slow typing speeds.
In contrast, other layouts, such as the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout are designed to maximise typing speeds - indeed, the Guinness world record typing speed (as of July 2005) was achieved using this layout. As such, the logical end to this analysis would be a period of changeover to Dvorak before mostly abandoning QWERTY. However, Dvorak has not become the dominant typing layout for several reasons, all related to the cost/benefit ratio for individuals changing to the new standard (these issues are well discussed here). As such, QWERTY will apparently continue to be the most popular keyboard layout, despite its apparent weaknesses, as it is "good enough" for a user's needs.
[edit] Examples
- An example in technology would be companies not changing the computer architecture they use because the cost of porting their applications and/or retraining staff is prohibitive.
- Another example is the problem of backward-compatibility where a company has to preserve an inefficient design or software architecture to allow it to be used with older products (or files).
[edit] See also
- QWERTY
- Switching barriers (also known as Switching costs)
- Worse is better
