Computers as we know it were invented in the 60s and 70s. All computers have one thing in common and that is the keyboard layout or at least the placement of alphabets. The key layout of a computer or any keyboard today is called QWERTY. But the reason behind this is rather odd and not applicable for why the layout is still what it is today.
During the era of typewriters, there were many more mechanical problems than what computers can have today. Typewriters have the tendency to get jammed if worked on too quickly. This is why the Qwerty keyboard was invented. This slowed the speed of typists preventing typewriters from getting jammed. But today's computers don't have this problem. Still the layout remains.
The main reason for why computers still use the layout is its familiarity. People are more comfortable with existing standards than new ones. Ask yourself this question. If you were told to change the layout of the keyboard to alphabetical order would you do it or would you prefer to stick to what you have been using since you bought your first computer? I obviously wouldn't want to change the Qwerty keyboard that I have mastered over the years.
There is another popular key layout format called Dvorak. This layout allows for faster typing if you can master it. The fingers have to travel a lesser distance to write each word allowing for faster typing.
Thanks for reading!
