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QWERTY proves GPs point, it's a suboptimal interface and basically impossible to get rid of now, even though we've moved the underlying implementation from typewriters to computer keyboards to touchscreens

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Actually, I wonder if QWERTY is actually better for touchscreens than alternative layouts. In a better layout like Dvorak, the most commonly-used keys are grouped close together, mostly on the home row. This is great for typing because you don't have to move your hands and fingers as much and can reduce wrist strain. But QWERTY does the opposite, moving all the most-used keys to the non-home rows so you have to constantly move between the top and bottom rows. On a computer keyboard, this gives you RSI, but on a small touchscreen, this means the "keys" you're tapping on are generally farther from each other, so perhaps it makes it easier since you rarely tap on two keys that are adjacent.

Amusingly, I switched my phone to colemak. Mainly as I am just happy with the layout. Though, I confess I hate inputting anything on my phone, as I am not a good phone typist. I can almost make the swipe thing work, but I learned how to touch type on a keyboard and it feels very very weird to try and use a phone's keyboard.

Ah, if the point is just that you can't get rid of bad interfaces, I suppose that works. I was taking it more as a systemic problem caused by bad interfaces. Which is to say, I'd be hesitant to cede that this has caused any actual problems.

Would be like complaining that AC is being superseded by DC and how this is proof of an early choice locking us into a bad choice. But it ignores all of the progress made in the interim. And the odd reality that enough effort can migrate anything. It just takes a lot of effort. And we are often quite willing to throw effort at things.

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