INF1520 Assignment
3 2024 - DUE 15 July
2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
, INF1520 Assignment 3 2024 - DUE 15 July 2024
Question 1 [13]
1.1 Explain why the keys on a computer keyboard are arranged in the order
of QWERTY. (4)
1.2 There are, potentially, many mistakes that designers can make when
designing interfaces. Specify what are the most problematic mistakes
designers make. (3)
1.3 Name and explain three common design mistakes users make when
designing interfaces? (6)
1.1 Why the keys on a computer keyboard are arranged in the order of
QWERTY
The QWERTY keyboard layout was designed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham
Sholes, who invented the typewriter. The reasons for this specific arrangement
include:
1. Typewriter Jamming: Early typewriters would jam if adjacent keys were
pressed in quick succession. The QWERTY layout was developed to reduce
the likelihood of jamming by spacing out commonly used letter pairs.
2. Typing Efficiency: The layout places frequently used letters in positions
that can be easily reached to improve typing speed and efficiency,
considering the mechanics of early typewriters.
3. Adoption and Standardization: Once the layout was adopted and
typewriters became widely used, it became a standard. Changing the layout
would have required significant retraining and redesign of typewriters, so it
remained as the default.
3 2024 - DUE 15 July
2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[School]
[Course title]
, INF1520 Assignment 3 2024 - DUE 15 July 2024
Question 1 [13]
1.1 Explain why the keys on a computer keyboard are arranged in the order
of QWERTY. (4)
1.2 There are, potentially, many mistakes that designers can make when
designing interfaces. Specify what are the most problematic mistakes
designers make. (3)
1.3 Name and explain three common design mistakes users make when
designing interfaces? (6)
1.1 Why the keys on a computer keyboard are arranged in the order of
QWERTY
The QWERTY keyboard layout was designed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham
Sholes, who invented the typewriter. The reasons for this specific arrangement
include:
1. Typewriter Jamming: Early typewriters would jam if adjacent keys were
pressed in quick succession. The QWERTY layout was developed to reduce
the likelihood of jamming by spacing out commonly used letter pairs.
2. Typing Efficiency: The layout places frequently used letters in positions
that can be easily reached to improve typing speed and efficiency,
considering the mechanics of early typewriters.
3. Adoption and Standardization: Once the layout was adopted and
typewriters became widely used, it became a standard. Changing the layout
would have required significant retraining and redesign of typewriters, so it
remained as the default.
