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Key arrangements and methods of use

  • US 5,166,669 A
  • Filed: 03/25/1991
  • Issued: 11/24/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a keyboard for typewriters, word processors, computer terminals and the like having a plurality of manually actuated keys including keys for each letter of the alphabet and a plurality of character keys wherein the keys are arranged in rows including a central home row, an upper row thereabove, and a lower row therebelow, and wherein the key alphabet letter and character arrangement in the several rows varies from the standard three-row QWERTY arrangement with a plurality of keys relocated to different positions from the QWERTY positions, the improvement comprising:

  • said home row having alphabet letter keys(1) representing at least 40% of normal keystrokes in English-language writing, and(2) wherein at least three keys have the same positions as in the QWERTY home row key arrangement;

    said relocated keys in all said rows having a minimum key position spatial relocation of fewer than eighty-one (81) total key position movements from the said QWERTY arrangement,whereby speed of keyboard use is maximized and retraining time for QWERTY keyboard users is minimized.

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