Keyboards—we use them all the time but may take them for granted. In fact, they are essential to our careers and everyday lives. From the design to the layout, advancements throughout typewriter history have led to the functioning tool we all know today.
To highlight this impressive tool, we will share some interesting facts about Qwerty keyboard history, the fastest typing speeds, and more. Read on to find out some surprising information about keyboards.
Plus, test your typing speed for free to see how fast you are! If you want to improve your typing and other critical work skills, Pitman Training programmes and courses will set you up for success! Without further ado, here are 9 fun typing and keyboard facts.
Keyboard Evolution: The Surprising History Behind an Everyday Tool
1. Who Invented the Keyboard?
The Qwerty keyboard we use today is attributed to Christoper Latham Sholes, who created it on July 1, 1874. Sholes organised the original layout alphabetically; however, this first layout allowed for typing common letter combinations too quickly and led to jammed keys. After this realisation, Sholes created the new Qwerty design to prevent commonly used letters from sticking together.
2. How Did the Keyboard Evolve?
Throughout keyboard history, there have been many attempts to rival the Qwerty model, but the closest was the Dvorak keyboard. Augustus Dvorak designed this model in 1936, claiming it would put less stress on typists’ hands. However, by that time, most people were already trained to use the Qwerty keyboard layout, so the Dvorak keyboard didn’t become the norm.
As technology evolved from typewriters to computers and now smartphones, the QWERTY keyboard design has remained a constant feature, adapting smoothly across devices for decades.
3. British vs. American Keyboards: Key Differences in Layout and Symbols
Although the UK Qwerty keyboard layout is the same style keyboard used in the U.S., some minor differences in symbol placement could be confusing for typists. Most notably, the “@” symbol on a British keyboard is to the left of the enter key, whereas in the U.S., it is above the 2.
The British keyboard includes a pound sign to represent the UK currency, as well as a key for the Euro currency symbol. Because of these factors, the UK layout has one more key than its U.S. counterpart.
Why Typing Is Essential: A Modern Necessity for Work and Communication
4. Typing in the Workplace: How Keyboards Transformed Office Jobs
The invention of the typewriter dramatically transformed the workplace in the 1870s. Before typewriters, scribes painstakingly wrote all correspondence by hand, which was slow and labour-intensive. The typewriter quickly earned a reputation as a time-saving device, allowing documents to be prepared faster and more efficiently.
This innovation also created new job opportunities, particularly for women, as companies increasingly hired and trained women as typists, marking a significant step in opening up the workforce and establishing new roles in office environments.
5. What is Touch Typing?
Touch typing is a specific method in which the typist can use the keyboard without looking at the keys. Professional typists use this method to gain speed and accuracy. Touch typing training involves working on muscle memory so the brain automatically tells the fingers which keys to type.
6. Different Typing Styles: Touch Typing, Hunt-and-Peck, Buffering, and Hybrid
As typewriters became more common in the workplace, different typing styles developed. While many typists use the touch typing methods, there are other approaches:
What is Hunt-and-Peck Style?
Also known as the two-finger typing method, this style involves searching for the keys and typing them out. However, the accuracy rate is low because the typist is watching the keyboard, not the screen.
What is Buffering Style?
This typing style requires the typist to read and memorise small text sections and then type them. However, it’s not the best approach to improve your typing speed.
What is Hybrid Style?
Combining touch typing and hunt-and-peck, a typist using the hybrid style will memorise the keyboard and focus on the screen. The difference is that they don’t use all their fingers to type on the keyboard. Some may use two, while others may use five or six.
Speedy Keys: Understanding Typing Speeds and How to Improve Yours
7. What is the Average Typing Speed?
As more people became accustomed to using computers and keyboards, average typing speeds improved. The average speed is about 40 words per minute (wpm). It’s important to note that mistakes happen, and they can slow down typing speed. The average typist will make eight mistakes for every 100 words.
8. Who is the Fastest Typist in the World?
In 2024, the new official world record of 305 WPM was set by a teenager known online as “MythicalRocket.”
MythicalRocket set this record on a standard QWERTY keyboard layout, and was even able to type the entirety of The Hobbit in under six hours!
There are also many yearly competitions that aim to find out who is the fastest typist in the world, such as the Ultimate Typing Championship. As of the most recent challenge, Anthony “Chak” Ermolin beat the previous champion, Sean “Arenasnow” Wrona, in a best-of-three competition.
- In the first bracket, Ermolin defeated Wrona, scoring 175.2 to 182.6 WPM.
- In the second bracket, Ermolin won again with a speed of 210.4 WPM.
- In the third and final bracket, Ermolin defeated Wrona 180.7 to 172.3 WPM, becoming the champion of the 2020 edition.
9. How to Improve Your Typing Speed
If you’re looking to get better and faster at typing, you can improve your speed in many ways.
1. The first step is to know your Qwerty keyboard layout. Being familiar with where the keys are can help you become a faster typist as you won’t be looking down at your fingers or the keyboard. One of the best ways to learn proper typing techniques is to take one of our touch typing courses.
2. As you get to know your keyboard, you’ll also want to use the proper typing position to avoid getting tired or sore. The best position for fast typing speeds is to sit straight up with your feet on the floor and your elbows at a 90-degree angle. This can prevent any strain on your hands or wrists while you type.
3. Finally, you will want to practise your typing regularly! Typing is a skill built on repetitive training—even MythicalRocket, the fastest typist in the world, spends 15 to 30 minutes a day practising!
If you’re already skilled at touch typing but want to improve your typing speed and accuracy, you can also study in Typaz speed training or a Typaz professional training programme. These programmes help you develop your speed and accuracy, making you more productive at work. Also, you can try our Shorthand Course.
Wherever you are with your typing skills, there is always room for advancement. Keep practising and hone your abilities with typing training, and maybe you’ll be able to make the fastest typist list.
Speedy Keys Challenge: Test Your Typing Skills and Aim for the Top
We hope you enjoyed our in-depth look at typing. Do you think you have what it takes to be the fastest typist in the world? We want to see just how good your typing skills are! Join us in our search for the fastest typist with our Speedy Keys competition. Submit as many entries as you’d like, and see if your skills are at the head of the pack!
