Why are the keys on the keyboard grouped?

Answer 1

The keys are lined up on the keyboard the way they are (in qwerty format) because when typewriters were still being used that keyboard format prevented them from jamming. We do not use this format because it is effective, we use it because that is what many people are used to. However, a new type of keyboard is being made which people have been said to type 212 words per minute on, but this would take a lot of effort to switch all computer users over to this new type of keyboard.

Answer 2

Back in the days of manual typewriters, came the design of the QWERTY key layout.

The reasons were simple.

Put the most commonly used letters on your strongest fingers... and put commonly grouped letters farther apart. This way, when the hammers came up to strike the ribbon and transfer the letter to the paper, there was less chance of another hammer next to it coming up and jamming (anybody who has ever used a manual typewriter has had that happen).

Since that was the "standard" that was adopted, the QWERTY keyboard layout is the most common. It is not, however, the only type of keyboard out there.

BTW... QWERTY is pronounced "Kwer'-tee"