QWERTY, along with its direct derivatives such as QWERTZ and AZERTY, is the primary keyboard layout for the Latin alphabet. However, there are also keyboard layouts that do not resemble QWERTY very closely, if at all. Some of these are used for languages where QWERTY may be unsuitable. Others are specially designed to reduce finger movement and are claimed by some proponents to offer higher typing speed along with ergonomic benefits.

Comparison This is a chart of alternative keyboard layouts for typing Latin-script characters. National and specialized versions of QWERTY which do not change the letter keys are not included. Layout Design priorities Base language, country Homing keys Created year # changes from QWERTY Backspace location Extra arrow keys? Programmer features? Math and symbols? Modifiers (#core, #aux) Dead keys? QWERTY Various English, United States F J 1870 (approx.) 0 top right Dvorak Ergonomics (hand alternation) English, United States U H193628 top right 1 main, 1 aux Colemak Ergonomics (total movement, combos); QWERTY learning English, United States T N200617 center left (QWERTY capslock) 1 main, 1 aux 14 aux; acute accent non-dead Workman Ergonomics (lateral extension, finger-specific); QWERTY learning English, United States T N201022 center left (QWERTY capslock) 1 main, 1 aux 14 aux; acute accent non-dead Neo Ergonomics (home row, alternation) German, Germany E N201028 top right, and shifted alternate (home-area shifted punctuation) (<100) 3 main 3 main; 8 shifted; 6 aux BÉPO Ergonomics (combos, home row) French, France E T 2004–2006 29 center left (QWERTY capslock) (unshifted punctuation) (<50) 1 main, 1 aux 14 aux Asset QWERTY similarity; Ergonomics (combos, home row) English, United States T N 2006 15 center left (QWERTY capslock) 1 main Minimak QWERTY learning; Ergonomics (total movement, repetition) English, United States T N2012 8 default (versions with 4 or 12 available) center left (QWERTY capslock) 1 main, 1 aux QWPR QWERTY learning; Ergonomics (total movement, repetition) English, United States T N201311 left (QWERTY tab), top right (home-area shifted punctuation) (>>100) 2 main 1 main, 2 shifted, 14 aux, 6 doubled JCUKEN (Latin) Phonetic similarity to ЙЦУКЕН International, Soviet Union A O191930 top right HCESARErgonomics for Portuguese (letter frequency and hand muscles)Portuguese, PortugalD U 193729 top right 2 main, 3 shifted Turkish (F-keyboard) Ergonomics for Turkish (letter frequency and hand muscles) Turkish, Turkey A K195527 top right

See also IBM PC keyboard Apple Keyboard

References