🚀 go-pugleaf

> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
> designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows,
> therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, 
> but a lot harder than it appears.
> 		Edward Sciore
> 		Computer Science, BU

Well, for those of us that are left handed, it comes in handy... :-)

Jerry Lieberthal
Computing Services Division
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

The line eater ate the quote ...

> Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
> designed to facilitate the even use of both hands.

Not true of the QWERTY keyboard; true of the Dvorak (ASK).

In article <578@bu-cs.UUCP> sciore@bu-cs.UUCP (E Sciore) writes:
>                          Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
>designed to facilitate the even use of both hands.

Just a little note Edward to remind you that the typewriter keyboard was
"designed" to slow typist down so they wouldn't jam the keys together.
The first typewriters used gravity to return the keys and any typist who
typed too fast had to have the boss disassemble the platten and unjam
the keys.

Devorak has done a lot of research on keyboards and the DSK (Devorak
Standard Keyboard) and the ASK (American Standard Keyboard) were developed
to overcome the flaws of the "qwerty" keyboard.  Back in the 40's when
Devorak was attempting to persuade the military to specify DSK keyboards,
the government held contests.  After the Devorak typists broke 300 words
per minute and it became obvious that the qwerty typists weren't going
to break 110 wpm ( at that time ), the government discontinued the
contests because "they don't prove anything".

The ANSII committee has recently become quite bold and has accepted a
Devorak style keyboard as an ANSII standard.  You can try the keyboard
on any Apple IIc by pushing the little button on the top of the computer.
Anton Devorak did a lot of research and proved that good touch typists can
retrain to ~double their speed in < six weeks.  A "two finger" typist can
learn much quicker than that.

The Devorak keyboard was designed with the comfort of the typist in mind.
The most used letters are under the strongest fingers; and the vowels are
under the "home" row of the right hand and the major consonants the left.
( if my memory is still working. )

Dave Wade

> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> typed with the left hand?

How sinister.
-- 

    Jim Crandell, C. S. Dept., The University of Texas at Austin
               {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!crandell

> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
> designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows,
> therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, 
> but a lot harder than it appears.
> 		Edward Sciore
> 		Computer Science, BU


Ummm, not quite.  The layout of the typewriter keyboard was
designed to SLOW TYPISTS DOWN, because the early printing mechanisms
could not keep pace with skilled typists.

Puzzle:  what's the longest word that is normally typed only
with the left hand?  The right hand?  What about the longest
word with no ascenders or descenders?

> > Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> > typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
> 
> Puzzle:  what's the longest word that is normally typed only
> with the left hand?  The right hand?  What about the longest
> word with no ascenders or descenders?

That depends.  Which database would you use to enter and retrieve that
information?  (Severe puzzler).  Would a network database be overkill?

:-)

NOTE:  For all of you who sent mail the last time, I'M JOKING!  :-) :-)

	- jerry   ihnp4!uwmcsd1!jerry   University Of Wisconsin-Milw

	"Database LONG recovery has just eaten this memorable quote"

In article <578@bu-cs.UUCP> sciore@bu-cs.UUCP (E Sciore) writes:
>Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
>typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
>designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows,
>therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, 
>but a lot harder than it appears.
>		Edward Sciore
>		Computer Science, BU

On my Dvorak-layout keyboard, the word "database" alternates evenly between
both hands (all vowels are typed with the left hand).  The "standard" keyboard
layout (a.k.a. the "qwerty" layout) was actually designed to slow down typists
on turn-of-the-century typewriters, because the keys would jam if you typed
too fast.  "Even use of both hands" had little, if anything, to do with it
(that WAS a consideration in the Dvorak design).

NOW TO REDEEM MYSELF for posting this article, by appending something to do
with databases :-)  :

Has anyone out there investigated the relationship between databases and the
"knowledge bases" of artificial intelligence?  That's a research interest of
mine.  Reply by mail if possible, and I'll summarize if absolutely necessary.


-- 
	Lee Thomas
	Software Development Products Division
	Design Automation Group
	Tektronix, Inc.

> > Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> > typed with the left hand?
> 
> How sinister.
> -- 
> 
>     Jim Crandell, C. S. Dept., The University of Texas at Austin
>                {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!crandell

I didn't know you could use the left hand to type!! Maybe this only applies
to southpaws, like my wife.
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