This thread reminded me of an experiment I saw a couple of years ago that really interested me, given my background in AI.
http://www.visi.com/~pmk/evolved.html To summarize, a guy is trying to evolve a good keyboard layout by deriving interesting metrics. A use for genetic algorithms at last! Regrettably, he didn't have much luck, with the Dvorak layout winning out against all his genetically created layouts, which implies that either his heuristics weren't strong enough, or he didn't let it evolve for long enough. When I have the time I intend to attempt his experiment myself to see if I can produce any useful results. Max > -----Original Message----- > From: Russell Bateman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:26 PM > To: vim@vim.org > Subject: Re: Other European languages on a US keyboard > > Of course, we all realize that the original difference between AZERTY > and QWERTY was the analyzed solutions to the problem of the likelihood > of two typewriter hammers striking the platen in close enough succession > that they would jam together and get stuck. Accents arose as a > distinction only because the French decided, based presumably on a > letter frequency analysis that AZERTY was the optimal key arrangement > based on letter frequency in French words while Americans (I've never > noticed what they type on in England) chose QWERTY. It was always a > puzzle to me in my childhood as to why the keys weren't arranged in a > more obvious fashion. It wasn't answered until, as I was acquainted with > the Dvorak key layout, it was explained to me why typewriter keys had > been arranged like that in the first place. Of course, now, it's all > just tradition--strong enough that the Dvorak guys haven't carried the > day and the chording guys are just a lone voice in the wilderness. > > > > cga2000 wrote: > > On Mon, Jul 24, 2006 at 08:37:47AM EDT, A.J.Mechelynck wrote: > > > >> Warning: off-topic post. Read at your own risk. > >> > >> > > [..] > > > >> Before computers, I used a "French" typewriter keyboard (AZERTY type). > >> Nowadays I use a "Belgian" computer keyboard (also AZERTY but with > >> special characters arranged differently). My father has an old > >> typewriter he bought in Switzerland when he was a student, and it uses > a > >> QWERTZ layout. (Switzerland has four official languages, viz. German, > >> French, Italian and Romanche; and I don't know how many different > >> keyboards they use.) > >> > >> [snip] > > > > > >
