As we discussed in the chapter, 80-column lines were used widely in the world of computing because, in the 1950s, the fi rst IBM computers used punch cards, which could hold 80 characters per card....

As we discussed in the chapter, 80-column lines were used widely in the world of computing because, in the 1950s, the fi rst IBM computers used punch cards, which could hold 80 characters per card. The number 80 was mere serendipity, as the size of the punch card was taken from the size of the old U.S. dollar bill. This is an example of how old technology infl uences new technology.

In a similar manner, when IBM introduced the PC in 1981, the keyboard design was based on the standard typewriter, which used the so-called QWERTY layout (named after the six keys at the top left). It is widely accepted that the QWERTY layout is a poor one, as the most important keys are in particularly awkward locations. Although there exist much better keyboard layouts, the QWERTY keyboard is still the standard. Why do you think old technology has such a strong infl uence on new technology. Why is this bad? Why is this good? (When you get a moment, look up the Dvorak layout on the Internet. I have been using such a keyboard for years, and I would never switch back.)