Stupid Musing

[danalwyn]

Random observation:

On your phone, and on your local ATM, you have a numeric keypad that looks something like this:

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9


On your computer, unless you have a laptop, you also have a keypad, but it looks like this:


7 8 9
4 5 6
1 2 3


I noticed this, as in really noticed this, for the first time this morning, and have since spent a great deal of time pondering why this happens. Wouldn't it make more sense to have them both go the same way?

Ah life, you never seem to run out of ways to confuse me.

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

For years, I made extra money working touch 10-key, which is set up like your computer keyboard. I still get screwed up on the phone on a regular basis.

[melligator.livejournal.com]

In Europe the " and @ are switched on the keyboard. Makes sending email fun till you reprogram yourself :D

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

I hate Italian keyboards. I really loathe them. I spend five minutes each time I use one looking for the right keys.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

The order of the numbers also isn't constant on individual calculators, or on the number pads for different computer keyboards. (I've seen obscure brands which are numbered from the top down.) I'm convinced it's an industry conspiracy to foul up those of us who enter data. I normally touch type, but I have to periodically look at the keypad of anything that is numbered starting at the top so that I don't start inverting numbers. I honestly don't have a preference, but I really wish they would just *pick* one and make it standard. (Just like abbreviated dates -- there is no set rule whether it runs month-day-year, or day-month-year. If the day is less than twelve and you don't know which format they were using, good luck to figuring it out.)

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

I've never really noticed before, but I think all of ours are standardized. It's just that the computer people (who also build calculators) seem to have standardized in one direction, and the telephone people (who apparently got their interface co-opted for ATMs) have picked the other. I've not seen different options.

I'll keep my eyes open though.

[crisiks.livejournal.com]

And there's also the case of the stupid zero which is sometimes below, sometimes above, and sometimes, to the right. Grrrrrr.

[aphrodeia.livejournal.com]

My mom has been doing the books at her job for more than twenty years. Her ten-key is wicked fast, to the point of being ridiculous. It boggles the mind. She always has to keep the calculator and phone on different ends of the desk, and she does them with different hands, to try and keep it all straight. :D

[ithmarvin.livejournal.com]

I've never noticed this, really. I can just change layouts almost instantaneously.

Because I'm hardcore, y'all.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

Do you still use Qwerty?

[ithmarvin.livejournal.com]

Dvorak? Oooh, look at me, I'M A DVORAK USER AND I CAN GO FOR MILES AND TYPE AND TYPE AND TYPE AND TYPE TO MY HEART'S CONTENT WITHOUT GETTING TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAY BABY I'M A DVORAK USER!!!!!!! THAT'S INTERNET SLANG FOR "I'M A CREEP"

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

What's the matter? Too hardcore?

Not that I know how to type outside of Qwerty or anything.

[avendya-love.livejournal.com]

Hello! *looks around shiftily*

This is all terribly hush-hush, you understand, but I'm currently in the process of assembling gifts for avendya as part of the big_little exchange next week.

I'd love to get as much of her flist as possible involved in one particular project I have in mind - nothing strenuous, I promise!

If you're interested, reply with your email address and I'll explain further. If not, feel free to simply delete this comment, and I'll harass you no further.

In either case, if you could do me a favour and screen this I'd greatly appreciate it - I'd hate to blow my cover.

Thanks for your time!

(Sorry for posting this on a random entry - didn't want it to be too near the top of your journal, you see)