Separating Myth from Probability: the Origins and Evolution of QWERTY

Neil Kay

No 2012-57, SIRE Discussion Papers from Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE)

Abstract: We use basic probability theory and simple replicable electronic search experiments to evaluate some reported myths surrounding the origins and evolution of the QWERTY standard. The resulting evidence is strongly supportive of arguments put forward by Paul A. David (1985) and W. Brian Arthur (1989) that QWERTY was path dependent with its course of development strongly influenced by specific historical circumstances. The results also include the unexpected finding that QWERTY was as close to an optimal solution to a serious but transient problem as could be expected with the resources at the disposal of its designers in 1873.

Keywords: path dependency; QWERTY; technology; technological standards; innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:edn:sirdps:382

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