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The Evolution of the Calculator Keypad: From 9 Keys to the Standard 10

2025-05-11

The layout of the calculator keypad wasn't always as we know it. Early Comptometers used a 9-key layout, driven by mechanical constraints (e.g., lever connections to rotating drums) and user experience considerations (placing frequently used keys within easy reach for efficiency). However, this design required highly trained users for optimal performance. The Dalton revolutionized this with a 10-key layout, including 0 for the first time, and a more compact design for improved usability. Finally, Sundstrand's 3x3 layout, with its ergonomic design, became the standard for calculator keypads, still used over 100 years later.

Versailles: Power and the Absence of Soul in Design

2025-02-19

The construction of Versailles stemmed from Louis XIV's lust for power and envy of his former finance minister's magnificent gardens. The author uses this as a springboard to discuss the lack of soul in modern product design. He argues that, much like Versailles is awe-inspiring yet lifeless, many modern products prioritize superficial aesthetics and functionality, neglecting emotional connection. True design, he contends, should stem from the designer's emotional experiences, drawing inspiration from their own depths, like a gardener cultivating the soil, to create products full of life. The article uses architecture as an example, contrasting the feelings evoked by the Sagrada Família and a telephone exchange building, highlighting the importance of emotion in design.