Challenging Western Dominance in Technology for Increased Inclusivity and Access

During the 19th century, industrialized nations pushed economic integration upon developing countries. To be fluent in Western ways meant colonized civilizations needed to adopt the technology, language, and forms of communication ushered in by the industrialized powers. For example, the roots of computational communications can be traced to the QWERTY typewriter keyboard arrangement created by Christopher Lathan Sholes. The layout of this system was designed for the English alphabet, yet it has become ubiquitous with keyboards and smart devices globally. As an artifact originally crafted by an American inventor for an English speaking audience, the functionality of the QWERTY keyboard falls short when translated for cultures with different writing systems and reading orientations. This artifact functions as an example of technology that, in order to access, requires cultural conformity. Utilizing one culture over another as a template for prototypes could lead to service gaps when internationally distributed. The future of design must take into account not only the production of artifacts but also its ability to evolve with the lived cultures and social relationships of its global consumers. This presentation will provide a brief history of the development of the QWERTY keyboard and its expansion to non-Western cultures as a means to investigate the impact of Western Imperialism from a more global, inclusive perspective. Using the case study of the development of the Korean typewriter, we will present an overview of QWERTY’s history and influence as an allegory to discuss cultural imperialism through technology.