Num pad standards

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been wondering this for quite a large portion of my life now, and it only now occured to me that if anyone can help me it would be you guys.

So, the question is this: Why are number pads’ standard layouts different for different devices? With phones, they seem to have 1-2-3 at the top, then 7-8-9 at the bottom, invariably as far as I’ve seen. Same seems to go for ATMs, though my experience with those is less extensive. On the other hand, keyboards seem to be the opposite without exception. Calculators also have the 1-2-3 at the bottom, although I’m told that this isn’t always the case. Why is this exactly? Is there some good justification, or did it just turn out that way?

Cheers,

~ Isaac

2

Convention!

Cecil Speaks

3

Ah bum - I forgot the rule of looking in the archives first. Sorry about that.

Since I’m here, though… anyone have any idea about the ATMs? I’m guessing that there’s no real reason, but if there was some special logic behind it, well, that’d be kind of cool.

~ Isaac