Final answer:
The main rival to the QWERTY keyboard layout is the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard. Designed to be more efficient than QWERTY, Dvorak layout, however, did not manage to achieve significant adoption due to the entrenched use of its competitor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biggest rival to ever challenge the QWERTY keyboard layout is the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, which was designed by Dr. August Dvorak in the 1930s. Unlike QWERTY, which was created in the time of mechanical typewriters to prevent jamming by spacing out commonly used letter combinations, the Dvorak layout emphasizes typing efficiency and aims to reduce finger movement. It positions the most commonly used letters under the home row, theoretically allowing for faster typing speeds and reduced strain on the typist.
However, despite these potential benefits, Dvorak never gained widespread adoption. This is largely due to the entrenched position of the QWERTY layout, which had already become the standard by the time Dvorak was introduced. The cost and effort of retraining typists and converting equipment were seen as too high for most organizations to consider a switch. Today, while Dvorak is available as an alternative layout on most operating systems, QWERTY remains the dominant keyboard layout worldwide.