Dvorak Keyboard

Woden

Hi just wondering has anyone tried typing using a Dvorak keyboard and if so with what results, also does anyone know anywhere where the keyboards can be purchased instead of moving or relabeling all my keys so i can give it a shot, i type fairly fine on QWERTY but i'm just interested

cheers

data

leeroybrown

I've never tried it myself but a friend got bored one night and moved all the keys on an old keyboard he had to form the DVORAK layout.

He's a pretty fast typist as it is and said that once he got some practice in with the DVORAK scheme he found that he was experiencing an increase in typing speed (between 10% and 25% afair) and also that the fatigue experienced by his fingers over time was less. He said that it didn't take too long to accustom himself and I presume that the speed increase would be more marked once he had spent more time with it.

The DVORAK layout (for those who havn't heard of it) is an alternative to the QWERTY layout and receives it's name in the same way. It works by locating the keys to minimise finger movement and typing time. Hence the home keys are the most commonly used, etc.

The QWERTY keyboard on the other hand was designed for manual hammer based typewriters (something that some people here may never have used ) in order to minimise the chance of hammers jamming. Obviously this was only possible by desining a scheme where typing was slowed considerably.

Sev

I was curious about learning dvorak a while back. I kept it up for a week and I could type at about 45wpm by the end of it. I do find that you do I use the home keys a hell of a lot more, but its just painful trying to type dvorak when I know I could be typing a hell of a lot faster if I used qwerty.

Its also extremely confusing, when I have been typing in dvorak for half an hour or so, and I switch back to qwerty cos I need to type something fast. Often I just draw a blank, and for a moment, simply cannot remember how to type anymore, its freaky. I simply forget how to start typing a sentence, because its all subconsious and automatic muscle memory, and I need to reinstate that qwerty mindset again. Its like riding a bike.. except not remembering how to start.

I'm going to switch back to dvorak I think this Summer when I have time to spare, you just need the discipline to stick to it and not fall back into qwerty. That said I cant really see any use for needing to learn dvorak layout, if your an acomplished qwerty typer, I figure it will be counter productive and a waste of time learning to touch type on another layout. I just want to learn dvorak for the novelty. I like the idea of having my keyboard "encrypted"

Sev

Originally posted by leeroybrown
The DVORAK layout (for those who havn't heard of it) is an alternative to the QWERTY layout and receives it's name in the same way.

Thats not true, btw. I think it was designed by a bloke named Dvorak.

But yes, it is a more intelligently designed keyboard layout, and you do actually notice the difference when youre typing, that you very seldom need to reach for the awkward keys.

Also, you dont need a special "dvorak" keyboard, although such hard-wired types do exist. You need only adjust a few driver settings in windows control panel to start typing away in Dvorak.

Woden

yeah there is specialised keyboards which i took a look at and said screw it i've just made my own and its a pretty good replica of the one with the dvorak layout i saw, just a few difference like where the americans have there at symbol and punctuation marks etc.. i'll switch the windows and then give this a try see what happens, don't have much time to be testing at the moment and i'd say i fairly decent at QWERTY but the same for me its a bit of a novelty. i'll let yous know how i get on.

leeroybrown

I stand corrected on the naming. As I said I never used one myself.

One quick google later ... the Layout:
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/layout.html

I also forgot to mention the simplicity of changing Keybopard Layout in the OS.

I agree that the main problem with using a DVORAK layout is switching back to the standard QWERTY one. Afaik my friend only used the DVORAK as a short term experiment as he was using QWERTY layouts at work.

Snowbat

I first dabbled with Dvorak about three years ago. I was a pretty fast QWERTY typist but, as I was regularly asked to do UPS processing in work at the time, switching between two layouts was seriously wrecking my head! I got back into it again two years ago and after some serious Dvorak practice during my summer holiday I went cold turkey on QWERTY completely.

For most people switching, the speed increase will be marginal, though it must be said that the world's fastest typest (for over a decade) uses Dvorak.

The main benefit of Dvorak is the huge reduction in finger gymnastics. I can type for extended periods easily, without suffering from the sore fingers and wrists I used to get with QWERTY. It is reportedly easier to learn from scratch too so if you can't touch type yet, learn Dvorak. For existing QWERTY touch typists, it is worth the trouble to switch (your fingers will thank you for the rest of your life) but allow plenty of time for practice, keep at it, and be prepared for frustration.

Dvorak
http://slate.msn.com/id/2061547/
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/index.html

The Alt-Keyboards mailing list (Dvorak users and learners)
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/alt-keyb.html