*sigh* I wonder how much longer this will go on...
I mean, the standard QWERTY keyboard layout was originally designed for old-fashioned typewriters in order to make people type *as slow as possible* to prevent the typewriter keys from sticking together. It's small wonder that people are coming up with carpal tunnel syndrome when they spend lots of time in front of a keyboard.
The DVORAK layout has been available for some time, and yet they are *incredibly* hard to find as sold directly by computer manufacturers. Usually one must buy an *additional* DVORAK keyboard from some other source than the people who manufacture and sell computer systems. Even your local computer reseller will likely not prep their salespeople to 'prefer' DVORAK layout keyboards when recommending systems to clients.
Personally I think the DVORAK layout keyboard should be the *default* keyboard sold with modern computers and if you absolutely HAVE TO have a QWERTY keyboard, then you should have to specify a different SKU in order to have one.
They aren't *that* hard to get used to, and can save you loads of time typing and much stress on your hands. A good typing tutor program can help you 'reprogram' your hands in short order.
I don't care HOW used to QWERTY you are; DVORAK is a better tool for the same job, AND is likely better for your health.
From the article:
In 1956 a carefully designed study by the General Services Administration found that QWERTY typists were about as fast as Dvorak typists, or faster. Interest in Dvorak among companies and government agencies had lately been increasing, but it came to an end with that finding. Since then, as "The Fable of the Keys" explains, there have been a variety of other experiments and studies. They find that neither design of keyboard has a clear advantage over the other. Ergonomists point out that QWERTY's bad points (such as unbalanced loads on left and right hand; excess loading on the top row) are outweighed by presumably accidental benefits (notably, that alternating hand sequences make for speedier typing).Which is all very interesting, but the point is this: if you have learned to type on a QWERTY keyboard, the cost of retraining for Dvorak (however modest) is not worth paying. This implies, in turn, that the QWERTY standard is efficient. There is no market failure.
So, please, don't be forcing your keyboard choice on me. I like my QWERTY. I'll never have the time to relearn DVORAK in any way that will help me in my current lifetime.
Re:but dvorak superiority hasn't been shown...
jdavidb on 2003-04-10T13:18:24
In about 1992 I switched my Apple IIGs and my Mac Plus to Dvorak. It was easy on the Gs; it was built in. For the Mac I painstakingly built my own Dvorak layout with ResEdit. I pasted paper key labels onto the keyboard.
I was retrained in about a day and went nuts when I went back to qwerty. Apparently not nuts enough to do it again, though, although I occasionally toy with the idea.
Re:but dvorak superiority hasn't been shown...
jordan on 2003-04-10T21:48:14
I've never had the luxury of only using one computer day in and day out. I try to do this, actually, by using a 'desktop replacement' laptop whenever possible with/without docking, but I've often had to work at client sites on their workstations, at system consoles, with loaner or demo setup laptops on the road at various times, etc. etc. etc.
I can see going for dvorak if it were the default. Otherwise, I would be hobbled trying to work in odd environments. Unacceptable. I simply cannot stand looking for keys, it drives me nuts. Whenever I've had to use some European layout I feel very very uncomfortable. The first thing I've done is find how to configure for a US keyboard layout.
Now, I don't need the key caps at _all_. If all major operating systems supported easy remapping to dvorak, I guess I could stand it, but I don't believe they do.
Re:but dvorak superiority hasn't been shown...
WebDragon on 2003-04-10T22:55:46
This has to be the most cohesive reason I've seen so far, barring subjective issues regarding the superiority of one over the other.
I really appreciate everyone taking the time to follow up and help me correct some of my misconceptions on this.
Notwithstanding, I still plan on *trying* one for a while if I can get my hands on one for a while to see how well it works for me.
Insofar as retraining is concerned, Personally I don't thinK i'd have many problems switching back and forth. It might be disconcerting at first, but after a few weeks of it, I don't forsee any problems.. just switching mental gears.
Re:but dvorak superiority hasn't been shown...
pdcawley on 2003-04-11T05:08:49
I use QWERTY on flat keyboards, but the Maltron layout on my Maltron ergo keyboard (which is very comfortable). The Maltron can switch easily back and forth between QWERTY and the Maltron layout, but I can't. At all. My fingers 'know' that when the keyboard is shaped like a Maltron, then the keys are laid out one way and when it's flat, they're layed out in QWERTY, and that's just the way it is. In conversation with the chaps at Maltron, they reckoned that they knew of about three people who could switch back and forth between layouts (on the same keyboard) at will.
I've had no problem with Dvorak support on various OSs. As to physical support, I just get keyboards and pop the keys caps off (like from Adessoinc.com) and put them back on in Dvorak order. When I can't do that, I just the Dvorak values on the keys with a silver marker.
Try it! But note that you can't try it for a day -- you have to try it for about a month.
After the first month, I didn't mind occasionally using other people's qwerty keyboards briefly.
