-- To vote that your gunna try switching or anything, simply leave a post and vote "Dvorak OWNS!!!!"... I dunno how to edit the vote system now that i've added it
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As I am aware, Qwerty Keyboards have taken the whole world under an ignorant little cloud where they have absolutely no idea about any other type of keyboard...
Well, first off, let me explain how it was for me with my qwerty keyboard...
-- I was mistaking sometimes.
-- I was typing pretty slowly (70- WPM)
-- I was sometimes crossing my fingers.
-- I was getting this annoying sensitivity in my pinky sometimes.
Then, I asked my doctor what I should do considering the fact that I was gaming 12-14 hours a day and typing every minute of it. He said, "Get off the computer" and, of course, I didn't like that plan...
I searched around and found this odd keyboard named "dvorak"... This keyboard was made for a better purpose and helped me out alot... I haven't had a single problem with my hands since.
Here is a few quotes from:
http://www.powertyping.com/dvorak/keyboard.html#dk
First off, let's see what they had in mind while creating the Qwerty...
That doesn't sound too good, let's see what the dvorak was made for...
 | | |
| Quote: It was designated an alternate standard keyboard layout by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1982. In 1984 the Dvorak keyboard had an estimated 100,000 users. Today Dvorak keyboard layout software is available in Windows, Mac, Linux operating systems. It has also been called the Simplified Keyboard or American Simplified Keyboard, but is commonly known as the Dvorak keyboard. It was designed by Drs. August Dvorak and William Dealey in the 1920s and 1930s. The two studied letter frequency and the physiology of the hand and created the layout to adhere to these principles: It is easier to type letters alternating between hands.
For maximum speed and efficiency, the most common letters and digraphs should be the easiest to type. This means that they should be on the home row, which is where the fingers rest.
Likewise, the least common letters should be on the bottom row, which is the hardest row to reach.
The right hand should do more of the typing, because most people are right-handed.
It is more difficult to type digraphs with adjacent fingers than non-adjacent fingers.
Stroking should generally move from the edges of the board to the center (as an example, rap your fingers on a table and see which is easier: going from pinkie finger to index or index to pinkie). This motion on a keyboard is called inboard stroke flow. The layout was completed in 1932 and was granted U.S. Patent No. 2,040,248 | |
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Now that you know how it is made, let see what the studies show it improves on...
Here are some fun things to think about
.... But first, look at the dvorak keyboard layout...
http://www.dvorak-keyboards.com/dvorak-keyboard_com.gif
This is the layout, notice where the vowels are? The vowels are on the left hand, and the most common consonants are on the right.
However, there is one advantage of the qwerty keyboard...
-- You can type the word "TYPEWRITER" on one line only... So, if you ever need that then you should stay with qwerty 4 sure.
Here's another site with tests/results and etc. about Dvorak.
http://shiar.org/happy/txts/dvorak.php
Now, your either thinking one of two things...
A. WTF? Why haven't I heard of it, and why would I want to switch and is this thing bull crap?
-- My answer to this is... You haven't heard of it because you haven't looked... You would want to switch because of a wonderful thing called RSI injuries (such as carpel-tunnel) which Dvorak helps fight. It is not bull crap, it is the simple truth...
B. Well, I don't have much money as it is... How much do Qwerty Keyboards cost?
-- Absolutely nothing... Simply follow some easy steps and you can get your qwerty keyboard for free... (or $5 from some random Hardware store).
Here are the steps...
#1. Change Keyboard Look...
-- You can either change the keys physically, or re-write on them...
By physically I mean using a screwdriver or some tool that is flat and simply pluck out all the keys... And then place them back in the Dvorak Layout Way...
-- You can re-write them...
You can simply use a marker and re-write them... (You can do what my friend did and simply put on a piece of tape or use a labeler with easy-peel tape... That way you can take them off with ease).
#2. Change Keyboard Layout...
I only really can help you out if you use Windows... But here are the steps...
Go to Start --> Settings --> Control Panel...
Click on "Regional and Language Options".
Click "Languages" and then Details...
Now, click "add..."
A new box will appear, make sure "Keyboard layout/IME" is checked, and then using the box under that, scroll down and find "United States-Dvorak".
Click "ok".
There is a list of things, and in the category "Keyboard" there should be "US" and "United States-Dvorak". Click on "United States-Dvorak", and then click "Apply" and then "Ok".
Your keyboard is now switched. If you want to switch back, simply go back to regional and language options... Click "US", click "Apply" and then "OK".
-- FAQ --
#1. Will this make my computer lag at all?
-- There is absolutely no difference... Keys are sent to windows exactly the same way, and the speed is exactly the same...
#2. Will I have to re-learn to type?
-- Well, I wouldn't think of it as re-learning to type, because it will probably take alot less time than it did to learn to type... You don't really re-learn how to type as well, its more of a re-learn the keys... You still use homerow and everything else exactly the same.
#3. How common is Dvorak?
-- Not very, Alot of people know qwerty and dont' really care about switching... No body really cares about their hands or anything until they finally get carpel-tunnel or any RSI injury... In which case they are unable to even type so why try a different keyboard layout?
#4. What is a RSI Injury?
-- RSI stands for (Repetitive Strain Injury). Let me tell you a little bit about our hands...
Our hands can't handle much stress, and we put alot on them... This causes the bone to wear down, and causes RSI's.
Carpel Tunnel is something gained after you ignore its messages... (like any numbness in yoru hand after typing, or anything that is stiff, sore or not comfortable).
I can't really explain it more, I hope you understand that it is simply just too much stress on something not ready for stress...
Here is a page with much more details regarding Carpel Tunnel (The most common RSI):
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carp ... tunnel.htm
#5. Can I get RSI with this keyboard?
-- Most definitely... But the chances are significantly reduced.
#6. What are others to reduce my chances of RSI's?
-- I'm not a doctor, but I can recommend some things that will help...
Don't play games (or type) for more than a half an hour to an hour at a time... If you play for an hour, lay down and rest your hands for 20. If you play for a half an hour, lay down and rest for 10 minutes.
-- Don't play more than an hour at a time, it is just bad.
Exercise your hands, stretch them out (don't crack them). Move them by yourself and don't put pressure on them with your other hand... (Wiggle them for about 2 minutes, and then rest for a good 5-6 minutes.)
Avoid bad posture, and listen to your body. Try to leave your arms at a strait angle... (Leave the top part at a 90 degree angle [strait down] and then your bottom arm at a strait line.). Now, it doesn't have to be exact but it should be comfortable and it should be strait and not slanted. If your hands ever hurt, get sore, get stressed, or numb in any way... Take a break and talk to a doctor about it.
My ideas are just suggestions not to START getting it, once you see any symptoms you should contact your physician for help.
