An efficient alternative to the QWERTY keyboard layout

[coops]

Yes I agree flecc. Trouble is, if I'm doing something mundane like data entry i.e. transcribing, I just want to do it as quickly as possible!

However, if I can type faster, for longer, and more accurately with DVORAK, thats great!

Its a bit like riding a more efficient bike I guess: its can transform the typing experience from hard work and repetitive strain (cf squishy, energy-sapping suspension!) to an enjoyable exercise .

Stuart.

[redalpha3]

coops: Understanding the logic behind the system certainly does help. I am going to do a lot of practising on a paper template. It has always seemed more sensible to me that aeiou would be the order of the vowels in the middle row, but I'm sure there will be a reason for not doing that. I'm sure it will be worth persevering with.

As an aside, I have yet to come across the speech recognition software that can cope with my accent! Come to think of it that applies to most of the people south of the Trent too!

[coops]

Yes, I've found that undestanding & visualising/being mindful of the layout helped a lot, especially at first, to unlearn QWERTY memory & learn the DVORAK layout. Practising on paper is a good idea, and also a quick & easy way to try out the ease of typing on a DVORAK layout - one should notice the smoother & easier typing motion straightaway .

I know what you mean about the vowels' key order: some of the other positions seem a little odd too, like S on the extreme right when its more common than D or H for instance, but like you say there's probably a reason: its said some common key combinations are also supposedly optimized e.g. TH, SH, NT, NG, _D, _H, _T etc. are all layed out such that they are typed in an "inward" direction towards the centre of the keyboard, so that the fingers type in an order from the "outer" e.g. fourth, little fingers, towards the inner e.g. index finger, which is supposed to be more ergonomic . At least all the vowels are grouped together, anyway!

P.S. just added this link to my initial post, as a useful source of more information on DVORAK.

Stuart.