qwerty vs dvorak

[libraryfreak]

Does anyone use dvorak? What are the pros/cons?

Thanks.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I must be dumb. I have no idea what "dvorak" is...

 

[Jennasis]

DH says nobody in their right mind uses one. Allegedly it supposed to be a LITTLE bit more ergonomic, coupled with the awesome benefit of not being able to use a normal keyboard when you use another normal qwerty one elsewhere.

Just typing what he said. Don't shoot the messenger. I gather he's not a fan. He's still stomping around the living room raving about how stupid dvorak is. He just yelled at me "why use a calculator when you can use an abacus."

He says dvorak is the "esperanto" of the computer world...useless but universally useless.

He's a passionate fella.

 

[phorsenuf]

I must be dumb. I have no idea what "dvorak" is...

The Dvorak keyboard is an ergonomic alternative to the layout commonly found on typewriters and computers known as "Qwerty". The Qwerty keyboard was designed in the 1870s to accommodate the slow mechanical movement of early typewriters. When it was designed, touch typing literally hadn't even been thought of yet! It's hardly an efficient design for today's use. By contrast, the Dvorak (pronounced "duh-VOR-ack", not like the Czech composer!) keyboard was designed with emphasis on typist comfort, high productivity and ease of learning -- it's much easier to learn! There were several variations in the Dvorak's design in its first few decades, but these were settled when the American National Standards Institute approved a standard for the layout of the Dvorak in 1982. The diagram above shows the standard layout as adapted for PC use.

 

[SaraJayne]

Wow, I learned something today! Thanks for sharing that.

 

[The Orchid]

It may be better and easier to learn, but unless it is used everywhere, then it would be too difficult to use both methods. Imagine using dvorak at work and querty at home...it would make me crazy. I have difficulty just using different qwerty keyboards. When I've been using my laptop for a long time when I'm away from home and then go back to my desktop, I have a terrible time adjusting to the keyboard and the same thing happens when I start using the lap top after a while away from it. I can't imagine going back and forth between qwerty and dvorak. If dvorak were used everywhere, I'd be open to it. Well, I guess I'd have to be!

 

[bicker]

The Qwerty keyboard was designed in the 1870s to accommodate the slow mechanical movement of early typewriters.

To underscore this point: It was deliberately designed to keep typing slow, because the mechanical typewriters couldn't handle faster stying. It is bewildering that we're essentially stuck with something that was deliberately designed to be worse.

To be fair, though, Dvorak based his arrangement on data available in the 1980s. The reality is that, while English itself doesn't change much, certain words, and therefore certain letters and letter combinations, rise and fall in popularity. The keyboard arrangement that was truly optimal would change over time. That would be horrendously difficult to deal with, as a typist, though. The Dvorak arrangement, despite this limitation, would still be much closer to good than Qwerty. It's a shame that practically-speaking we'll never benefit from it.

 

[Bell30012]

I have both keyboards and was going to teach myself Dvorack at one time. I find that it it really isn't easy to unlearn the QWERTY.

 

[libraryfreak]

My reason for asking is I wondered if it would help with carpel tunnel.

In the 1980's when I first learned about it, I thought too it would be useless because like you say it wasn't available everywhere. But I think every computer now has the option to change your layout.

I access mine thru Control Panel/Ease of Access Center... eventually I typed "keyboard layout" in my help bar. There is a toggle to change from qwerty to dvorak.

 

[ajk912]

I guess a laptop keyboard is fairly easy to change, my DH took the time one day to take all the keys off of his laptop and put them back in the Dvorak way. He likes it better. I learned to type with Qwerty, and considering I can type without looking I have no desire to learn another way. I will be annoyed if the world switches to Dvorak, I will be changing my own keyboard to Qwerty.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have QWERTY, but I have to say I don't type the "right" way anyway.

However, from the little I know, I see it kind of like the (now obsolete) Beta/VHS debate. In actuality, Beta was probably the better system, but because VHS was more common, it made better sense for most people to get that, and therefore, it dominated. QWERTY will most likely continue to beat out DVORAK by the same logic (until they are both replaced by just talking to our computers. )

So, basically, I'm no help. But it's an interesting thread.

 

[TnTsParty]

I think I am stuck on qwerty also. When I was back in typing class I never thought I would figure it out but after 20+ years of using the keyboard it stuck and it doesn't seem easy to unlearn it. Its like my fingers know right where to go without me even thinking about it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I learned with a QWERTY keyboard in high school, and while I did develop a wrist issue about 8 years ago, it went away after I got a ergonomic keyboard (raised, keys split in middle and at an angle). I have no desire to learn to use the Dvorak because it is much more rare and I already know how to use the QWERTY keyboard. It would be like being a piano player and decided 15 years into your career to get a piano where the keys are in different places.

 

[Jennasis]

My reason for asking is I wondered if it would help with carpel tunnel.

In the 1980's when I first learned about it, I thought too it would be useless because like you say it wasn't available everywhere. But I think every computer now has the option to change your layout.

I access mine thru Control Panel/Ease of Access Center... eventually I typed "keyboard layout" in my help bar. There is a toggle to change from qwerty to dvorak.

I don't think the layout of keys would help your carpal tunnel in a different configuration. Your hands and wrists would still be in the same exact position and doing the same exact movements. You might want to look into those ergonomic keyboards that are kind of "split".

As a pp pointed out, since the English language changes so much over time, changing a keyboard to meet the current needs of the language would require it to be revamped too often. And what about people who don't speak English? Are they all forced to use a keyboard meant for users of the English language?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

This is (basically) the keyboard I've used for the last seven or eight years or so. I was not diagnosed with any wrist issue, although I was getting pain in the lower part of my right forearm before I switched:

 

[Jennasis]

This is (basically) the keyboard I've used for the last seven or eight years or so. I was not diagnosed with any wrist issue, although I was getting pain in the lower part of my right forearm before I switched:

Thanks for the pic FD! That's the split keyboard I was thinking of.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I don't think the layout of keys would help your carpal tunnel in a different configuration. Your hands and wrists would still be in the same exact position and doing the same exact movements. You might want to look into those ergonomic keyboards that are kind of "split".

As a pp pointed out, since the English language changes so much over time, changing a keyboard to meet the current needs of the language would require it to be revamped too often. And what about people who don't speak English? Are they all forced to use a keyboard meant for users of the English language?[/QUOTE]

My French colleagues have a different keyboard than qwerty. It doesn't seem all that different but there are keys that are in different places.

I would assume there are several versions of keyboards depending on the native language.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't think the layout of keys would help your carpal tunnel in a different configuration. Your hands and wrists would still be in the same exact position and doing the same exact movements. You might want to look into those ergonomic keyboards that are kind of "split".

As a pp pointed out, since the English language changes so much over time, changing a keyboard to meet the current needs of the language would require it to be revamped too often. And what about people who don't speak English? Are they all forced to use a keyboard meant for users of the English language?[/QUOTE]

My French colleagues have a different keyboard than qwerty. It doesn't seem all that different but there are keys that are in different places.

I would assume there are several versions of keyboards depending on the native language.

Cool! Did some googling, and here's a German keyboard:

A French:

A Russian:

 

[DrCavin]

We have a guy at work that uses Dvorak, hate when he has computer issues because takes me forever to find the letters. He put stickers on the keys but it is still a PAIN. I sometimes switch his back to QWERTY if it is a big problem to fix.