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Bill Ward
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  		   Posted 2/26/2008 1:10 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
So, anyone here take the plunge into DVORAK?

If you don't know what I'm talking about, DVORAK is a keyboard layout different from the one we all use, QWERTY, and was actually designed to be ergonomic and fast...as opposed to QWERTY which was designed to be no faster than what a mechanical typewriter could process fairly early in their history.

Apparently, DVORAK is pretty simple to implement, you can switch many keyboards over to it and buy some stickers to put on the keys...

However, I'm sure it isn't simple to learn, or rather it isn't simple to unlearn what we all know instinctively. And that's what I'd like to hear about, if any of you have any experience with it or know someone who does. Or maybe know of any learning software that's available.

billwardwriter.com

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Hazimel
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  		   Posted 2/26/2008 1:37 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I have asked for a Dvorak keyboard for my birthday in march. I've dabbled with it and I think it will be an improvement, though it will take some messing with to make the keyboard shortcuts as accessible. Basically it is an effort in the short term to protect your hands for a longer working life.

The novelist Holly Lisle made the switch a while back and documented her reasons and obstacles here: http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/ed-yours4.html A very helpful post in making the decision.
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Bill Ward
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  		   Posted 2/26/2008 2:10 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Thanks for that Bryan.

I just wonder if, once a person learns it, they're a complete spaz when confronted with a QWERY keyboard.


And, is the keyboard you're getting built as a DVORAK? Do you have a link to that model if so? I've only seen the sticker kits.

billwardwriter.com

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Hazimel
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  		   Posted 2/26/2008 3:11 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
There are Dvorak keyboards out there. I have not done the research. I made the request and now it is up to the wife to make it so. =) I'll keep you posted if I find something. I'm a Mac user, so it will probably be even harder to find.

http://www.fentek-ind.com/dvorak.htm

Seems like this might be out of date, though. Practically, using stickers or fingernail polish both seem like inexpensive options. Some keyboards use the same size keys for all letters, so you can just reaarange them as you like. I've been thinking about doing this for a while. We'll see.
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Firlefanz
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  		   Posted 3/2/2008 4:45 AM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I haven't used DVORAK personally, but a friend of mine swears it saved his wrists. I'll see whether I can drag him over here.

:-)

(It's not really an option for me, since I work at an office and I highly doubt they'd do a DVORAK for me specifically.)

- Call me Firle.

Hannah Steenbock

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"Der Weg nach Eridani" in Earth Rocks 3/2007 (pdf)

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H.P. Lovesauce
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  		   Posted 3/2/2008 12:32 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I think I'm going to get some of those stickers.

With the XP language bar, which in the past has served no other purpose than to annoy me, I can switch keyboard configurations. Click language, select the one you want, type something, say a bad word, then go back and make the selection again.
 
EDIT: I knew a writer/editor who had one in her office at Microsoft. It was some kind of special two-handed thing; she put her hands into it, like that freaky typewriter in Naked Lunch.
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Bookworm
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  		   Posted 3/7/2008 1:17 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I read an article in "The People's Almanac," years ago about DVORAK. As I remember, it said something about a skilled typist-50 WPM on a QWERTY-being able to do 200 WPM on DVORAK. I'll look for this article and get back.

I also remember the woman who was my mother's secretary saying one time, during WWII she was taught how to use the DVORAK keyboard by the Army.

Enjoy.

Lee
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Bookworm
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  		   Posted 3/7/2008 1:44 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
AHA! I have found it.

DVORAK article located in, "The People's Almanac #2," David Wallechinsky, and Irving Wallace, editors. Published by Bantam Books, 1978. Pages 1375-1378. Article is written by Charles Lekberg, reprinted from "The Saturday Review," Sept. 30, 1972.

This article does say if you want a DVORAK keyboard on your typewriter, you can buy one from IBM or Royal or any other manufacturer. But as you may notice, this article predates the Personal Computer Revolution. If you want a DVORAK keyboard on your PC, isn't there a setting you can change in your Windows configuration?

Enjoy.

Lee
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Hazimel
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  		   Posted 3/7/2008 5:40 PM (GMT -5)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Bookworm said...
AHA! I have found it.

DVORAK article located in, "The People's Almanac #2," David Wallechinsky, and Irving Wallace, editors. Published by Bantam Books, 1978. Pages 1375-1378. Article is written by Charles Lekberg, reprinted from "The Saturday Review," Sept. 30, 1972.

This article does say if you want a DVORAK keyboard on your typewriter, you can buy one from IBM or Royal or any other manufacturer. But as you may notice, this article predates the Personal Computer Revolution. If you want a DVORAK keyboard on your PC, isn't there a setting you can change in your Windows configuration?

Enjoy.

Lee


Yes, both Macs and PCs can be switched to Dvorak mode quite easily. The Cheapo method of switching is to make the change in your settings and use stickers and/or nail polish to change the keyboard.

I have also heard from a few people that your speed increases quite dramatically by making the switch.

I Dream of Dragons, a writing blog

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