Any Dvorak Typist Here?

Just wondering if we have anybody here that took the time to learn Dvorak (or Colemark)

If you did do you still use Qwerty also or is it too hard to maintain 2 sets of typing layouts at the same time?

Id be afraid to do it if I cant use both because I know there will be a lot of occasions where I would have to use Qwerty, from the computers at work to my phone...

Just got a new keyboard with blank keys, so now seems the ideal time to learn if ever

Also I guess some games may get all messed up if using Dvorak luckily most games let you bind keys though.

There is pretty much undisputed proof that Colemark & Dvorak are WAY better than QWERTY in terms of ergonomics, distance moved, and of course once your good at it speed.

 

I would imagine you'd be able to get a Dvorak keyboard at work, no?

 

Yes - If windows saves the layout per user because we have shared computers at the front but we use our own login's so if windows saves my keyboard layout to my log-in I could maybe make it work.

 

Dvorak is awesome, it really is much easier to type. The only thing that sucks is that windows has a lot of functions that are related to qwerty such as ctrl+ z/x/c/v for undo/cut/copy/paste. Sad that people don't use this layout more...

 

That is where Colemark comes in...

Colemark is just as good as Dvorak and maintains all those windows functions and the punctuation stays in the same place it was before.

Also found the best way to do this... AutoHotKey Ironic as I was just recommending this program to somebody the other day.

Can run a self compiled .exe and turn any computer into Dvorak or Colemark in seconds and have it toggle on/off with the key or key combo I choose.

http://colemak.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=801

Since I have not learned Dvorak already it makes more sense to learn Colemark, those that already know Dvorak do not have as much reason to move to Colemark for the small gains.

 

Nice. I've heard about Colemark but didn't really know about it until I just Googled it. Definitely a good alternative! Ahh can't rep you any more for it. Have to spread some love around lol.

 

I keep saying Colemark but its Colemak and I found a really good AHK script for it that lets me toggle it on & off and also gives me an on screen display for the keys.

Definitely going to help make this happen.

 

Do you use the script that you linked in your previous post?

 

Nope.

This one: Portable Keyboard Layout

It's even better, and its a portable .exe (compiled AHK script) so you can just keep it on a flash drive and run it on any computer you have to use without installing anything.

dl link: Download Portable Keyboard Layout from SourceForge.net

For lessons I am starting here: Colemak: Learn in 9 Days!

Between some lessons and the fact there is a on screen key layout with that new script I can convert pretty easy.

The only part that sucks really is games, have to use QWERTY for games or rebind the keys for Colemak and just use voice chat

 

Dvorak isn't indisputably better: The Dvorak Keyboard Controversy: Interesting Thing of the Day

In fact, the only rigorous tests show that it's basically a wash, or that QWERTY is actually better. The other thing to think about is that if you ever use a computer other than your own, you will be using QWERTY. Are you going to be able to mentally switch gears when you need to?

I'm not bagging on Dvorak. It's just another keyboard setup. I'm just not convinced it's enough better to make it worthwhile unless you're a transcriptionist or something, especially given that you will really only be using Dvorak on your own machine(s) and QWERTY everywhere else so you will need to be proficient with both. And if you just need to be typing as fast as possible, you should be learning shorthand and using a chorded keyboard.

 

Any typing course I've ever taken (both in the classroom and on my own) have used the QWERTY set up. I can't see Dvorak being that much better if QWERTY is such a dominant heavyweight where typing is concerned? I mean really, it's survival of the fittest, 101.

 

im going colemak not dvorak its closer to qwerty.

but its pretty proven both are better, less movement is more ergonomic and leads to less errors and faster typing.

the few short comings dvorak has (like windows shortcuts and stuff) colemak does not have a problem with.

qwerty rules by economics and numbers but its not better.

 

There definitely isn't enough testing since Qwerty still dominates everywhere but I've found that the strength in Dvorak isn't that you type faster, but you have less awkward movements with your fingers. This, along with an ergonomic keyboard, definitely has improved (less) strain on typing over long periods of time. The argument that since you can type faster, you will type more is not necessarily true since for example if you write up papers or any written documents, the number of words in the end will be same.

 

I've had a short stint with Dvorak. My qwerty speed with zero errors is probably 80-90wpm, while my Dvorak is currently something like 23wpm due to the learning curve of trying to change my typing "tempo" to the Dvorak style.

Windows has a built-in system that allows you to assign a shortcut key to switch between layouts. Just pressing "SHIFT+CTRL" on my computer flips between Dvorak and qwerty. Useful of you don't feel like re-assigning WSAD everytime you want to play a game (you can just use the shortcut when you want to team-chat in game or what have you, and then flip back).

Also, be aware that even though your profile at work might carry the typing settings, the log in screen will use whatever layout was last enabled.

i.e) you log out after using Dvorak, and then the next person to log in can't figure out why his password won't work and misspells his own username.


As for learning a new keyboard layout, the best advice I can give you is to type up a story or book that you know almost by heart (song lyrics?). We type much faster from memory than from processing unpredictable text in front of us.

 

Dvorak Simplified Keyboard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

xkcd: Well

 

yeah you are right I should not say it will make you faster but that has the potential to make you faster because of the distance you need to move your fingers to type.

but it means less movement, so those that changed report less fatigue in typing and its going to help with rsi and cts.

dvorak is inferior to colemak IMO and others agree, but both colemak and dvorak reduce movement needed to type greatly.

Even right in the Microsoft help database it says if you suffer RSI and stuff that they recommend trying Dvorak as an alternative keyboard layout.

 

Personally, I'm not doing it for an increase in typing speed. I wanted to try it out to expand my mind. It takes some pretty intensive remapping of the muscle-memory connection for your brain when the ~26 key locations you use to communicate on a daily basis have suddenly been scrambled. Especially if you're in an AIM chat room and want to be able to get a word in edge-wise.

Some say it also is less stressful typing position, and lowers the risk of carpel tunnel too, but who really knows. I just do it because it feels good to be flexible and try new things.

 

If you want raw speed try a stenotype although someone will have to go back and translate everything.

 

Fun games to play for typing.

Online Fee - Typeracer
TypeRacer - Test your typing speed and learn to type faster. Free typing game and competition. Way more fun than a typing tutor!

PC Disk
Find Typing of the Dead (typing version of House of the Dead)

Downloadable
Popcap Games Typer Shark

I am not good enough yet to play games in Colemak but once I spend a week doing all the lessons so that I can commit key locations to memory I will start doing the games to get better.

Good thing with say Typeracer and other sites like that is it shows progress in speed/accuracy in your account so you can track your progress to see how much better your getting.

 

Because of this I started learning Colemak. Homerow 100% down and learning the other two now.

Granted, my Qwerty WPM is ~90 and in Colemak I'm only ~35 (only using limited parts of the keyboard, too).

However, I've been typing more in the past 4 weeks than I have ever before (extensive manuscript type writing) and I've begun to realize how quickly my hands become strained using Qwerty. I hope Colemak provides a much more comfortable use.

 

Cool! Id say it will no doubt.

let us know your progress!

 

I do, mostly for fun than any other reason. However my new laptop (Lenovo W520) doesn't have moveable keys as far as I know, so I'm sorta relearning it. I've been used to my old macbook where I was able to move the keys around to a dvorak configuration.

 

I dont look at the keys so no need to move them.

Heck I have a keyboard on my desktop that is 100% blank