Re: OT: A Better Keyboard

From: Asetnil (skearney_at_accessbee.com)
Date: 11/02/04 

Date: 1 Nov 2004 22:22:44 -0800

esperantujo@yahoo.com (Stefano MacGregor) wrote in message news:<6b9b63b5.0411010837.79069ce4@posting.google.com>...
> skearney@accessbee.com (Asetnil) wrote in message news:<a8dc57d5.0410301535.4dce2769@posting.google.com>...
>
> > Christopher Latham Sholes, the typewriter inventor, originally put
> > 'e' on the home row. In normal typing, collisions between print bars
> > became inevitable. His 1868 version was a conscious attempt to cause
> > typing to be slower. It has been universal ever since.
>
> Others have mentioned the Dvorak keyboard, so I'll just add a little
> information here:
>
> Dvorak actually came up with =three= keyboard layouts. The one people
> are talking about is the most common of those, intended for people
> with two hands. There are also keyboards for people with only one
> hand, mirror-images of each other.
>
> Dvorak's original had digits divided, odd on one hand, even on the
> other. As currently implemented, the digits are in the same locations
> as on the Qwerty keyboard.
>
> Here's an idea: Congress should pass a law in this country requiring
> that keyboards of all types should have a Qwerty/Dvorak switch, so
> that all typewriters, computers, Linotype machines, etc., are
> Dvorak-capable. Then, people learning typing could learn the Dvorak
> layout (even though the keyboards would still be labeled Qwerty-wise)
> and count on being able to use any keyboard they would encounter.
> Later, when many people are using it, manufacturers could label the
> keys Dvorak-style, but we old farts who can't relearn typing could
> flip the switch and still touch-type Qwerty-wise. Eventually, rescind
> the law, when no one uses Qwerty any more.

    In the above posts, Harlan, Peter and Lee point out that the
Dvorak option is available in the windows, apple and linux operating
systems. Given the simplicity and small memory requirements, why not
offer the asetnil option as well?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Easier than Dvorak
    ... Dvorak had come up as a topic of discussion. ... Just looking at qwerty, the letters missing alphabetically from the ... back increases the speed and accuracy of typing. ... >> The Dvorak keyboard was discussed in this group last summer. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Adaptive Peaks in Typing
    ... you can chose Dvorak as an alternate keyboard ... and I found it didn't interfere with my typing. ... recognition - standard all versions - but it's well spoken of. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: OT: keyboard repair
    ... I was already aware that the qwerty design is intended ... > typing without looking at the keyboard. ... > However I do wonder if a real Dvorak keyboard would work for me. ... > About 20 years ago I shot a pretty good pool game. ...
    (sci.electronics.repair)
  • Re: Adaptive Peaks in Typing
    ... Dvorak keyboard mapping on my personal computers. ... crazy to remain with the QWERTY layout. ... person would immediately switch. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • [9fans] keyboards and mice and pads
    ... at first i actually moved the keys to train myself, but now i just leave it qwerty and type away in dvorak. ... these days i'm just as fast with dvorak and of course i almost never look at the keyboard, which wouldn't help much. ... the most fascinating thing i found was that i have multiple layouts in my brain, ...
    (comp.os.plan9)