Dvorak

[rcarhar]

An alternative to the standard Qwerty layout of keyboards, and, incidentally, one of my teachers' names...

anyway, it was previously mentioned in a thread that some dude posted about his "code" (which i deciphered *sigh* but i can't find the thread now)

and like,, the dude posted this link: http://www.ilovejackdaniels.com/dvorak/dvorak-vs-qwerty

...but the directions they give to use the Dvorak layout are incorrect, at least for XP users.

Instead of in the keyboard settings, you have to go to "Regional and Language Options" in the Control Panel, and go to the Languages tab > Details... > [ Keyboard ] >Add... > Keyboard Layout/IME

There are actually three versions. one for use with both hands, and one for each hand individually.

So I turned this feature on, and what happens is it gives you a little button on the taskbar where you choose between qwerty and dvorak. I was thinking about rearanging the keys and trying it out, but the farthest I got was confusing myself when "Ctrl + V" did not work, considering the "V" had been assigned a different location... :gun:

[junglizm]

I posted that as an example of what Dvorak is. If you want to learn it, it's best to buy a keyboard with the correct keys. I can't imagine trying to learn on a keyboard with screwed up keys.

[rcarhar]

I am actually seriously considering learning it.. My keyboard has keys that are quite easy to pull out and switch around, so I think I'll attempt.

[swizeguy]

ohh man i already took a keyboarding class. I couldnt even imagin trying to reteach myself how to type. And then going to computers that had the good ol' QWERTY... hmm whats the point?

[rcarhar]

yeah, i thought of that as well, but you could always go into the settings and change them to your liking... so if it's faster and less work than the traditional way, which it's supposed to be, why not use it?

[swizeguy]

I suppoz yeah if it works for you then thats great but i average anywhere from 50-90 wpm so im not really that conserned.

[rcarhar]

congrats, hope you don't get carpel tunnel/arthritis ^^_

[swizeguy]

haha yeah im working on not getting it.. sucks ass my aunt has it.
ohh well

[rcarhar]

ahhh good luck with that...

I really don'y know why it's called Dvorak, coz look:

http://img43.exs.cx/img43/1174/kbdvorak8ml.gif

plus, did you know you can type typewriter on the top row using qwerty? I think that was on the linked site.

[Captain 151]

And here I go thinking this was going to be a thread about the great composer Antonin Dvorak, who wrote the New World Symphony (great piece of music).

[swizeguy]

ahhh good luck with that...

I really don'y know why it's called Dvorak, coz look:

http://img43.exs.cx/img43/1174/kbdvorak8ml.gif

plus, did you know you can type typewriter on the top row using qwerty? I think that was on the linked site.

Thats kinda neat. Id almost like to try it just for the hell of it..

[rcarhar]

ah, and you were bashing it just a second ago ^^_

[junglizm]

ohh man i already took a keyboarding class. I couldnt even imagin trying to reteach myself how to type. And then going to computers that had the good ol' QWERTY... hmm whats the point?
QWERTY is an ancient standard, and an extremely inefficient one at that. QWERTY was designed to space out the keys that are used together most often, so that old typewriters wouldn't jam (i.e., it is the most inefficient design they could come up with).

Dvorak wasn't thought of until later (1930s or so) when the problems of keys jamming had been overcome, and it's more optimized to have common letters placed next to each other. The main bonus from using it is that the layout is designed to have minimal reaching, and so it's better on your hands and wrists.

That being said, it's not really hard to learn. I've been using a Dvorak keyboard on my Linux desktop for about two years now. I can switch between QWERTY and Dvorak fairly easily (My windows PC uses a QWERTY keyboard for games), although it was tough at first. I only saw a slight speed increase though, but I was already typing 80-85 WPM... it's definately more comfortable.

[swizeguy]

huh thats pretty cool. If anyone actually uses it and finds that they can go faster then most people can that know how to type with the QWERTY keys id like to hear about it.

[junglizm]

Eh, you replied before I was done editing.

[rcarhar]

And here I go thinking this was going to be a thread about the great composer Antonin Dvorak, who wrote the New World Symphony (great piece of music).
sorry, buddy...

[rcarhar]

QWERTY is an ancient standard, and an extremely inefficient one at that. QWERTY was designed to space out the keys that are used together most often, so that old typewriters wouldn't jam (i.e., it is the most inefficient design they could come up with).

Dvorak wasn't thought of until later (1930s or so) when the problems of keys jamming had been overcome, and it's more optimized to have common letters placed next to each other. The main bonus from using it is that the layout is designed to have minimal reaching, and so it's better on your hands and wrists.

That being said, it's not really hard to learn. I've been using a Dvorak keyboard on my Linux desktop for about two years now. I can switch between QWERTY and Dvorak fairly easily (My windows PC uses a QWERTY keyboard for games), although it was tough at first. I only saw a slight speed increase though, but I was already typing 80-85 WPM... it's definately more comfortable.
wow... yeah I'm definitely ripping off my keys tomorrow, but for now, I gotta go. cu guys

[Descent]

That seems like a pretty cool standard. I use my own method of typing, because I never taught myself how to type effeciently. I find this more comfortable. What I do is I literally float my hands above the far edge of the letter section of the keyboard, and when I need to press a key I just glide my hand over and press the key using strongest finger closest to it. The only only tradeoff is that you sacrifice WPM for a more comfortable experience, but I also have very weird joints on my fingers, so that may be just me.

I like it because I find it balances the movement between my wrists and my fingers, which keeps me from fatiguing as easily.

[rcarhar]

interesting.

yeah, so as soon as i get done posting on my forums and shit, I'm doin it.

I guess what really set me off is the fact that it's standard (i.e. default/tradition) and it's my style to be non-conformist, but I never really thought about the fact that I was conforming by accepting the defaults on my keyboards... and then when I thought about it, and the tradition/default is made to be harder, I began to think seriously about it. so here I go ^^_ :thumbsup:

[rcarhar]

k back. how very odd and foriegn!

I'm having a hard time with the cut/copy/paste command shortcuts. any suggestions?

[rcarhar]

lol thanks for the avatar change guys. I have been practicing using a program advertised on this thread, but I still blow... :eek:

[rcarhar]

ugh, I cannot edit... plz change my job too?

[rcarhar]

^__________^