Re: DVORAK

[Conrad Newton <conrad.newton@broadpark.no>]

>From Hal Vaughan on Monday, 2005-06-06 at 21:57:30 -0400:
> On Monday 06 June 2005 09:48 pm, p wrote:
> > On Mon, Jun 06, 2005 at 03:46:01PM -0600, Cam wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > So after a few years of hearing of the DVORAK layout (and noticing
> > > that it seems like my left hand is doing all the work w/ QWERTY), i'd
> > > like to try to make the switch... here's my major concern though (and
> > > perhaps this isn't really an issue, i'd like to hear the advice from
> > > others that have given DVORAK a spin).  How does DVORAK work w/ apps
> > > like vim, nethack, etc.? the key-layouts seem to be fairly logical and
> > > i would hate to lose them, is there some sort of patch--or is that too
> > > ugly?  Is it worth the switch?

I use dvorak and vim.  From my point of view, the layout is both
natural and comfortable.  I was an accomplished qwerty typist,
and now I am an accomplished dvorak typist.  I doubt that my
typing speed is that different than it was before, but I am
more comfortable.

> > Dvorak  is  quite nice.   I  could never go
> > back  to  Qwerty (where  I was  pretty much
> > "clawing" at the keys.  *ouch*).

My perception is that with qwerty, I was always bouncing 
around the keyboard.  My hands are much quieter with dvorak.

> Questions for you and others now using Dvorak: I could change my own keyboard 
> to whatever I want, but I know I'll still have to use other keyboards, and 
> I've been using QWERTY for close to 30 years.  So:
> 
> 1) How hard is it to change over?, 

Took me about one month to feel comfortable.  I went cold turkey
on qwerty, and I have now given up on it entirely.

Others in the family curse when they start typing at my keyboard
without checking the keyboard, but I have eased their pain with
aliases such as "se=setxkbmap se" and "no=setxkbmap no", and
(to get you out of dvorak) "o.=setxkbmap se" and "br=setxkbmap no".

With KDE you can also have an icon on the panel to indicate your
current keyboard, and toggle to different ones.

> 2) Once you've changed over, how hard is it if you have to use Qwerty on 
> someone else's computer?, 

Difficult.  I do not get much practice.  If you maintain your
qwerty skill, I imagine you could be "bilingual".

> 3) Does anyone know if it reduces problems like RSI or CT for one's wrists?

Not a scientific answer, but I can tell you that I feel more
comfortable.  This has been the main reason for me to stick
with dvorak, since the change in typing speed has not been
dramatic -- I should add that I am not primarily a writer.

I use a mix of mouse and keyboard, and I have never had any
problems with RSI or CT.  Occasionally, when I have a lot
of high-speed writing to do, I do feel the strain on my
wrists.

> 4) I use a natural keyboard, which helps a lot.  Does that make a difference 
> with Dvorak?

No idea.

Conrad