Comments on: Typing Dvorak: Is it More Efficient? http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/typing-dvorak-is-it-more-efficient-169/ Sports News - Tech Reviews - Entertainment - Life Tips for EveryJoe Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:57:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Wiegley http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/typing-dvorak-is-it-more-efficient-169/comment-page-1/#comment-347737 John Wiegley Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:22:23 +0000 http://www.pimpyourwork.com/typing-dvorak-is-it-more-efficient/#comment-347737 I've been typing in Dvorak now, pretty much exclusively, for 16 years. What I can tell you is that it more efficient, although not really any faster. The reason I say it's more efficient is that I can type for 40 hours straight, intensely, without any pain in my fingers, wrists or elbows. I've done the same thing with Qwerty several times, and I start developing a cramping pain near my left pinky that gets worse and worse until I have to stop. So, I believe the strain is being distributed more evenly on my hands and fingers when using the Dvorak layout. It also feels a lot more "comfortable" when typing for long periods of time continuously. Otherwise, I haven't found any incredible reason for people to switch who are already invested in Qwerty. Most people just don't type quite as much as I do (the letters on my MacBook are actually getting worn away -- and I use an external keyboard when I'm at home too!). I’ve been typing in Dvorak now, pretty much exclusively, for 16 years. What I can tell you is that it more efficient, although not really any faster. The reason I say it’s more efficient is that I can type for 40 hours straight, intensely, without any pain in my fingers, wrists or elbows. I’ve done the same thing with Qwerty several times, and I start developing a cramping pain near my left pinky that gets worse and worse until I have to stop. So, I believe the strain is being distributed more evenly on my hands and fingers when using the Dvorak layout. It also feels a lot more “comfortable” when typing for long periods of time continuously.

Otherwise, I haven’t found any incredible reason for people to switch who are already invested in Qwerty. Most people just don’t type quite as much as I do (the letters on my MacBook are actually getting worn away — and I use an external keyboard when I’m at home too!).

]]> By: Ishmael http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/typing-dvorak-is-it-more-efficient-169/comment-page-1/#comment-347738 Ishmael Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:08:39 +0000 http://www.pimpyourwork.com/typing-dvorak-is-it-more-efficient/#comment-347738 It took about 2 years to acquire my current speed using the querty keyboard (about 60 words per minute), I've been using dvorak for a week and I'm abot 1/3 fast, not bad for a week. "Even if you’ve learned Dvorak, you might still be forced to use a Qwerty keyboard on some instances." Thats true but most of the time you (or a leat I) use the same computer at home and work, and the "mental switch" takes only about 10 seconds. "Learning how to type on the Dvorak keyboard will be time-consuming for the individual (who has likely grown up learning Qwerty all her/his life)" Thats what the school is for, isn't it? And also, is not like if you where typing 100% of the time, just do something with the time you spend playng solitaire. "No one is completely sure that it’s worth it." The company doesn't care about my keyboad layot and if it may prevent me from injuring me fingers then I think it's worth. "what’s the point of typing faster than you can think?" Sometimes I have to write some text from a book to the computer and I can read faster than I think. It took about 2 years to acquire my current speed using the querty keyboard (about 60 words per minute), I’ve been using dvorak for a week and I’m abot 1/3 fast, not bad for a week.

“Even if you’ve learned Dvorak, you might still be forced to use a Qwerty keyboard on some instances.”
Thats true but most of the time you (or a leat I) use the same computer at home and work, and the “mental switch” takes only about 10 seconds.

“Learning how to type on the Dvorak keyboard will be time-consuming for the individual (who has likely grown up learning Qwerty all her/his life)”
Thats what the school is for, isn’t it?
And also, is not like if you where typing 100% of the time, just do something with the time you spend playng solitaire.

“No one is completely sure that it’s worth it.”
The company doesn’t care about my keyboad layot and if it may prevent me from injuring me fingers then I think it’s worth.

“what’s the point of typing faster than you can think?”
Sometimes I have to write some text from a book to the computer and I can read faster than I think.

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