I switched to the Dvorak keyboard layout approximately three months ago. For those of you who don’t know what it is, this will inform you. To summarize, the QWERTY keyboard that most people use today was originally designed to prevent the hammers from colliding in early typewriters. Now that we all use computers to type, QWERTY is no longer necessary. It’s an outdated and inefficient method of typing.
Dvorak solves this problem. It was designed to make typing easier and faster by placing frequently used keys in easier to reach positions. For example, the most used keys are on the home row. This means you can type the majority of letters (something like 70%) without even moving your fingers. You can begin to see the benefits: typing becomes faster and more comfortable. Sound good? I agree.
Switching to Dvorak
Switching to Dvorak is very easy. If you’re using Mac OS X, Windows, or most distributions of UNIX/BSD/Linux, it’s already built into your computer. A quick Google search will show you how to enable and start using it.
Before you switch, listen up. There are a few caveats, mostly relating to Dvorak not being the universal standard. For example, when typing on another person’s computer with a QWERTY keyboard, a Dvorak typist will “hunt and peck.” It can be embarrassing. If you frequently use others’ computers, say you work in a computer support type of job, Dvorak may not be for you. I frequently use my girlfriend’s (who uses a QWERTY keyboard) computer and vice versa. We simply learned the keyboard shortcut both on my Mac and on her PC to quickly switch between layouts. Problem solved.
I tried to think of another reason why some people shouldn’t use Dvorak but I can’t. I don’t care that it’s not the standard, I don’t care that it has failed to be universally adopted, and I really don’t care if it ever is universally adopted. It’s simply the best way to type. The benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.
Having used QWERTY nearly every day for more than ten years, switching to Dvorak was daunting. I was hesitant to relearn one of my most used skills. Having said that, it took only a few days (on a weekend) to reach a reasonable typing speed. Within a few weeks, typing became second nature once again.
It’s been three months now and my typing speed has never been faster nor more comfortable. I can type longer without getting fatigued. My hands no longer hurt after a long day of typing. The process of learning Dvorak was challenging but it was a small and very brief price to pay for a lifetime of easier and more comfortable typing.
Edit: I just found DVzine.org, an online comic that teaches you more about Dvorak. Awesome!
