The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard

[Admiral Refuge]

Introducing the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard:
[](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asnry9TDZ6g/TTcN7HL6nRI/AAAAAAAAA_E/jTr1FQFg2AU/s1600/dvorak.png)

Today, I finished a long 1-year-long experiment on the [Dvorak Simplified Keyboard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard).  See, I stopped using QWERTY cold-turkey, and switched to Dvorak near the end of December, 2010.  My typing speed went from 102wpm (with QWERTY) to 5wpm (with Dvorak).  I didn't label any keys or anything like that (after all, I was learning to touch-type!), and forced myself to lean how to blind-type on that keyboard.

Back at the end of 2010, [I started keeping a log](http://anthonyianozi.blogspot.com/2010/12/switched-keyboard-layouts.html).  For those who don't want to read my blog, here's a quick table on my progression.

| **Time Elapsed** | **Words Per Minute (WPM)** |
| 1 Day | 5 WPM |
| 5 Days | 15 WPM |
| 2 Weeks | 40 WPM |
| 9 Months | 85 WPM |
| 13 Months | 103 WPM |

My friends, on my [Final Update on Dvorak](http://anthonyianozi.blogspot.com/2012/02/final-update-on-dvorak.html), I scored 103 WPM on TypeRacer – I'm pretty much back to my QWERTY speed in just one year, and my fingers/wrists/etc no longer hurt from typing....  My pinky finger is stronger, too :D

[IceCream Tuesday]

I just checked that site.. Idk how its at all possible to type at 150+.

Nice I kinda wanna try a different key layout.. I feel like I'll get much to frustrated though.

[Admiral Refuge]

@[Pie:

> ICT link=topic=78331.msg839867#msg839867 date=1329846151]
> I just checked that site.. Idk how its at all possible to type at 150+.
>
> Nice I kinda wanna try a different key layout.. I feel like I'll get much to frustrated though.

The first few weeks were horrible for me, but once I hit about 15wpm, the IMs and programming got me through.

As for speed, I've seen Stephan touch up 120+WPM before (I have yet to beat him in a typerace), and people have been able to write 350+ WPM (using shorthand, ofc).

[Drummerpete]

It's amazing that you managed to switch keyboard layout when it _wasn't even labelled_.

[Rithy58]

@Pete:

> It's amazing that you managed to switch keyboard layout when it _wasn't even labelled_.

My thought exactly.

I read some more about the layout and I want to switch but it's gonna be a problem when I go to school. Unless I carry around my keyboard and changes Layout every time I use the computer, it's not gonna work. My school doesn't allow electronic so laptop is out of question, not to mention, what do I do with laptop?

Is it possible to be able to type with both layout and switches whenever I need to?

Sincerely,
Rithy

[Drummerpete]

@Rithy58:

> My thought exactly.
>
> I read some more about the layout and I want to switch but it's gonna be a problem when I go to school. Unless I carry around my keyboard and changes Layout every time I use the computer, it's not gonna work. My school doesn't allow electronic so laptop is out of question, not to mention, what do I do with laptop?
>
> Is it possible to be able to type with both layout and switches whenever I need to?
>
> Sincerely,
> Rithy

Touch typed would be a lot harder if you used both on a regular basis, but it should be alright, I would think.

[Admiral Refuge]

@Rithy58:

> My thought exactly.
>
> I read some more about the layout and I want to switch but it's gonna be a problem when I go to school. Unless I carry around my keyboard and changes Layout every time I use the computer, it's not gonna work. My school doesn't allow electronic so laptop is out of question, not to mention, what do I do with laptop?
>
> Is it possible to be able to type with both layout and switches whenever I need to?
>
> Sincerely,
> Rithy

That's the beauty of touch-typing, though.  I can walk up to any machine with a QWERTY keyboard, switch it to Dvorak, and just start typing.  For instance, my macbook has a QWERTY keyboard, it's just…  When I press the "S" key, it prints "O."

You should be able to set your own keyboard in the Accessibility/Keyboard options on your school computer.  I think it's like, "start->control panel->keyboard" or something like that (depending on the OS it uses).  And even then, do your computers allow USB sticks?  The Colemak layout has a nice [autohotkey](http://colemak.com/wiki/index.php?title=AutoHotKey) script, I'm sure one for Dvorak could be whipped up, too.

When I started, I simply switched cold-turkey.  I printed out an image (actually, the one in my OP) and put it on a wall a decent bit away from me.  And, whenever I forgot a word, I would check that image – eventually, my mind was able to remap the keys for my fingers.

@Pete:

> Touch typed would be a lot harder if you used both on a regular basis, but it should be alright, I would think.

I've seen it done, but it takes much longer, and I don't do it.  I just switch do Dvorak when I'm at another computer (such as when I'm at college, etc) or I hunt & peck with the QWERTY layout.

[Admiral Refuge]

So um…  I just took a test today: 109 words per minute!!!!

[SawQuart]

@Admiral:

> So um…  I just took a test today: 109 words per minute!!!!
> 

Nice! I can't wait til I can actually keep up with you! xD