Two Hours After Dvorak
As I begin to type this post, it is 6:14pm. A few hours ago I pulled the keys off my keyboard and rearranged them in the alternative keyboard arrangement known as Dvorak. It’s designed to be faster, more accurate and cause less muscle strain than QWERTY. After only a few hours I’m exhaustingly slow but I can already see the benefits appearing as I slowly get faster. I’m not too shabby with the home row now.
The truth is that I have gleaned some unexpected benefits from this experience. I feel disabled. I feel as though my voice has been muted and it is terribly frustrating, having words in your head but not being able to get them out when at one stage you could think those words and they’d be on the screen already. I have been using QWERTY keyboards since, I kid you not, I was a toddler. This transition could be difficult!
It has, however, given me a new level of respect and understanding for the disabled (not to trivialize their position but that is truly how it feels after a lifetime). That understanding can only be beneficial for my work, because I frequently work with disabled people and admire the amazing outlook on life most of them have.
Can Dvorak help you as a blogger? Yes, if it does all that it claims to do.
Fortunately you have me to do the guinea pig work; I’ll be reporting my progress as I go. Then, you can decide whether or not to try it for yourself. And I’ll be able to decide which layout to teach my son!
I had heard of Dvorak years ago at Lisle’s Forward Motion, but decided to try it today on a whim after reading Cory Doctorow’s post.
To my 451 Press employers: be nice, give me some time before you come after me for not posting as much in the next few days 
By the way, it was 6:14 when I started - it’s 6:37 now that I’m done!
Tags: dvorak, touchtyping
November 12th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Nice - I’ve wanted to try Dvorak in the past, but you’re right -let you do the leg work! I’m interested in how this turns out for you. I can type wicked fast on a regular keyboard, but after 5000 words or so my hands hurt. I’m hoping to hear good news from your regarding this experiment! I’ll change too.
Best of Life! Vern
November 13th, 2007 at 12:16 am
[...] I haven’t given up on the Dvorak layout since I started three days ago; in fact, at only day 3, I’m loving it. But I have kept one computer on QWERTY while I learn [...]
November 13th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Vern, certainly makes sense to do so! I’m really missing my speed, to be honest, but that’s a given: you know you’ll lose it when you start.
December 15th, 2007 at 7:26 am
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
December 21st, 2007 at 10:12 am
I am also learning Dvorak.