A better way to type: the Dvorak layout
The layout used commonly was arranged, in part, to prevent early typewriters from jamming with speed typing. With improvements in typewriter design, a better layout was developed by the original creator of the old layout, but the old system had stuck and remains in use to this day. During the 1930's a new system - the Dvorak layout, was developed after extensive testing, and is part of Windows* so u dont need special software. Just do a search (google.com) or try the links below.
Its a cinch to learn. Pity i wasn't taught in school - what are they teaching if they go with business or adapted standard without pointing out better methods?
-Ravinder Singh
Barbara Blackburn, the World's Fastest Typist
http://sominfo.syr.edu/facstaff/dvorak/blackburn.html
History etc.
http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/Dvorak/history.html
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/comments.html
http://mrdo.com/dvorak.htm
http://www.geocities.com/zijianhuang/kp/dvorakint.html:
"Dvorak keyboard layouts are based on designs created by August Dvorak, a professor at the University of Washington during the 1930s and 1940s. Dr. Dvorak studied the way people type standard English, and determined the most common letter combinations. He then designed new keyboard layouts to maximize efficiency (by placing common letters on the home row), reduce fatigue, and make the stronger fingers of the hands do most of the work. These layouts, now called Dvorak or simplified keyboards, were initially developed for two-handed typists. Following World War II, Dvorak layouts were developed for typists who use the right or left hand alone."
Tidbits
http://sominfo.syr.edu/facstaff/dvorak/
http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~sander/mensa/dvorak1.html
http://www.strout.net/info/dvorak/intro.html
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/jul_aug_98/dvorak.html
http://www.cse.ogi.edu/~dylan/dvorak/DvorakIntl.html Dvorak International
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ Introducing the Dvorak Keyboard
The layouts (pictures)
Setting up the keyboard for Dvorak typing
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q95141 Setting up Dvorak in Dos, Win 95, Win 98 - see especially "To Switch Between a Dvorak Layout and Another Layout" therin, or see the attachment.
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/dvorak.htm Setting up Dvorak in Windows 2000
*Step by step method, simplified:
Start, Settings, Control Panel, Keyboard, Language, Properties, then select United States-Dvorak
OR this:
To make it easy to switch between your current and the Dvorak layouts:
a) Start, Settings, Control Panel, Keyboard, Language, Add
b) Then select ANY language
c) Now select the language u added, click Properties
d) Select for the keyboard layout: United States - Dvorak
e) In the Switch Languages box, click the option you want to use to switch languages
f) Optionally, check the Enable Indicator On Taskbar
Now u can switch between layouts by using the shortcut from step e) above, for example Alt+Shift or Ctrl+Shift
Applicable for windows 95 and 98 and ?
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Dvoark Setup for Windows - Microsoft Web Site
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Dvorak Typing Tutors:
Note: following information is out of date - was written in Summer of 2002. Will update later. However, i HAVE made my own typing tutor that i used to switch to Dvorak. If encouraged, i will finalize and release it for free distribution.
I've read that Typing Tutor (trademark) includes Dvorak, and that Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor only up to version 5, not later, includes Dvorak. Others i've found are Instant Dvorak Typing Tutor, Ten Thumbs Up Typing Tutor, Captain Keyboard.
Kp typing tutor is free and supports Dvorak, but it uses the qwerty layout lessons; u can set it up to use dvorak lessons, but that appears to takes some learning and work.
What do i recommend if u dont have a commercial program? Mastermind Typing tutor, plus ABCD A basic course in Dvorak. Mastermind is EXCELLENT. It allows for learning dvorak within hours but requires purchase of the special keyborad - however i got by by just memorizing the layout before using the program and using metapad to have the dvorak layout in plain view as i used Mastermind for the first time: Open metapad and type in the lines of the dvorak keyboard, resize metapad to make as small as needed, set it to be "always on top" - a super handy feature of this program. Then move it to a corner as you practice using Mastermind, taking occasional glance to recall forgotton keys.
http://www.karelia.com/abcd/ ABCD A Basic Course in Dvorak http://www.dvortyboards.com/download.html Dvorty Keyboard and Mastermind Typing Tutor http://www.liquidninja.com/metapad/ Metapad; a great replacement for notepad
http://tucows.igs.net/business/adnload/199152_78945.html Kp typing tutor 3.2
Programs i havent really tried, that include dvorak:
http://www.winsite.com/edu/tutor/page10.html Instant Dvorak Typing Tutor 1.1
http://www.????? Instant Dvorak Typing Tutor 2.0, links not working
http://www.winsite.com/edu/tutor/page10.html Ten Thumbs Up Typing Tutor 2.2
http://home1.gte.net/bharrell/download.htm Tutor
http://www.zoogma.com/ Captain Keyboard
