dvorak.mwbrooks.comDvorak and the Tall Nail « Area 42

[About the logo.] This site offers downloads and information to help you start using the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard. [ 15 Oct 2009: I do not endorse any legislation to mandate using Dvorak ! Encourage, yes; mandate, no! For more, see my related blog entry .] The Dvorak keyboard layout is a free control panel option on every modern computer. Dvorak is a vastly more comfortable and efficient alternative to the old-standard "QWERTY" pattern, which was designed in the 1800s with no effective attempt at typing comfort. Most accomplished QWERTY typists don't want to retrain on a new keyboard layout. That's OK! But some typists don't do so well with QWERTY, and there are always kids and new typists who could learn to type more easily in Dvorak. In spite of this, many still struggle to learn QWERTY instead. Most new typists start with QWERTY because they don't know that the Dvorak layout exists, or because they have been misled into thinking it's useless. Some are afraid they'll encounter a school or workplace where using Dvorak is not allowed. A few seem to be afraid of leaving the herd, of not conforming to the behavior that's expected of them. But many people have learned the Dvorak layout and enjoy using it without trouble. If you don't like QWERTY and want to try Dvorak, consider the question logically: does it make sense to avoid Dvorak because, in some uncertain future, you might have to give it up? If that prospect is so awful, isn't the status quo just as bad? The Dvorak layout does have its pros, cons, and historical controversy, and there are steps to switching your computer and retraining. For more information refer to the following pages. (I apologize that some of them are rather old.) Show me the layout! The Pros and Cons of Dvorak Is Dvorak an Urban Legend? Non-English "Dvorak" Efforts How to: Switch Your Computer to Dvorak (FREE for most systems!) (What If "They" Won't Let Me Switch?) Relabel or Rearrange Your Keycaps Get a Hard-Wired Dvorak Keyboard Learn to Type Dvorak (Tips & Tutors) Touch-type with One Hand! Dvorak Comments and History If you have any comments or suggestions for this page, please send E-mail . Thanks! Links to Other Sites Thanks to all the folks out there who are spreading the word about Dvorak. Here are links to some of them: ABCD: A Basic Course in Dvorak by Dan Wood (typing tutor) ABCD J : JavaScript version of Dan's A Basic Course in Dvorak The Alt-Keyboards Mailing List The Curse of QWERTY by Jared Diamond (Discover Magazine, April 1997) John W. Shipman's Ergonomics Page , including several articles about Dvorak Dvorak International: Striking Home newsletter and other information -- Dvorak International's FAQ (HTML by Dylan James McNamee)-- The Dvorak Keyboard by Jeff Bigler The Dvorak Keyboard (book) by R. C. Cassingham Randy Cassingham's Blog: The Dvorak Keyboard The Dvorak Keyboard by Dylan James McNamee-- The Dvorak Keyboard by Marcos Huerta -- Dvorak Keyboard by Sander Rubin Dvorak Keyboard Observations - The Narrative by Bob Ranger-- Dvorak Simplified Keyboard by William Grassie-- Greg Schussman's Dvorak Keyboard Layout Page -- Norske Dvorak (Norwegian "Dvorak" layout for Windows and Linux.)-- Roffes Norske Dvorak-side (Roffe's Norwegian "Dvorak" layout.)-- Janko's Keyboard Generator (Roll your own Windows 95/98 layout.)-- Japanese "Dvorak" (Now linked on my non-English "Dvorak" page.) Joe Strout's Dvorak Page (has a Mac typing tutor) Typewriting Behavior (book) by August Dvorak et. al. (available from R. C. Cassingham ) Typing injury FAQ: Alternative Keyboards Webopaedia Definition and Links: Dvorak Keyboard Wikipedia article: Dvorak Simplified Keyboard (I see several links here for Non-English Layouts!) Writers' Keyboard Tutor (DOS/Windows) -- More to come! For those interested, I've written a mini-book-review about The Dvorak Keyboard and Typewriting Behavior . See my Home Page and Blog for topics not related to Dvorak or typing. Disclaimer: This site contains the best information I can find, but some inaccuracies and omissions are likely. I try to fix these as time permits. Last update: 20 February 2009 Original page established: July 1995 Marcus Brooks: HTML Home Weblog...