Dvorak Simplified Keyboard

Dvorak Simplified Keyboard

The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard is an alternative keyboard layout designed to increase typing efficiency and comfort compared to the traditional QWERTY layout. It was patented in 1936 by Dr. August Dvorak and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Dealey.

History

The development of the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard began in the 1930s. Dr. August Dvorak, a professor of education, and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Dealey, sought to create a keyboard layout that would reduce finger movement and increase typing speed. Their research led to the creation of the Dvorak layout, which was patented in 1936.

Design Principles

The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard was designed with several key principles in mind:

• Efficiency: The layout places the most commonly used letters under the strongest fingers and minimizes finger movement.
• Comfort: By reducing the distance fingers must travel, the Dvorak layout aims to reduce fatigue and the risk of repetitive strain injuries.
• Speed: The arrangement of keys is intended to allow for faster typing speeds by optimizing the sequence of keystrokes.

Layout

The Dvorak layout differs significantly from the QWERTY layout. The home row of the Dvorak keyboard contains the vowels (A, O, E, U, I) and the most commonly used consonants (D, H, T, N, S). This arrangement allows for approximately 70% of typing to be done on the home row, compared to about 32% on a QWERTY keyboard.

Dvorak Simplified Keyboard Layout

Top Row
&	[	{	}	]	=	*	)	(
Home Row
"	<	>	P	Y	F	G	C	R	L
Bottom Row
?	Q	J	K	X	B	M	W	V	Z

Advantages

The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard offers several advantages over the QWERTY layout:

• Reduced Finger Movement: By placing the most frequently used keys on the home row, the Dvorak layout reduces the distance fingers must travel.
• Increased Typing Speed: Many users report increased typing speeds after switching to the Dvorak layout.
• Ergonomic Benefits: The layout is designed to reduce strain on the hands and fingers, potentially lowering the risk of repetitive strain injuries.

Adoption and Usage

Despite its advantages, the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard has not been widely adopted. The QWERTY layout remains the standard due to its historical prevalence and the cost of retraining typists. However, the Dvorak layout is supported by most modern operating systems, allowing users to switch layouts easily.

Criticism

Critics of the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard argue that the benefits may not be as significant as claimed. Some studies suggest that the increase in typing speed and comfort is marginal, and the effort required to learn a new layout may not be justified for all users.

See Also

• Keyboard layout
• QWERTY
• Colemak

References

• Dvorak, A., & Dealey, W. L. (1936). Typewriting Behavior. American Book Company.
• Norman, D. A., & Fisher, D. (1982). Why alphabetic keyboards are not easy to use: Keyboard layout doesn't much matter. Human Factors, 24(5), 509-519.

External Links

• Dvorak Keyboard Official Website
• Typing Club: QWERTY vs. Dvorak