12/09/02: The Dvorak Keyboard Configuration
 

Hello all!

I must be economical with my words today, as last night I removed all the keys from my keyboard and replaced them in a dvorak configuration. This has taken me from 120wpm to about 10wpm. Yes!! That, my friends, is a victory.

Well, for some time now my wrists have been getting sore after a long day of computing. Of course, I spend nearly all of my time in front of a computer, so they're sore frequently (though not every day). So, i've been thinking of ways to alleviate this stress, and this way seems the most cost efficient one.

I've also thought of getting a split keyboard like Dave and Tony have, but I'd like to try the dvorak idea as well, and I'm not sure if the split keyboard's keys can be rearranged or not. Some keyboards have different sized keys, and if they are rearranged the keyboard looks like a bump map. It's quite unattractive. Also, reviews say that the Insert/Home/Page Up keys are rotated 90 degrees, and that the arrow keys are non-standard. Some people say that this is highly annoying. Dave and Tony, do you find this to be true?

Argh! In three weeks, I will either have learned this keyboard or have given up completely.

More info.

Here are the differences with the Microsoft Natural Elite (the split keyboard I use exclusively):

<ul><li>Home, End, Delete, Page Up, Page Down & Insert keys are rearranged - Figure 1 below.
<li>Arrow keys are no longer in an "inverted T" style, but like Figure 2 below.
<li>Function keys are not as deep (but have the correct width).</ul>

Also, it forces you to type correctly. "6" is hit with the left index finger, as is "b". I know a lot of people that fuck this up.

All in all, I find it to be <b>extremely</b> comfortable. And it's only some $17 at NewEgg.com. It's easy to take apart and clean, it's light, and it doesn't take up a lot of space (the original Microsoft Natural was a wide bastard - this is the same size as a normal keyboard; the space is saved by the reconfigured keys, as stated above).

I have been using Microsoft Natural Elite keyboards since ~1998 and I <b>never</b> have any wrist pain. I used to before I could afford one (they used to be expensive, and I used to be poor). For me, it is shaped <b>just right</b>.

http://msdelta.net/~dave/images/fig1.jpg
<b>Figure 1</b> - The rearranged keys. *<i>Not to scale</i>.

http://msdelta.net/~dave/images/fig2.jpg
<b>Figure 2</b> - The rearranged arrow keys. *<i>Not to scale</i>.

(Please pardon my crude MSPaint skills).

I've seen claims that Dvorak keybaords are ultimately faster to use, but nevet heard it suggested that they ccould alleviate RSI. I did find the MSFT "Natural Keyboard" easier to use after a short familiarization.

In fact, research seems to have shown that the dvorak keyboard is only a little faster than qwerty. But nearly everyone who switched has said that it feels more comfortable. Your fingers just move around the keyboard a lot less, causing the muscles in your fingers to be not be strained so much. The more frequently used keys are assigned to the stronger fingers, and infrequently used keys are assigned to the weaker fingers. Also, the more used keys are all on the home row. This means that you don't have to do a contortionist act in order to type simple words such as "the".

The Dvorak design has intrigued me ever since I heard of it around '97. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, I found my Microsoft Natural Elite keyboards and haven't looked back. I would switch, but there seems to be a lack of very decent Dvorak keyboards that mimic the Natural Elite in contour. I see today that DvortyBoards make a split keyboard now, but I'm not sure how I like it. I may try to have SAIC buy it for me so I can use it here at work. If it feels right and I can get used to it, I'll standardize. I'm always looking for A Better Way.

It's really really really important to address wrist pain right away. If you have it at the end of the day, that might be tendonitis as opposed to something more serious. But in any case, make sure that your keyboarding position is OK FIRST.

With position changes like this you won't notice a difference right away; it takes a while for your wrists to notice the difference. It pays to be paranoid about it though.

Have you experienced any numbness?

There are several different versions of the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. The one I have (Natural Pro) as well as the hella-cool looking Natural Multimedia Keyboard ($26+6 at newegg) have the inverted-T style arrow keys, and the old-style insert/home/etc. keys. I couldn't use ones with the rearranged configuration like Dave posted.

And to answer your question, no, you can't rearrange the keys. The ones that are next to the split are extra-wide to make up for the extra space.

After an adjustment period of about a week or less, you'll find the split keyboard much better. If you try to teach yourself Dvorak, you're just gonna be all f'ed up whenever you try to use someone else's keyboard, whereas with the split keyboard you can still participate in society with the rest of us.

No, I haven't experienced any numbness, not even any sharp pain. Just soreness. But they do get fairly sore occasionally.

I have also noticed that my keyboard and mouse are not at the same height, and this is supposed to be very bad. My keyboard is in a tray, and I had thought that it would impossible to get them to be the same height. However, I've come up with an ingenious solution, which I will post pictures of later.

I regret that I can't say more, but i'm very slow at typing right now. I can feel myself getting faster and faster just by writing this, though. This is very good practice.

I'm typing this in the lab at school, having changed the keyboard configuration in the control panel, and I realize that I needn't have rearranged the keys on my keyboard at home. I'm learning a lot faster by having to feel where the keys are, as opposed to being able to just look.

I dislike the multimedia keyboards. Who needs a whole row of keys that you'll likely never use? It just seems inefficient to me. I am really considering a split keyboard, though. I think what I may do is learn dvorak first. Then, when I'm good at it, buy the split keyboard and not bother rearranging the keys.

http://comp.uark.edu/~dmorton/images/misc/desk1.jpg
Ok, well, sorry for the blurriness. This is my desk as it was before. As you can see, the mouse is not on the same level as the keyboard. I think this could be causing some of my stress. I've tried moving the keyboard to the top of the desk, but it's just too uncomfortable of an angle. It's too high up. Plus, I really need that space for books and papers.



Here's the after shot:


http://comp.uark.edu/~dmorton/images/misc/desk2.jpg

Ha ha! I'm a genius! I just knew that Packard Bell would come in handy someday! Now, everything is all nice and level. See, folks? They're not only useful for doorstoppers. They have a dual-purpose.

i used to have that same desk! god i hated that thing. course, im not doing too much better now. i hate this desk too. i want one like daves.

~james

Hey, I passed 1000 posts without even realizing it!

Yeah, I think I bought this desk at Wal-Mart. Damn, and it felt so unique. :) Millions of people probably have my desk.

Probably is a very tricky word to type, BTW.

http://www.metastudios.com/images/temp-setup.jpg

:) :) :) :) :)

I got it for $150 + 2 hours to put it together. WORTH EVERY PENNY AND EVERY DAMN SECOND. It rules.

(it's 136 lbs. Bring a friend.)

Aren't you afraid the monitors are going to fall off? I mean, obviously they're stable, or you wouldn't put them up there. But they don't safe to me. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

Nah dude. It is a hell of a desk, and I positioned them well. The wood they're on is not breaking, and they are definitely not moving off there. The 21" monitor (big one) is something like 80 lbs. Takes more than a stiff breeze to move it. :)