Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!abvax!iccgcc!herrickd From: herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Dvorak keyboard Message-ID: <2027.27428f29@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com> Date: 15 Nov 90 17:50:49 GMT References: <90316.120552ESR@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> <4360@auspex.auspex.com> <1978.27410cfe@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com> <1742@blackbird.afit.af.mil> Lines: 40 In article <1742@blackbird.afit.af.mil>, efrethei@blackbird.afit.af.mil (Erik J. Fretheim) writes: > herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: > >>In article <4360@auspex.auspex.com>, hitz@auspex.auspex.com (Dave Hitz) writes: >>> In article <90316.120552ESR@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> ESR@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (Ed Russell) writes: >>>>I have a Northgate 102. One of the switch settings is to configure it as >>>>a Dvorak keyboard. Key caps are available for a nominal fee. I assume >>>>the other Northgate models have the same capability(?). >>> >>> The print articles I remember seeing about the Dvorak keyboard have >>> included pictures showing a keyboard that not only has different >>> letters on different keys than qwertyiop, but actually has keys >>> arranged so that they fit differently under the fingers. (I believe >>> that there were more keys around the thumbs, so that those dextrous >>> members could do something besides type SPACE.) >>> > > Ah - but what's the point any way. Kinkead calculated that based on the > mechanical abilities of the typist a Dvorak keyboard will only give a > speed up of about 2.6%. (Card and Moran. "An Engineering Model of Human > Performance" in Handbook of Perception and Human Performance, Vol II. > ed. Boff, Kaufman and Thomas. Wiley: New York, 1986. p45-18.) Ordinary experience of people who do data entry for a living is 100% or 200% more keystrokes per day delivered text. Using the Dvorak layout is less painful, raising long term productivity, and less awkward, raising burst speeds. Of course, my data is anecdotal and yours is scientific. Bumblebees can't fly, either. > > Just ain't worth the effort for so little gain, better to practice on what > you've got. > > -- > Erik J Fretheim > efrethei@afit.af.mil AFIT/ENA Box 4151 (ATTN: CPT FRETHEIM) > (513)255-5276 AVN785-5276 WPAFB, OH 45431 USA dan herrick herrickd@astro.pc.ab.com