Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!willett!ForthNet
From: ForthNet@willett.UUCP (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: PHILOSOPHY & CM
Message-ID: <493.UUL1.3#5129@willett.UUCP>
Date: 18 Feb 90 23:41:36 GMT
Organization: Latest link in the ForthNet chain.  (Pgh, PA)
Lines: 42

Category 1,  Topic 12
Message 79        Sat Feb 17, 1990
F.SERGEANT [Frank]           at 18:21 CST
 
 NOT EXACTLY 3 KEYS

 Using SuperKey, I have begun using a modified version of the  Dvorak-Dealey
"Simplified" keyboard (suggested by Roedy Green).  This  is my third day.  My
computer boots with it automatically, so I have  given up QWERTY altogether. 
I planned to try it without any  committment, but I think I like it.  I am a
fast touch typist on a  QWERTY keyboard and I am certainly not back up to
normal speed yet.   Roedy suggested that you might reduce fatigue as well as
increase  speed.  I guess I'll find out.

 I found a book in the library: TYPEWRITING BEHAVIOR by August Dvorak  et al
copyright 1936.  I can't read it.  It goes into tedious detail  after tedious
detail on the subjects of typing, teaching typing, coping  with the mechanics
of the typewriters of their day, etc.  I wanted the  book mainly to see what
layout Dvorak recommended (as opposed to what  others say his layout is). 
Maybe I'll get a copy of their patent one  day: "Simplified Keyboard
Arrangement," U.S. Patent Office, Serial No.  612,738,  1932.

 Anyway, my layout is the same as theirs for the letters and some of  the
punctuation.  The numbers and some of the punctuation are  different.  They
recommend    7 5 3 1 9 0 2 4 6 8   but I'm still using   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0. 
Maybe I'll switch the numbers later.  Right now I  find their familiarity a
comfort.

 I haven't switched key caps, so I'm REALLY doing it by touch.

 I still want to go to a 3 key keyboard, so this interim step may be  wasted. 
Meanwhile I'm noticing and enjoying staying mostly in home  position (which
you can't really do with QWERTY) and noticing and  disliking the terrible jump
to and from the Enter key and to and from  the cursor pad.  Maybe I'll remap
another key to Enter and start using  more of the Word Star control key
approach to cursoring.  It sure would  be nice not to have no leave home
position ever.

  - Frank
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