Re: key assignments

Hello, list.

I don't mean to nit-pick, but the 6 key on Qwerty and modern Dvorak
keyboards is 9, not 0, on the Dvorak classic keyboard.

Dvorak classic: ` [ 7 5 3 1 9 0 2 4 6 8 ] <-
Dvorak modern:  ` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 [ ] <-
Dvorak top row:    ' , . p y f g c r l / = \
 (for comparison)

A few Debian-derived Linux distros have dvorak-classic as a keymap
configuration option (but not as a usual "loadkeys" or "setxkbmap"
keymap).  I use it, but it needs a bit of work. One of the issues it
has is that Linux's Ctrl-Alt-FKey hotkeys don't work.  One thing I do
like about dvorak-classic, aside from what I personally think is a
better number row layout (odd left, even right), is that the ' and /
keys are swapped, so that / is on the left pinky instead of the right.

But not many use it, and the number row still occasionally bites me when
using modern Dvorak.

-ArielMT

On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:33:50 -0600 Fred Craven wrote:

> Ben, 
> 
> It sounds like you ran across the "proper fingering vs. key position"
> problem. "6"  (or on my keyboard "0" (Dvorark original)) should be hit
> by your right index finger for proper fingering, but Keyboards lean to
> the left. Thus many people type with wrong fingering--especially with
> the left hand--to correct for the left leaning keyboard. We've had
> many discussions about this here.
> 
> When split keyboards first came about, some manufactures stuck with
> proper fingering, others cut the keyboard in half where they saw fit.
> 
> This is one of the reasons why I like the Kinesis Contoured (and
> Typematrix). Both have their keys in straight columns. Of course to
> those who aren't used to it, it can be quite disconcerting.
> 
> That being said, I think that on a traditional keyboard, especially
> with qwerty, "proper fingering" can be painful, cumbersome, and
> wrong. After all, the six is closer to the left hand.
> 
> Fred
> 
> On Friday, January 26, 2007 Thus spake Benjamin Cohen
> 
> >I recently purchased a Belkin Ergoboard one piece split keyboard to 
> >replace a keyboard that died.  I also have and continue to use on 
> >another computer a Kinesis Maxim two piece split keyboard.  I have 
> >also used two other two piece split keyboards, a PerfecTouch 101 and 
> >a LexMark.  The last three split the numbers between the 6 and the 
> >7.  The Belkin splits the numbers between the 5 and the 6.
> >
> >Two typing books, Mavis and an old typewriter-based book, confirm 
> >that the standard key assignments are 6 and 7 to the index finger of 
> >the right hand.
> >
> >A ruler confirms that the distance from the upper left corner of the 
> >right index finger's home key to the lower right corner of the 6 key 
> >is 1-1/4 inches (on a non-split full-size keyboard) while the 
> >corresponding reach from the upper right hand corner of the left 
> >index finger's home key to the lower left corner of the 6 key is 1 
> >inch.  At first glance the assignment of the 6 key to the right hand 
> >seems logical, except that it's a long way to reach, except when you 
> >split the keyboard!
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 


-- 
"The most humbling achievement of the past millennium, I believe, is the
evolution of the simplest form of communication: the written letter.
From courier to post to telegram to fax to email, each advancement has
made the awesome power of writing more accessible than ever before."
-Ariel Millennium Thornton, Spokesman and Mascot, Thornton 2 Productions