Re: Taking the Dvorak issue into our own hands. No Pun Intended.

I hope the word "mandatory" refers to allowing access to the keyboard  
layout setting for anybody who uses a computer, and perhaps a mandate  
for educators to introduce the Dvorak option to new typists.  
Mandating access removes the most valid objection to teaching Dvorak  
to students: that they might someday be forced to use QWERTY anyway.

Current QWERTY typists should not be forced to switch. The GSA study  
that is commonly cited to denounce Dvorak advised against switching,  
and many people will choose to believe it. Fortunately, even if you  
ignore that study's flaws, it is a real stretch to apply it to new  
typists. Mandating that both layouts are allowed in all work and  
school environments should be enough to encourage voluntary adoption.

Any suggestion of forcing current typists to switch will doom the  
effort. There is a cost to retraining. Although the Navy study in  
1941 showed the cost of retraining could be recouped in ten days  
(after training ended), the Navy had the luxury of assigning subjects  
to non-typing duties during the training period. Indeed, for best  
results it is important to avoid or at least minimize typing work  
outside of actual training sessions, and to not use QWERTY at all  
until the Dvorak pattern is fully learned.

People who make their living at a keyboard might not be able to  
afford even two or three weeks of lost work. If the change were a  
mandate, more switchers would try to rush the process, risking  
failures that in turn would be blamed on the layout, not poor training.

Good luck,
Marcus

On Oct 12, 2009, at 8:56 PM, Gregory G wrote:

> I am sick and tired of seeing all of the money that is being wasted  
> by people's ignorance and resistance to change.  So, I've finally  
> decided to take matters into my own hands.  I've decided to lobby  
> Congress directly to ask President Obama to lead the way on the  
> Dvorak issue.  I've created an Internet page concerning how it's  
> going to work and invite you all to take part.  If only seven of  
> you decide to read the message and do what it says we can have the  
> Dvorak Keyboard Layout made into a public law in no time.  Even if  
> not, by simply alerting your friends of this page everyone on the  
> Internet will be have enough information to make their own informed  
> choice.
>
> Please click on the link below for more information.
>
> http://dynamicreflections.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1591481% 
> 3ABlogPost%3A4330
>
>
>
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