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

Hi Keith,

I really like your story about how you changed over.  I used to be a programmer too, and even once had the nickname "the clacker" for how I sounded on the keyboard.

Here is my question:  I know everyone loves to remap the ctrl-c-v, but  what about just ctrl-c-v-ing with the right hand?  I know it's a stretch, but I've been doing it for a while now (not as a programmer though) and I really like it.

Nicole

--- In [email protected], Keith Ratliff <dracorat@...> wrote:
>
> I am a Web Architect by trade, and spend much of my time in SQL and C#
> programming.
> However, a few years ago (3 I think) I took a 4 day weekend (was a three day
> already and I took a Friday with it to make it longer) and changed my
> arrangement at that time to Dvorak. I played video games that weekend, but
> forced myself to play them and type in the new arrangement. I was playing an
> MMO and as I'm a chatty person online still had plenty of opportunity to
> type to the people there.
> 
> I think my first sentence went something like "Everyone, I just changed my
> keyboard layout and will be responding very slowly today. I am learning."
> and that sentence probably took 3 to 4 minutes to type in itself.
> 
> I allowed myself to look at the keyboard for the first two days and then I
> changed to a printout of the arrangement so that I could look at the
> printout instead when I needed help with key positions, so that I'd learn to
> touch type better.
> 
> Then, when I returned to work, I was the subject of much jest and elbowing
> for a couple of months. I would write some very jumbled sentences and
> replies to AIM messages. It was quite an interesting time indeed.
> 
> But I stuck with it. And today, I can safely say it's one of the best
> decisions I have ever made. (Leaving my ex beats it, but that's a tale for
> another time.) And I still program.
> 
> Some aspects of programming are harder now. Most especially the new location
> of the curly braces are rough even now as they have moved further from the
> fingers and in C# programming, you use curly braces all the time - probably
> about every third line on average.
> 
> However, most things are easier - especially the location of the semicolon
> which is used on every line! And the period being at the disposal of my
> index finger. Mmmmmm. Much love.
> 
> As a programmer, you also copy and paste a lot. Fortunately, you don't
> really use CTRL + semicolon or CTRL + Q for pretty much anything. At all.
> 
> Thus, AutoHotKey to the rescue and I have remapped them to copy and paste.
> I'll even share the script for it:
> #o::#s
> ^;::^c
> ^q::^v
> ^`::^q
> 
> (Also maps Windows + O to Windows + S which is helpful for OneNote.)
> 
> So there's my rebuttal against a programmer changing. This programmer did.
> And it was worth it's weight in Adamantium!
> 
> Before I changed, I went home with sore forearms - sometimes to the point I
> couldn't grip a coffee mug. Now, that never happens, even after a full day
> of typing.
> 
> What about that printout I mentioned? I created it - as I use a TypeMatrix
> keyboard. And I still have it.
> 
> You can get it here:
> 
> http://keithratliff.com/transfer/typematrixdvorak.png
> 
> 
> --Keith Ratliff
> 
> 
> On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 07:09, <jim51r@...> wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > Watching a programmer friend do his thing in QWERTY like a crazed spider
> > suggests to me there would be no benefit to switching layouts for someone
> > who is already skilled at QWERTY, whatever advantage Dvorak may have had
> > to offer. I have a Chinese friend who types QWERTY and I have a heck of
> > a time keeping up with her whilst chatting online and she's not even a
> > native English speaker. I haven't mentioned Dvorak to her, no need.
> >
> > I remain a convinced Dvorak typist, and have no intention of ever going
> > back to Mr. Sholes awkward fantasy, and concur that at the moment the
> > decision to learn to type is made, a valid option for something better
> > should be there. Dvorak is one such option, perhaps the best option --
> > all things considered.
> >
> > I still have a CD of Mavis Beacon 5, from back when Mavis was hip, rather
> > than the stodgy QWERTY shill she later became. Mavis taught me Dvorak.
> > Now I notice, and I say this with some hesitation, but looking at the
> > Broderbund site today I see that Mavis is looking quite pale. Whatever
> > led to this odd, complected decision by her maker, this fly on the wall
> > would surely like to know.
> >
> > > 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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