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

I actually like that Dvorak forces me to use 2 hands for copying and
pasting - I know it might seem less convenient at first.  But using
two hands actually seems to help my wrists.  Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v-ing all
the time with the one left wrist actually wears-out my wrist.

I also switched to Dvorak on the job as a software developer.  It was
a rough 5 days, but I stayed late to make up for my slow productivity,
and after a week cold turkey I was productive to the point where my
typing speed was not holding me back.

The points made so far in this thread, with respect to why others see
no value in switching to Dv, have been very valid points.  Thanks to
all who have chimed-in.

Joey

On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 10:16 PM, Keith Ratliff <[email protected]> wrote:
> I use my mouse with my right hand. If I moused with the left hand, that
> would make more sense.
> I have to be able to quickly CTRL C then click on a different tab or program
> then CTRL V so I often do that with my other hand on the mouse.
>
> If you did the right hand, you wouldn't even have to remap CTRL V - just
> probably CTRL W or CTRL \ to CTRL C
>
> Thanks for the compliment btw.
>
> --Keith
>
> On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 19:11, nkmcalli <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> 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] <altkeyboards%40yahoogroups.com>,
>> 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
>> > > > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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