 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2008-06-17 05:24
Does anybody else here use the Dvorak key layout as a means to further prevent the risk of RSI injury? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Keyboard)
Most don't consider their computer keyboard but as people who constantly use our fingers we should be looking at ways to exert less energy in all instances of finger usage to prevent RSI.
Check out this comparison website:
http://www.acm.vt.edu/~jmaxwell/dvorak/compare.html
For example:
Compare simply typing the sentence "I love the clarinet, it is fantastic!"
On QWERTY...
Distance "walked by fingers": 0.914m
Home Row usage (best... little strenuous movement): 29%
Top Row (good, easy to reach): 48%
Bottom row (not desirable due to awkward inward finger movement): 19 %
Number Row: 3%
On Dvorak...
Distance "walked by fingers": 0.548m
Home Row usage (best... little strenuous movement): 71%
Top Row (good, easy to reach): 23%
Bottom row (not desirable due to awkward inward finger movement): 3 %
Number Row: 3%
Sorry if this is not related, but with people doing more and more work and communication in front of the computer screen, I think that it is worth discussing.
Thoughts?
EDIT: Sorry... I can't get HTML to work in the links. Looks like you'll have to copy and paste, sorry.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
Post Edited (2008-06-17 05:26)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-06-17 07:35
Better a good traditional keyboard than a bad Dvorak one.
Most of the keyboards I encounter are simply horrible in terms of key travel, key tension, tactile feedback etc.
In most cases the $4.99 keyboard that came with your PC simply doesn't cut it.
--
Ben
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-06-17 12:25
I learned to type many years ago using the "old fashioned" keyboard and relearning the Dvorak layout held no fascination for me. I think many typists felt/feel the same way. The Dvorak got a lot of hype when Dvorak himself was a Guru but my impression is that it never got overwhelming support. I personally don't buy the concept that the Q layout causes carpal problems or that the Dvorak is superior.
Bob Draznik
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Author: kev182
Date: 2008-06-17 14:51
What a coincidence! I switched to dvorak about 2.5 weeks ago after researching the benefits of the layout. It was extremely painful at first but the difference is astounding. Because ~70% of all my typing is done on the home row, I barely have to move around my fingers. Dvorak is included on all windows and mac computers since the 70s. Its hard to switch but well worth the investment....
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-06-17 21:25
I agree with Ben. The saving in movement from the Dvorak layout is minimal. Certainly it's not enough to cure carpal tunnel or overuse problems. What made the difference for me was a Kinesis Contoured keyboard. http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/ The key mechanism is wonderful, and the cupped arrangement of the keys greatly decreases finger strain. I use it for all big typing jobs, with zero pain.
They make programmable models that switch easily to Dvorak, if you want to add it,
Three drawbacks: it's expensive, it takes a week to get used to, and people give you weird looks.
I've been using one for 10 years, and the keys are still great.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2008-06-17 23:34
First off... I must be clear. If you don't touch type now (or properly) on QWERTY, and don't plan on learning proper typing technique to use Dvorak the point is mute. "Finger pecking" is the same on any keyboard.... haha.
> Certainly it's not enough to cure carpal tunnel or overuse problems.
I didn't say "cure"... I said "prevent". It prevents RSI injury.
> Its hard to switch but well worth the investment....
Exactly. Many people here have spent their entire life learning how to play a stained black piece of wood with some silver on it... spending just two weeks learning a new keyboard should be like a walk in the park (even just resting on a bench... haha).
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-06-17 23:37
Sean.Perrin wrote:
> Exactly. Many people here have spent their entire life learning
> how to play a stained black piece of wood with some silver on
> it...
Yeah, but when I'm typing, no one even thinks of applauding. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: kev182
Date: 2008-06-18 02:22
"I agree with Ben. The saving in movement from the Dvorak layout is minimal. "
excuse me?
take a large block of text and enter it in here... you will then think otherwise
http://colemak.com/Compare
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-06-18 07:56
Lateral movement is just one component, and maybe not even the deciding factor for getting RSI.
Besides, the ideal key layout is heavily language dependent. I am not sure if it would prevent a Klingon from getting RSI (although he'd never admit that, of course)
What's just as important are features like key travel or the required force. I still prefer my old IBM Model M keyboard over anything else, although it's rather loud. (I could never make friends with all those split and ergonomic keyboards either). But to each his own...
--
Ben
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