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Hardware QWERTY-to-DVORAK Conversion?

Posted by Cliff on from the wacky-dongle-ideas dept.

Tom asks: "I was once a Dvorak keyboard user but the fact that where ever I went I was forced me to go back to QWERT. IMHO the ultimate solution would be a small software independent hardware converter that acts between the keyboard and where you put in the motherboard. This solution would allow you to move to any computer and quickly use Dvorak without messing with software key remapping. I searched hard around the web and the only thing I found that was close to it was the Chameleon Keyboard Customizer also linked here (just scroll down a bit on this page) made by some company named Sirius Industries. Does anyone know where to get this converter or have any other hardware converters that they know exists? Or any type of schematic diagram that will let one build such a convert? Help is appreciated." The first link lists a number for Sirius Industries, but it was tied to a fax machine at the time of this writing. It would be nice to know if they are still in business and if there is any way of contacting them directly about their product.

13 comments

  1. Re:Dvorak Stuff by Moofie · · Score: 1

    Maybe you missed this part of the question.

    "without messing with software key remapping"

    The poster is looking for something where he can land at somebody's desk, plug something in, have a good keyboard, unplug it, and walk away. Wonder if you could get a USB dongle that would do that...that'd be cool!

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  2. Converter by vbrtrmn · · Score: 1

    I've never seen a keyboard converter, though it probably wouldn't be too hard (though really tedious) to make one from radio shmuck parts. You'd just have to figure out .. or find a guide to
    .. the signals each key sends to the PS/2 port.

    I used the dvorak keyboard shortly, but stopped for similar reasons and hard to find WinNT drivers.

    Good luck with you search :)

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  3. Re:Dvorak Stuff by neuronaut · · Score: 1
    Under Windows (or at least, Windows 2000) you can also set up your system so that you can hit CTRL-ALT-0 for QWERTY, CTRL-ALT-1 for DVORAK(for example).

    Unfortunately, at work I also use Exceed, an X Windows client for MS Windows(don't ask why--I'm switching to Linux ASAP), and the key mappings for MS Windows don't affect Exceed--although you can also set it to switch between QWERTY and DVORAK in similar fashion. So for someone like me, a hardware solution might be nice, rather than toggling several different settings.

  4. Re:err... by superdk · · Score: 1

    Yes, hot plugging ps/2 connectors is dangerous but not 100% fatal. You can hot plug one 100 times but it only takes one time done just right to trash the ps/2 header.

    switchboxes are typically made to keep this from happening beacuse they have constant current going through the circut. What you have to watch out for are the manual switchboxes that don't have their own power supplies. Those older manual types require you to take your box(es) down to switch KVM control.
    of course you can get away hot switching things, but unless the hardware is designed to be hotplugged, it's a good idea to not hotplug it.


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  5. what is that? by crazney · · Score: 1
    obviosly this is some strange keyboard i have never seen.. i would like to know what on earth the advantage/reason for using one is.. and is there any pictures out there of them.. where would you get one, etc.. cheers crazney

    "Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk ?"

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    1. Re:what is that? by that+without+name · · Score: 1

      I assume you're asking what a dvorak keyboard is. A bit of history: before the invention of computers, typewriters were popular. The dvorak key layout was developed to place all the most commonly used keys either directly under the typest's fingers, or within easy reach. The only problem was, the typests now typed so fast that the bars for the keys would get jammed. So someone invented the querty key layout, to alleviate this problem. Many people prefer dvorak because you really can type faster using it.

  6. Re:err... by crazney · · Score: 1
    i certainatly hope not, otherwise ill have to throw out my switchbox i have been using for the past year...

    "Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk ?"

    --
    stuff
  7. err... by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 2
    ..isn't hot-plugging PS/2 keyboards considered dangerous? I've seen a few fried keyboard controllers in my day. Wouldn't something like this just exasperate the problem?

    - A.P.

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  8. DvortyBoards by aphr0 · · Score: 2

    Rather than an adapter for your current keyboard, you might think of investing in a DvortyBoard. It's a standard 104 (or whatever) key keyboard with a Dvorak lock that switches the key layout from qwerty to dvorak. www.dvortyboards.com seems to be down at the moment (forever?), but http://www.fentek-ind.com/dvorak.htm still has them for sale.

    I have a Dvortyboard and it works wonderfully.

  9. Why buy? Build! by mfarver · · Score: 2

    If you have basic electronics skills there is sample code on the web for the lightweight PIC16F84 series micro controllers. All you need to do is grab some example code for sending to the pc and receiving from the keyboard and stick a lookup table in the middle. Burn this to a PIC using one of the free programmers, plans also on the web. Might be a fun project to introduce yourself to programming micros and basic electronics. Total cost would be about US$30, plus some free time.

    Here is a PC keyboard to RS232 converter to get you started.

    Mark
  10. Dvortyboard by tilleyrw · · Score: 2
    The Dvortyboard is available from their web site (www.dvortyboard.com) and is available for about the price of a normal keyboard.

    I've had very good performance with mine. Tell all your typing friends!

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  11. Dvorak Stuff by Psibr2 · · Score: 2

    Just change the settings at work, if your using Windoze under control panel, keyboards, langauges. Usually it'll list 3 different Dvorak layouts. You can always use dry erase marker on the keyboard if need to remember the layout. It wears off pretty fast as is. So its easy enough to clean up if you had to

  12. USed to be a ctrl-somethign shortcut by t0qer · · Score: 2

    but in either case i found a page here http://web.mit.edu/jcb/www/Dvorak/ thaqt should supply what your looking for,

    --toq