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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.

6 of 13 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

    --
    * CmdrTaco is an idiot.

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    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  2. 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.

  3. 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
  4. 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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  5. 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

  6. 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