Back and Forth Between Qwerty and Dvorak?

jamesh asks: "I'm interested in switching over to an alternate keyboard layout, probably Dvorak, before I begin to suffer any effects of RSI. I'm almost 30 and have been typing since I was about 8, and these days spend most of my workday in front of a computer, typing away at a keyboard. I've searched the Internet and most people's comments are that within a few months they were up to or faster than their previous speed, with better accuracy. I'm mostly a programmer, but I do spend time at client sites and do need to spend time at various users computers to have a look at whatever hole they've dug themselves into, and so I will need to switch between QWERTY and Dvorak mode fairly frequently. What others have found when switching back and forth, as required? Can you mentally just flip back between them, or do you 'lose' your QWERTY skills and become 'hunt & peck' when faced with the old keyboard layout?"

Comments

QWERTY not QWERY

[John Harrison]

It can't be THAT hard to get the title right, can it?

Re:QWERTY not QWERY

[Anonymous Coward]

Perhaps the submitter is already losing his typing ability.

Re:QWERTY not QWERY

[cornjchob]

If in a few months I want to search for this story then looking for titles containing the word 'QWERTY' is going to fail.

When you're done searching, try qwerying.

Query on Qwery..

[Anonymous Coward]

What is Qwery? And why no mention of Dork?

After I learned to drive a car...

[Anonymous Coward]

...I found I could no longer ride a bike without training wheels.

Qwery: new keyboard layout?

[Anonymous Coward]

Methinks the editor has switched keyboard layouts recently, so ask him.

Example of how easy it is

[Monoman]

Frg mgoy x. hrtcbiv Dr, dape jab cy x.Z S[) :-)

Re:Tip For Mac OS X users...

[Kraeloc]

I know, isn't it great? I do that to people all the time, and they rarely figure it out. Oh, did you mean for actual usage...?

Re:The Benefits of Dvorak

[stewby18]

Some benefits of Dvoark:

1) Less finger movement for typical English sentences. This is easily verifiable, and not questioned AFAIK.
2) The keycaps on typical keyboards don't match the letter assignment, so you aren't tempted to look a the keys.
3) It is supported by modern operating systems and can be used with readily available keyboards.

You forgot:
4) That look on your coworkers' faces when they lean past you and try to do something on your computer without asking (which would give you the chance to easily flip the layout for them).

Re:Don't do it if you're a programmer... I switche

[megrims]

Yeah, I see you're still having trouble. That shift key keeps getting stuck down, doesn't it?

Re:QWERTY not QWERY - an apology

[Charles W Griswold]

(I had put this apology way down in a grandchild post, but thought it more proper to put it here)

I was the poster of the askslashdot question. I sincerely apologise to anyone I offended with my typo in the heading. I proofread the article but not the title. There are no excuses and again I sincerely apologyse. :p

Eh. Anyone who's offedned by tpyos shouldn't be readign slashfot.

Re:Mod Parent(s) Up!

[paul.dunne]

Behave yourself, or I'll come round your house,
delete all your editors, and install TECO.
Then you'll have something to complain about.