Fun Fact Filler Post – Dvorak Keyboard Layout
It's that time again! Time for a random post about anything that isn't entirely development related. Our last Fun Fact Filler post illustrated the "popularity" of my blog since I started it. This time around we're going to focus on something a bit more interesting: The Dvorak Keyboard Layout. I found out about the Dvorak Keyboard from Matt Raible's blog and thought it was interesting enough to write about.
According to an article I found on Google, the commonly used QWERTY keyboard layout was actually created to slow down typists. According to the article,
The reason for this apparent insanity is, basically, that the earliest typewriter mechanisms were very slow, and tended to jam when typists attempted higher speeds. It didn't take long for physical typewriter technology to improve, but the QWERTY layout had become ensconced.
Now isn't that interesting? Well, I'm glad I never learned to type on a QWERTY keyboard. Now I can learn using the proper keyboard layout! Alas, I doubt the Dvorak keyboard will replace the QWERTY one. :-P
Interesting... about 8 years ago.
(starts poppin' the keys off his keyboard)
Where can I get me one of them?
I think Jase had the right idea.. you already have one. Grab a screw driver or any thin flat surface and start poppin out them keys =]
Here's a reference to help:
http://www.pcwebopedia.com/FIG/DVORAK.gif
You will probably find that the keys will not fit properly. Many keyboards have different sized keys for each of the rows.
I didn't bother swapping mine. Once you learn where the keys are you shouldn't need to look at the keyboard anyway.
you can get a cover up thingny for firefox that lets you type like that, but i got it and it messed up everything and it turns it on randomly and i can't get it off