OT: New technology!

"Commander Kinsey" snipped-for-privacy@military.org.jp> wrote in news:op.0qfktkocwdg98l@glass:

I am involved with a museum - we had a good collection of old typewriters but we struggled to get one of these IBMs as they were all chucked out and replaced with computer printers as part of a job-lot - company wide upgrade one weekend. Sometimes newer stuff gets overlooked as an interesting artifact.

This has been an interesting thread about typing and how it has advanced. The one thing I find unusual is the continued use of the QWERTY layout which I think is the worst ever created. It was used to avoid the strikers jamming by a fast typist but is now obsolete. I have been using the DVORAK layout for 20 years now and it is far superior being easier to use and no carpal tunnel issues. phil k.

Where can you buy a Dvorak keyboard?

All teh keyboards I have bought over the years for my Linux/Windows boxes such as Cherry, Logitech etc are all the Qwertyuiop layout...

Ditto for Macs, where can I get a Dvorak Mac keyboard?

How long does it take to learn Dvorak?

S.

This is a much cited example of path dependence, a much argued topic in behavioural science. Articles and whole books were written on this around 20 years ago and it was the subject of some controversy at least among academics with a lot of time on their hands.

See "The Curse of Qwerty","QWERTY is about as good a design as any alternative" and "At Last, a Remedy for Chronic QWERTY-skepticism"

References 10, l1, 12

michael adams

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Donno, why not tell your MAC it has DVORAK keyboard and shift the key caps around. B-)

Do you still want one? Where are you? You're not in Japan, are you? I don't want to ship it to Japan! Does it have to work? Mine works for a couple minutes after I fiddle with it, at least it did

Hit Start, settings, control panel, language and regional options, languages, details,settings, drop down box, choose dvorak or US. I have a link on my taskbar to choose which one to use. Years ago I used a CD named Mavis Beacon teaches typing and it taught me how to use it. To see the layout search for keyboard, on-screen keyboard to see it. Yes, it's buried deep like no one is supposed to access it, eih? It doesn't take long to learn it. The vowels aoeui are on the home row left side. dhtns are home row right side. Good luck!!!!