Why Switching from Qwerty to Dvorak is Simple

I’ve recently switched to using the Dvorak keyboard.

You can find all the benefits of switching simply by doing a quick search, and virtually all write-ups would be better than anything i could do (or would want to); so I won’t bother harping on that here.

However, whenever I talk about my switch, I find that almost everyone loves the idea, and yet I still have yet to see one person I’ve talked to actually try it. I’ve come to the conclusion that these people think one of two things:

1. They are simply too busy to relearn something that they use so heavily and so often.
2. They’re worry how useful it will be since every other computer is still setup to be used as Qwerty.

The combination of those two things is enough to guarantee that 99% of people will not even give Dvorak a fighting chance. To put these ideas to rest, I’ve identified four reasons why making the switch is not as troublesome as it seems and really is quite simple.

You don’t need a physically different keyboard. You can still use the exact same keyboard that you used previously with Qwerty. At least for both Windows and Mac OS, support for Dvorak is built right into the Operating System; you simply go into your preferences and add the option to your computer. It takes 15 seconds. Instructions for Windows and Mac.

While it can be beneficial to change your physical keys over or have an entirely different keyboard for learning Dvorak, it isn’t necessary. For instance, how many people look at their keys when they type? Once we learn to type, the vast majority of us look only at the screen, and in that case our keyboards could just as well have the Greek alphabet on the keys; it really makes no difference.

Other (Qwerty) people can still use your computer without a problem. Also, built into Windows and Mac is the option to switch quickly from one language to another. Anna uses my mac all the time and just clicks the “US” typing language from menu bar whenever she first gets on the computer. one click and she’s ready to go. On my PC at work (which I’m typing on now) Windows has a default hotkey combination if you activate it to switch back and forth from Dvorak to Qwerty (Alt+Shift). My PC always defaults to Qwerty so whenever my boss or IT guys need to hop on my computer they even have to bother with it. I just switch it for each program when i open it up. simple.

You can still use other’s computers very easily. The majority of people use one or two computers primarily in their daily lives. Generally, they have one for work and one for their home. Switching two computers over is not difficult (see mentioned above) while still keeping them available for Qwerty users (see above). This means that if you are the average citizen, you will use an unfamiliar computer maybe an average of 5%.

This is no real problem when you address it rationally. If you’re just in the library browsing for quick information, just default back to using qwerty! It’s not like you just totally forget how to speak english when you learn to speak spanish, and it’s the same for typing. You can easily still remember qwerty after learning dvorak; at worst, your brain just draws a blank as your brain switches over. When i switch back over, I’m up to 80% of my original speed in about a minute.

On the other hand, if you’re at an unfamiliar computer for a long period of time (perhaps you’re working on a co-worker’s computer for the day) you can just go into the preferences and switch it over to dvorak. no sweat.

Time spent learning Dvorak is minimal. The way to learn Dvorak is to just do it. Your first day of typing will be painfully (let me repeat: PAINFULLY) slow. However, If you do this for a week, you’ll notice three amazing things have happened:

1. You’ve gotten much more efficient at responding to email. Emails in your inbox requiring a one-word reply get exactly one word, and you don’t waste any time typing pointless information; it simply takes too much effort. you’ve learned to write succintly, clearly, and as quickly as possible, simply because answering them is such a headache. In one week you will have virtually cured yourself of writing bad emails! (I think this is why dvorak is actually beneficial for everyone - people have to suffer through way too many badly written emails)  
   
2. Your fingers don’t hurt, and actually might even be kind of bored. The pain you get in your fingers after an 8-hour workday will be pretty much gone, and actually, your fingers will probably be waiting for your brain to catch up with them.
3. you can type functionally at about 30 wpm with Dvorak. By week two, you should be as fast as you originally were with Qwerty.

Two weeks. It is hard to just throw yourself in, but if you can, the benefits are well worth it. You type more efficiently and just as fast as before, You’re writing skills have improved, and you learned a new [input] language.