If you're reading this summary on a computer, chances are there is a QWERTY keyboard on your desk. This keyboard layout has been around since 1873, and it has been widely adopted ever since. However, its popularity has always remained a mystery to me. Why is everyone using a keyboard layout that doesn't look that efficient on first sight? I'm not the only one asking this question. A lot of myths exist on the QWERTY keyboard layout, including the one that it was specifically designed to slow down typists. In preparation for a switch to the DVORAK layout, I did some research and found out that a lot of these myths are riddled with factual errors. Also, I started learning DVORAK and kept track of my progress and what I thought were the pros and cons. So was QWERTY designed to slow us down? Is it feasible to adopt an alternative layout like DVORAK? If so, how long will it take you to learn it, and should everyone consider it? Join this session to have your questions answered, and feel free to bring your keyboard layout of choice. :-)

1. QWERTY
or
DVORAK?
Debunking the Keyboard Layout Myths
Hanno Embregts @hannotify

2. Hanno?

3. Randomly
Assembled

7. "I mean, seriously."

8. Ask the
Audience

9. So how do *you* feel
about all this?
Let's nd out!

10. Myth #1
Created to slow typists down

11. Created to slow typists down?
Questionable, as there were no fast typists at that
time!
The rst touch typist was Frank Edward McGurrin,
who started developing his own touch typing
method in 1881.
Fun fact: McGurrin could type 97 words per minute.
( )https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Edward_McGurrin

12. Created to slow typists down?
Or to slow telegraph operators down?
Again very unlikely.
Morse senders were quite fast and almost
constantly waiting for new input.
At a typewriter demonstration in 1872, the morse
receiver almost *begged* the operator to type
faster.
"Typewriting and Telegraphy", Densmore, 1886.
( )http://www.kanji.zinbun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~yasuoka/QWERTY/

13. Myth #2
Created to prevent jams in early
typewriters

14. Created to prevent jams?

15. Frequently used digrams and
their distances
"On the Prehistory of QWERTY", Yasuoka & Yasuoka, 2009.
https://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/139379/1/42_161.pdf

16. The story of E & R

17. Type-Writer, February 1873
(image via The World of Typewriters)

18. Myth #3
Created so that the word and
brand name TYPEWRITER could
be typed by using the top row
only

19. Created for the brand name?
In May 1873, the brand name became "Sholes &
Glidden Type-Writer".
The R key moved to the top row, but the hyphen
key didn't.
"Sholes" or "Glidden" required multiple rows.
Sales demonstrations were done by sending and
receiving morse telegraph.
"On the Prehistory of QWERTY", Yasuoka & Yasuoka, 2009.
https://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/139379/1/42_161.pdf

20. So telegraph operators
created QWERTY
according to their own
preferences?

21. Overview of changes
Month Event Initiator Number
of keys
Comments
November
1868
First Type-Writer
shipped to customer
Sholes (inventor) 28 Piano-like,
alphabetical
arrangement
April 1870 Numerals &
punctuation marks
added
Porter ( rst
customer)
38 First keyboard-like
design
September
1870
QW on upper row, S
between E & Z, ..
Harrington & Craig
(second customer)
42 All changes on
telegrapher's request
February
1873
I between 8 & 9 Jenne, Clough
(Remington)
42 To enable quick year
typing
April 1874 Y to center of top row Sholes (inventor) 42 Arrangement
patented by Sholes
"On the Prehistory of QWERTY", Yasuoka & Yasuoka, 2009.
https://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/139379/1/42_161.pdf

22. Bonus Myth
After mastering the DVORAK
layout I will be a faster typist

23. The Dvorak Simpli ed Keyboard
Patented by Dr. August Dvorak in 1936.
Invented to reduce nger motion and typing
errors.
Claims to increase typing speed.
Claims to reduce RSI injuries.
Well-supported on all major operating systems.

24. Keyboard strokes locations
(in English)
QWERTY DVORAK
Top row 52% 22%
Home row 32% 70%
Bottom row 16% 8%

25. Keyboard strokes heat map
( )http://xahlee.info/kbd/myth_of_qwerty_dvorak_layout.html

26. The process of mastering
Dvorak
Start by memorizing the di erent locations.
Practice until you can touch-type each
letter.
I used a LOT.
Increase your typing speed.
learn.dvorak.nl

28. Summary
and
Conclusions

29. On the QWERTY Layout
Never intended to slow down typists.
Not much evidence for solving the jamming
problem.
Layout was optimized for telegraph users.

30. On the DVORAK Layout
Extensive use is less tiring than QWERTY.
Reduces RSI.
Mastering DVORAK will take a lot of time.
You can't be sure that DVORAK will make you type
any faster.

31. Should I Switch?
Don't switch if...
...your ngers never hurt from typing.
...you're not willing to invest a year mastering
DVORAK.
Do switch if...
...your ngers are killing you from time to time.
...you have a year to spare to crank up your
DVORAK typing speed.

32. Any
questions?

33. Thank you! ☺
Just can't get enough?
slideshare.net
@hannotify
hanno.embregts@infosupport.com