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1991-08-01
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Dvorak accessory reference
You should have the following files:
DVORKNOR.ACC Normal Dvorak layout
DVORKLFT.ACC Left-hand only Dvorak layout
DVORKRHT.ACC Right-hand only Dvorak layout
DVORAK.RSC Resource file for all 3 ACCs
DVORAK.DOC Hopefully what you are reading now
The ACC was written by Alex Stevens, and modifications by Mike Bales.
Alex no longer has an Atari, but he graciously let me use his program.
So if there are any problems with the program, no one can fix them, though
I haven't found any. But I would like to hear from ones that have
found the program useful. So stop by the GENIEus BB, catagory 10, topic
14 and let me know how it is going. I would especially like to hear from
ones that will use the one-handed layouts and how it works for you.
Now for the layouts:
ANSI X4.22-1983 Dvorak layout
op ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) [ +
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ] =
" < > P Y F G C R L ? op
' , . p y f g c r l /
A O E U I D H T N S _ op
a o e u i d h t n s -
op : Q J K X B M W V Z
; q j k x b m w v z
op=optional key
Atari ST Normal Dvorak Layout
esc ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) [ + ~
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ] = `
" < > P Y F G C R L ? {
' , . p y f g c r l / }
A O E U I D H T N S _ cr |
a o e u i d h t n s - \
: Q J K X B M W V Z
; q j k x b m w v z
Index finger for the left hand rests on 'U', the right on 'H'.
Atari right-hand only Dvorak layout
esc ! @ # $ J L M F P ? [ + ~
1 2 3 4 j l m f p / ] = `
% ^ Q > O R S U Y B : {
5 6 q . o r s u y b ; }
& * Z A E H T D C K _ cr |
7 8 z a e h t d c k - \
( ) X < I N W V G "
9 0 x , i n w v g '
Atari left-hand only Dvorak layout
esc + [ ? P F M L J $ # @ ! ~
= ] / p f m l j 4 3 2 1 `
: Q B Y U R S O > ^ % {
; q b y u r s o . 6 5 }
_ K C D T H E A Z * & cr |
- k c d t h e a z 8 7 \
" X G V W N I < ) (
' x g v w n i , 0 9
Index finger rests on 'E' for both layouts.
To use, put the RSC file and the ACC you need in the root directory.
After you boot-up, choose the Dvorak accessory and then the option to turn
the keyboard on. Whenever you use the ACC, the RSC file will be needed.
Limitation I've found is sometimes a program won't recognize the new
layout in conjunction with the alternate key, so you might have to use the
QWERTY layout for alt + key presses. Other than that, all's well. You
shouldn't rearrange the key-tops because that defeats the whole purpose of
touch typing. But some small letter stickers work well.
Brief history
Christopher Latham Sholes invented the first practical typewriter.
He originally arranged the letters alphabeticaly, but found that the type
bars jammed even using the two-finger method that was then used. Using a
list of the most common letters used in English, Shole rearranged the
letters to slow the typist down. So where does that leave us today?
Using a layout that was meant for two-finger typing and slowing the typist
down. It was never intended to be used for touch typing.
Enter Dr. Dvorak. He made a study of not only the common letters,
but also the most common two-letter sequences used in the English
language. These are called digraphs, and 137 of them make up 90% of text.
The 11 most common account for 25%, the top 34 make up 50%, and the top 57
account for 75% of all text. Here are some interesting figures:
% digraphs that STROKE COMPARISON % of strokes
use this row typed on this row
86% Q W E R T Y U I O P 52%
51% A S D F G H J K L ; ' 32%
30% Z X C V B N M , . / 16%
Qwerty
35% ' , . P Y F G C R L / 22%
96% A O E U I D H T N S - 70%
16% ; Q J K X B M W V Z 8%
Dvorak
On the Qwerty keyboard, almost half of the common digraphs are keyed
with the same hand and many with the same finger. Worse though is the
amount of hurdling between rows, fingers sometimes never touching the home
row. Dr. Dvorak found that an average typist will move their fingers
between 12 and 20 miles in an 8 hour day. With the Dvorak layout, only
about 1 mile.
THE ONE-HAND LAYOUTS
These special layouts are for ones missing a hand or a few fingers
that want something easier to use. Dr. Dvorak designed these layouts when
a Col. Allen who lost his right arm asked him to design an efficient
one-hand keyboard for him, since he was a writer. Dr. Dvorak designed one
for each hand. After ten weeks, Col. Allen was typing at 56 WPM using the
layout for the left hand.
Within reach of the single hand are the 21 keys that make up 97.6% of
all typing. The other five letters are reached with some difficulty, but
with the hand still in the "home" position- your hand doesn't have to jump
all over the keyboard. For those with no hands that use a stick or such,
the left-hand layout would be the most efficient.
References
"The Dvorak Keyboard" by R.C. Cassingham
Also check your library for magazine articles about how successful and
easy switching can be. The above book also gives help in that regard.
Any comments, suggestions, or requests, I'm on GEnie at M.BALES1 and the
above mentioned topic.