Comments on: Learning the COLEMAK keyboard layout http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/ A survival guide for the 21st century researcher Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:37:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nick SC http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-128170 Nick SC Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:17:18 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-128170 I've been using Dvorak for many years now, originally switching because of tendon problems. But I'm learning Colemak at the moment - mainly because there's more in common between Colemak and QWERTY. There's a portable version of Colmak which you can run in Windows, and it can run without installation, from a memory stick of you want - so it's completely portable. See http://sourceforge.net/projects/pkl/ for the software. To Learn it I've been using Bruce's Unusual Typing Tutor (free download) which has lessons. The program shows a QWERTY layout on screen but I ignore that. PKL (Portable Keyboard Layout) includes an onscreen image of the layout which you can switch on or off so that's the one I look at if I need to. I’ve been using Dvorak for many years now, originally switching because of tendon problems. But I’m learning Colemak at the moment – mainly because there’s more in common between Colemak and QWERTY. There’s a portable version of Colmak which you can run in Windows, and it can run without installation, from a memory stick of you want – so it’s completely portable. See http://sourceforge.net/projects/pkl/ for the software.

To Learn it I’ve been using Bruce’s Unusual Typing Tutor (free download) which has lessons. The program shows a QWERTY layout on screen but I ignore that. PKL (Portable Keyboard Layout) includes an onscreen image of the layout which you can switch on or off so that’s the one I look at if I need to.

]]> By: Olmec http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-108719 Olmec Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:39:09 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-108719 Just found this on a random Google search, but will attempt to throw in my two cents... In recent years, I have had a problem with my right hand small and ring fingers, mostly from having to hit the enter key and backspace so much, it seems to stretch something that shouldn't be stretched in my right hand. So, I tried switching to Dvorak (bought some keyboard stickers and everything), only to realize that Dvorak seems to place *most* of the typing duty onto your right hand pinky finger. With Dvorak, you not only have to hit the Enter and Backspace, but the letters S & L and some symbols. The S was particularly painful. In fact, regardless of the fact that all the vowels are allocated to the left hand in Dvorak, almost all the typing seems to be done with the right hand (not a good idea at all in my opinion). Try typing the word "strength" in Dvorak. You use your right fingers 7 times while only using your left once. That doesn't seem to follow the rule of "alternating typing" at all. Colemak seems much better than either Dvorak or QWERTY, in terms of using hands more or less equally and having the letters in the right places. I might just give it a shot after rearranging these letter stickers! (P.S. I have swapped/remapped the caps lock and enter and tab and backspace keys with "KeyTweak" to alleviate some of this right hand over-use) Just found this on a random Google search, but will attempt to throw in my two cents…

In recent years, I have had a problem with my right hand small and ring fingers, mostly from having to hit the enter key and backspace so much, it seems to stretch something that shouldn’t be stretched in my right hand.

So, I tried switching to Dvorak (bought some keyboard stickers and everything), only to realize that Dvorak seems to place *most* of the typing duty onto your right hand pinky finger. With Dvorak, you not only have to hit the Enter and Backspace, but the letters S & L and some symbols. The S was particularly painful. In fact, regardless of the fact that all the vowels are allocated to the left hand in Dvorak, almost all the typing seems to be done with the right hand (not a good idea at all in my opinion). Try typing the word “strength” in Dvorak. You use your right fingers 7 times while only using your left once. That doesn’t seem to follow the rule of “alternating typing” at all.

Colemak seems much better than either Dvorak or QWERTY, in terms of using hands more or less equally and having the letters in the right places. I might just give it a shot after rearranging these letter stickers!

(P.S. I have swapped/remapped the caps lock and enter and tab and backspace keys with “KeyTweak” to alleviate some of this right hand over-use)

]]> By: Preston Lee http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-43050 Preston Lee Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:56:01 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-43050 I switched to an ANSI Dvorak layout almost exactly a year ago to date, and have noticed significantly less fatigue, particularly in my tendons. OS X has a very fast and easy to use layout switcher built in for when others are using my computer. Most linux distributions support the layout with the `loadmap dvorak` command, and Windows XP and Vista support it out-of-the-box as well. It took me about 7 months to ramp up to 80 words per minute. You can read about my journey into Dvorak by searching for 'dvorak' on my blog, here: http://www.prestonlee.com/?s=dvorak I switched to an ANSI Dvorak layout almost exactly a year ago to date, and have noticed significantly less fatigue, particularly in my tendons. OS X has a very fast and easy to use layout switcher built in for when others are using my computer. Most linux distributions support the layout with the `loadmap dvorak` command, and Windows XP and Vista support it out-of-the-box as well.

It took me about 7 months to ramp up to 80 words per minute. You can read about my journey into Dvorak by searching for ‘dvorak’ on my blog, here: http://www.prestonlee.com/?s=dvorak

]]> By: vboouli http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-36756 vboouli Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:22:18 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-36756 Hi wanted to say hello to members of this helpful site which I have been browsing for some time and glad to be part of your wonderful website. Im sure there is a lot of great stuff I will be able to learn from you all. Hi wanted to say hello to members of this helpful site which I have been browsing for some time and glad to be part of your wonderful website. Im sure there is a lot of great stuff I will be able to learn from you all.

]]> By: Colemak User http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-34104 Colemak User Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:29:58 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-34104 Good choice. I switched about six months ago. Would recommend this layout to anyone. All the best. Good choice. I switched about six months ago. Would recommend this layout to anyone.

All the best.

]]> By: Chaim http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-33426 Chaim Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:23:14 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-33426 This is the first I have heard of COLEMAK. I will have to give it some further consideration. I have been meaning to switch to DVORAK for several years, but have never been willing to put in the dedicated effort necessary. This is the first I have heard of COLEMAK. I will have to give it some further consideration. I have been meaning to switch to DVORAK for several years, but have never been willing to put in the dedicated effort necessary.

]]> By: jose http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-33423 jose Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:01:32 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-33423 I think COLEMAK builds on the experiences of former DVORAK users. The stats seem to favor COLEMAK in terms of distance travelled. But, what I think it's the definitive advantage is that COLEMAK leaves zxcv (bottom row) in the same spot. This is important because while adapting, you can at least copy and paste (!). I also like the delete key mapped to caps lock. I think it'd be easier to switch to COLEMAK from QWERTY; some people keep both skillsets. I have read reports of people switching from DVORAK to COLEMAK too. They mention that they love how you can do finger rolls on COLEMAK. I think COLEMAK builds on the experiences of former DVORAK users. The stats seem to favor COLEMAK in terms of distance travelled. But, what I think it’s the definitive advantage is that COLEMAK leaves zxcv (bottom row) in the same spot. This is important because while adapting, you can at least copy and paste (!).

I also like the delete key mapped to caps lock.

I think it’d be easier to switch to COLEMAK from QWERTY; some people keep both skillsets. I have read reports of people switching from DVORAK to COLEMAK too. They mention that they love how you can do finger rolls on COLEMAK.

]]> By: jose http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-33422 jose Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:59:01 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-33422 I think COLEMAK builds on the experiences of former DVORAK users. The stats seem to favor COLEMAK in terms of distance travelled. But, what I think it's the definitive adva I think COLEMAK builds on the experiences of former DVORAK users. The stats seem to favor COLEMAK in terms of distance travelled. But, what I think it’s the definitive adva

]]> By: Chaim http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-33417 Chaim Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:09:41 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-33417 Jose, Why did you choose COLEMAK over DVORAK? Jose,

Why did you choose COLEMAK over DVORAK?

]]> By: Sir Owlpal http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/comment-page-1/#comment-33355 Sir Owlpal Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:27:50 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/2008/learning-the-colemak-keyboard-layout/#comment-33355 Why not try it out with an illuminated keyboard to help find the keys better? Why not try it out with an illuminated keyboard to help find the keys better?

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