Querty vs Dvorak Keyboard

There are 2 types of keyboard layout. One is called QWERTY and another called DVORAK. Both layout are shown as below:

QWERTY Keyboard Layout

DVORAK Keyboard Layout

Most computer keyboards today are using the QWERTY layout. The name QWERTY comes from the order of the first row of keyboard which looks like "QWERTYUIOP". The QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Sholes in late 1860s. He designed the QUERTY layout base on the first typewriter at that time, which had the hammers arranged in a circle and struck the paper from below. Because they were prone to jamming, Sholes arranged his keys such that pairs of letters which a typist was likely to press in quick succession would not use adjacent hammers. The QWERTY keyboard is not ergonomically designed.

The Dvorak keyboard, named after its inventor, Dr. August Dvorak, on the other hand was designed more ergonomically to make typing easier, faster, and more efficient. The key to its success is the arrangement of the letters -- by having the most commonly used letters in the "home" row, which is the centred position for the typist's hands. According to a study in 1933, with the vowels fall naturally under the left hand and the consonants under the right, your hands naturally alternate When you touch-type on Dvorak, which results in less travel for your fingers while typing on a Drovak keyboard. Here's a simple comparison between Dvorak and QWERTY, using a list of the 100 most common words in written English. This test is to see how easy or hard different words are to type on each layout.

So with all the benefits of Dvorak keyboard, why everyone is still using the QWERTY layout? One main reason given is that it was introduced during the Great Depression, and people weren't about to spend what little money they had on new typewriters when their old ones were built to last. Also when World War II broke out, the War Dept. ordered all typewriter keyboards be set to the most-common standard — Qwerty — and typewriter manufacturers retooled to produce small arms. By the end of the war, Qwerty was cast in concrete.

Even though QWERTY keyboard is the default layout today, most operating systems still give the option to switch to the Dvorak layout. Here are the few ways to convert some of the Operating System from QWERTY to Dvorak keyboard layout:

• Windows XP: Go to Start -> Control Pane, then Regional and Language Options -> Languages -> Details and click "Add." Select "United States-Dvorak" and then press OK. To make it the default, choose "United States-Dvorak" in the Default Input Language drop-down menu.
• Windows Vista: Go to Start -> Control Panel. In the default view, the option is "Change keyboards or other input methods;" If you're using the "Classic View," go to Regional Language Options and select the "Keyboards and Languages" tab. Click the "Change Keyboards" button, and click the "Add" button. Select "United States-Dvorak" and then press OK. To make it the default, choose "United States-Dvorak" in the Default Input Language drop-down menu.
• GNOME: Go to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard -> Layouts and click "Add." For Layouts, select your country, and for Variants, select Dvorak. If a Dvorak layout doesn't appear for your country, then select "USA," "United Kingdom," or another country that has one. To make Dvorak the default layout, click the button under "Default" in the Keyboard Layouts window. To change the key combination used to switch between layouts, go to Layout Options -> Layout Switching and choose one or multiple options.
• KDE: YaST -> Hardware -> Keyboard Layout -> Variant:Dvorak.
• Mac OS X: Open System Preferences (Apple Menu -> System Preferences), choose the "International" tab, choose the "Input Menu" tab from there, and check the box next to "Dvorak." To change between the two at any time, click on the flag on the right of the menu bar, and on the drop-down, click on "Dvorak."
  

After setting your OS to use the Dvorak keyboard layout, you might want to purchase a Dvorak keyboard, or relabel your QWERTY keyboard with the Dvorak key arrangement, or at least print out a layout of Drovak and place it in front of you while practicing with the new layout. It might be a frustrating experience to learn typing all over again with a new keyboard layout, but when you get used to it, you will be amazed by how many words you could type without hardly moving your fingers at all!

Ergonomic and Split Keyboard

You might have heard about both ergonomic and split keyboard before, and wondering if there's any difference between the two. Well, there's slight difference between them, but they basically serve the same purpose -- to promote natural body posture while typing to prevent repetitive stress injury (RSI) caused by a high volume of typing.

What is a Split Keyboard
As the term suggest, a split keyboard is often split into two, sometime three separate parts to allow a more comfortable typing position. A typical split keyboard is separated into two from the middle of the keyboard, while remaining the QWERT keyboard layout on the two slanted halves. Also a split keyboard is usually integrated instead of totally separated, and often comes with wrist support. Sometimes, a split keyboard might be split into 3 sections, with the number pad makes up the third section. This kind of design is especially suitable for those who deal a lot with numbers such as accountants.

The main purpose of a split keyboard is to allow a more comfortable typing position. As it's adjustable, the user can manipulate the split keyboard anyway he or she want, until it's at a position which is optimally comfortable for him or herself. With the flexibility and integrated wrist support that a split keyboard often have, it's definitely worth investing on getting one in order to lower the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. The only disadvantage of a split keyboard, is that it may not be easy, and may take up to several days for a user to get used to a split keyboard.

What is an Ergonomic Keyboard
An ergonomic keyboard, is a more generic term used to describe a keyboard that is designed to promote natural body posture while typing to avoid pain in hands, arms, neck, or shoulders. A split keyboard is a type of ergonomic keyboard, but an ergonomic keyboard is not necessary a split keyboard. It can be an unsplit keyboard with DVORAK layout and with vertical keyboard design. Different manufacturers will have their own ergonomic design which they think is the best for their users.

Normally an ergonomic split keyboard is much more expensive than a normal keyboard. But if you are a heavy keyboard user, it's definitely worth investing into one as it will help to prevent repetitive stress injury. It might be difficult to get use to an ergonomic split keyboard at the beginning, but you can always seek help from several websites and software programs that teach you how to type on a split keyboard.