Hello,
I hope this in the correct forum; please move it if it is not.
I have a few questions. This is a fairly lengthy post, but I hope that I have organized it so it should be readable.
A bit about my typing history: I poke typed on the QWERTY keyboard until 18 days ago, when I began attempting to learn the Dvorak keyboard at the same time as I learned 8 finger (plus thumbs) typing. Before switching to Dvorak, I averaged 85-95 WPM with two-finger touch typing on QWERTY, hitting as high as 100 WPM for short bursts. I can currently reach the mid to high 60s WPM with Dvorak and proper typing, although I’m still learning it (I have the layout memorized, but it’s not muscle memory). I use Windows 7 on my computer. My goal is to be able to comfortably type with high accuracy at over 100 WPM for fairly extended periods without causing stress injuries.
Anyway, I was using http://play.typeracer.com/ to practice, since it provides convenient stats tracking, and I saw someone on the latest high scores list reference Colemak. So I decided to research it and ended up here.
Everything I’ve heard about the Colemak sounds good. I noticed that not having “I” on the home eight keys seemed inefficient and that “R” seemed more common than its placement implied. I also found the placement of “F” awkward. Having shortcuts moved so far also proved unhelpful. Still, I am more than happy to accept that if it brings me the relative benefits of Dvorak over QWERTY.
However, if Colemak solves all those problems with additional benefits, then I want to use it. So I ran a test.
Data:
Keyboard analysis (using https://colemak.com/Compare):
I compiled a writing sample of roughly 282,000 words from my writing spanning around three years. The results are:
QWERTY:
Distance: 44602m
Same hand: 36.12%
Same finger: 5.740%
Total keys: 1755823
Number row: 1.742%
Top row: 48.97%
Home row: 31.57%
Bottom row: 17.70%
Colemak:
Distance: 22774m
Same hand: 31.25%
Same finger: 1.490%
Total keys: 1755823
Number row: 1.742%
Top row: 16.29%
Home row: 70.71%
Bottom row: 11.24%
Dvorak:
Distance: 25833m
Same hand: 22.03%
Same finger: 2.543%
Total keys: 1755823
Number row: 1.404%
Top row: 22.98%
Home row: 67.81%
Bottom row: 7.791%
Comments on the data:
QWERTY is the clear loser, and Colemak comes out marginally ahead of Dvorak. This seems sufficient for me to strongly consider switching, but I want to ask a few additional questions. I read in the FAQs that one disadvantage for Dvorak is the difficulty of learning it; however, this doesn’t matter to me, both because I’ve already largely learned Dvorak and because I don’t care how difficult the keyboard is to learn; I want to use the most efficient one.
1. Speed
As makes sense, none of the diagnostic tools I found could tell me how fast the Colemak is relative to the Dvorak. Speed is important to me – it’s one of my biggest reasons for the initial switch. I have read conflicting things about what makes a given setup fast; how do the Colemak and Dvorak compare? How does those mechanics work? I’m sure I’m not the first to ask this, so if there are any additional materials explaining these mechanics in more depth (I’ve already read the FAQ), I would love to read them.
2. Accuracy
I read that Dvorak makes people more accurate than QWERTY and that this effect increases over time. Is the same true for Colemak? What factors apply here and how do the different layouts compare? This is naturally related to my first question as well, since fewer mistakes increases speed.
3. Shortcuts
I assume Colemak wins here hands-down (since I’ve looked at the layout), but I just want to know if there is anything else important to know regarding this. What are the relative benefits here?
4. Number row
I must confess that this doesn’t exclusively deal with Colemak vs. Dvorak, but I’m hoping someone can still answer this question. What’s the proper way to type using the number row? I find that the biggest hits to my speed come when I have to type out strings of numbers using the number row. My current thinking is (although I haven’t yet memorized it – “Finger” refers to the home row position of the finger on the Dvorak keyboard)
Key: ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 [ ] BS
Finger: a a o e e u u h h t n s s s
What is the optimal approach here? I assume it might differ some, since Colemak has a better option for hitting backspace than Dvorak or QWERTY (which I must note is a brilliant use of the otherwise useless caps lock key), so does that affect it? What’s the current thinking here?
5. Learning tools
I found several helpful websites to learn the Dvorak layout, primarily http://gigliwood.com/abcd/lessons/. Are there equivalent aids for learning the Colemak?
Finally, if there are any other important considerations I have missed, please let me know. I do a lot of typing (planning on Political Theory for college and then to law school) and I do polyphasic sleeping, so I’m awake a ridiculous amount, so I really want to make sure I’m using the optimal typing techniques and layout. It appears that Colemak meets those criterion fairly well, but before I change layouts again, I just want to make sure that Colemak is the best layout for me (a lot of English writing; no coding, for instance) and not some alternative like Capewell or BUL layouts, which I saw some people claiming were superior (e.g. http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/carpalx/?full_optimization).
Thank you in advance for your help!
EDIT:
I have three more questions. First, what is the Dvorak "weak pinky" layout? Several programs have referenced it (e.g. http://www.codesharp.co.uk/dvorak/Default.aspx), yet I haven't been able to find what that layout actually looks like.
Also, I have read more about the Workman layout (http://viralintrospection.wordpress.com … d-layouts/) and read some threads on this forum about it. It sounds like a potentially viable alternative; what's the general thinking on it? Any links to particularly helpful resources or threads would be appreciated. I also saw people discussing the Imak layout. What is that setup and what are its strengths and weaknesses?
Finally, I have an Android phone. I have seen indications that there are mobile phone apps for Colemak. Is the same true for other layouts? Can anyone with experience in that area tell me a bit about their experiences there or direct to me relevant discussions?
EDIT 2:
After reading about twenty times what I ever expected to for this, I have decided to try Colemak. The two alternatives I was still considering both appear to have more problems.
I was most interested in the Carpalx "improved Colemak" layouts. However, after reading this post (https://forum.colemak.com/viewtopic.php?id=728) and looking at the layouts, I'm unsure that it's actually better. The other layout I considered strongly was the "fully optimized" QGMLWY layout. However, since it has both a higher base score and more same finger (I believe), I think I'll try Colemak first.
I'm still curious if anyone has any feedback, comments, or advice for me. I'd be especially interested in any feedback people have regarding which fingers to use on the number row, since I found a graphic indicating that my thinking was different from the generally expected finger usage for the number row. Thanks.