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    Colemak for the left-handed?

    • Started by Tony_VN
    • 5 Replies:
    • Reputation: 4
    • Registered: 08-Dec-2010
    • Posts: 656

    I've tried PATOJK analysis
    http://patorjk.com/keyboard-layout-analyzer/

    and seen that Colemak puts more works for the right hand (53% right, 47% left).

    Since I am left handed, I try swap keys in the home row (left to right, right to left) and get a Colemak variation for left-handed (53% left, 47% right)

    colemakleft.jpg

    This layout is pretty close to Colemak and retains a lot of optimizations that Colemak has.

    For you to try the analyzer yourself, go to Layout modification and swap these keys by click on them by pairs.

    What do you think?

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    • Shai
    • Administrator
    • Reputation: 36
    • Registered: 11-Dec-2005
    • Posts: 423

    Once you take into account using the Caps Lock as backspace Colemak hand balance is about 50%/50%. The layout you're suggesting has a lot more same-finger.

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    • From: Viken, Norway
    • Registered: 13-Dec-2006
    • Posts: 5,363

    Looks like you're not taking digraphs into account? They're very important you know.

    *** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
    *** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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    • From: Houston, Texas
    • Registered: 03-Jan-2007
    • Posts: 358

    I am a lefty and standard Colemak gives my left hand plenty of action.  Even if I was not using the Caps Lock for Backspace,  would the balance really be enough of an issue to justify creating a design that the main criteria is skew the balance in the opposite direction.  I appreciate the digraphs I am using in my left hand now.    ar  st  rd  pr  aw  fr  gr  ft  sp  cr  ca  br  ba  sa  as

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    • From: Bristol, UK
    • Registered: 08-May-2007
    • Posts: 12

    I'm a lefty too and I find standard Colemak is fine. One thing that attracted me to Colemak is its even-handedness, unlike Dvorak which considerably favours dextrousness.

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    • From: New York, New York
    • Registered: 22-Nov-2008
    • Posts: 130

    Colemak is pretty balanced as is, and the digraphs very much make it ambidextrously sound. Plus having another layout to support would lead to less support. It's hard to have converts when you splinter and taper off into dozens of layouts. Stick with Colemak, it's awesome and it works for both hands.

    Colemak typist

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