You maybe be using the QWERTY keyboard layout for a long time now, as many people have been. Most probably, you think there is no other layout available. As a matter of fact, there are two others that have escaped your attention - COLEMAK and the DVORAK keyboards. It helps to know about the distinctive features of these popular layouts, as well as how you can make use of a file manager to enhance the functionality of your keyboard.
How do people choose which layout to use? The answer is really quite simple: functionality or the ease of use the particular keyboard provides the user. However, since you have not actually tried the other types of keyboards, perhaps it is best to describe the features of each, including your QWERTY keyboard, for easy functionality comparison.
The layout of the popular QWERTY keyboard follows closely the keyboard of our modern typewriters. The layout was developed by Christopher Sholes to upgrade the inefficient keyboard of the early generation typewriters, which placed most commonly used consonant and vowels keys closely to one another. The result was frequent jamming of keys, rendering the keyboards useless altogether. Today, when you are typing in your QWERTY computer keyboard, you will notice that the most commonly used letters words are arranged in a manner where they are easily reached and all fingers of your hands have specific key assignments for speedy writing.
The DVORAK keyboard was developed to correct some of the observed limitations in the QWERTY layout. In the DVORAK keyboard, frequently used keys are located close to home keys. This means that they are operated by your stronger fingers. Your pinky fingers are assigned only four letters, a definite upgrade since you cannot expect much strength in them and using them less frequently will increase typing speed and probably less mistakes.
Then, you have the Colemak keyboard, the newest of three layouts. The Colemak was developed to include ergonomic features in touch-typing. It is an incredible keyboard innovation. The layout allows you to type 35 more words with just the home row keys. Your hands are comfortably positioned. What’s more, it is reputed to be very easy to learn and you can avail of lessons just about anywhere. Like the DVORAK keyboard, it is designed in such a way that frequently used keys are hit by you stronger fingers.
Your choice of keyboard, of course, will depend on what comes easy for you. If have grown used to QWERTY, you will probably think that there is no need for another. You may be right, as the time to learn a new one will probably slow down whatever job you have in your in-tray.
There will be times, however, when you will wish that your keyboard layout contains all the features you need for you encoding tasks. This is not wishful, actually. You can get yourself a layout manager, which will allow you to choose key layout combinations that are more suitable for the job on hand. The keyboard manager has a window, which displays your standard keyboard through which you can select your preferred combinations. The selected combination is then entered into a combination assignment list, allowing you to refer to it from time to time, making it easier for you to switch from one combination to another.
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Tags: Keyboard Layout, keys layout