The Dvorak keyboard is an ergonomic alternative to the layout commonly found on typewriters and computers known as "Qwerty". The Qwerty keyboard was designed in the 1870s to accommodate the slow mechanical movement of early typewriters. When it was designed, touch typing literally hadn't even been thought of yet! It's hardly an efficient design for today's use. By contrast, the Dvorak (pronounced "duh-VOR-ack", not like the Czech composer!) keyboard was designed with emphasis on typist comfort, high productivity and ease of learning -- it's much easier to learn! There were several variations in the Dvorak's design in its first few decades, but these were settled when the American National Standards Institute approved a standard for the layout of the Dvorak in 1982. The diagram above shows the standard layout as adapted for PC use.

Because computers weren't even a researcher's dream in the late 1920s and 30s, the Dvorak design took about 12 years to perfect, and included extensive study of languages using the Roman alphabet (mostly English), the physiology of the hand, and practical studies. Dr. Dvorak (Univ. of Washington, Seattle; b.1894, d.1975) used his research to design two other keyboards specifically for people with only one hand (one each for the right and left), which allow amputees to type very easily and efficiently.

The Dvorak has the most-used consonants on the right side of the home row, and the vowels on the left side of the home row. Among other design features, it is set up to facilitate keying in a back-and-forth motion -- (right hand, then left hand, then right, etc.) When the same hand has to be used for more than one letter in a row (e.g., the common t-h), it is designed not only to use different fingers when possible (to make keying quicker and easier), but also to progress from the outer fingers to the inner fingers ("inboard stroke flow") -- it's easier to drum your fingers this way (try it on the tabletop). The back-and-forth flow obviously makes typing quicker and easier: try typing the word "minimum" on the Qwerty keyboard, then look how you'd type it on Dvorak. The design puts fully 70% of all English keystrokes on the home row (only 32% of Qwerty's are on the home row), making Dvorak much easier, faster, and -- probably (no formal studies have been done as yet) -- less likely to result in carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries.

For more information on the Dvorak layout, we recommend two levels of information. Freelance Communications is the exclusive distributor of Typewriting Behavior, Dr. Dvorak's 546-page book on his keyboard's research and design -- it's a classic! The book was printed in 1936, and there will never be any more. For a less technical overview of the Dvorak layout, Randy Cassingham's 1985 book The Dvorak Keyboard clearly explains what's "wrong" with Qwerty and what's "right" about the Dvorak, gives a nice overview on how the Dvorak layout was designed, including its evolution since 1936, and contains an overview of the one-handed layouts.

For more information: We are the exclusive distributor of Randy Cassingham's book on the Dvorak layout, rare copies of the 1936 book that introduced the Dvorak's design, and other printed Dvorak information! Click here for ordering info.