Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> >From: "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com>
>
> >Dvorak doesn't require a special keyboard; you just download a
> >Dvorak keyboard and drag it into your system folder (MacOS) or go
> >to "Properties" in the "Language" panel in the "Keyboard" control
> >panel (Win).
>
> Besides a simple keymapping utility change there is the matter of
> the physical keyboard layout, apparently you are just memorizing
> the new layout (security through obscurity? ;) ). One of my former
> co-workers spent an afternoon once prying off the keys on his IBM
> keyboard and placing them in their new (Dvorak) locations.
That's not a good thing, the keys are subtly angled to reflect their
(current) locations. I'm just memorizing the new layout. If one has
trouble with this, just buy a set of temporary key caps or print out a map
and keep it nearby. If you're looking at the keys while you type, that's
already a bad habit, and Dvorak is a good way to break it.
Legend has it that Dvorak is more effective than any password at
preventing unauthorized use of one's computer, but I rather doubt it,
unless the would-be system breaker doesn't know where the Keyboards
control panel is.
> >Besides which, it's not the typing speed, it's the effort.
>
> Less effort=more speed n'est pas?
Not necessarily. I know that the limiting speed of my own typing is more
often thought speed than typing speed - certainly for stuff like "Friendly
AI", less so for code. I don't really try to push my speed all that often
- in fact, I'm trying to push it right now and it's an interesting
experience - I just type at an ordinary relaxed rate. Dvorak is certainly
much more relaxing if that's what you're doing, and it's also possible to
push yourself without breaking your fingers in half.
-- -- -- -- --
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 10:00:04 MDT