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As for being proficient in two keyboard layouts (I call it "bikeyboardal"), it's definitely possible. I type extensively at work in QWERTY and extensively at h

As for being proficient in two keyboard layouts (I call it "bikeyboardal"), it's definitely possible. I type extensively at work in QWERTY and extensively at home in dvorak. I can mentally switch without taking a hit. Sometimes I'll come into work on a Monday and start furiously typing in dvorak and have to delete it and switch. It's just a mental on/off switch, though. Once I remember to type in the correct layout, I'm just as fast. It took me a long time to get there, though. As soon as I started learning dvorak I lost most of my proficiency in qwerty and for a long ramping up time measured in weeks, I would be terrible in both. Muscle memory is strong. I kept having to figure out which layout I was using at the muscle/nerve level. So learning a new layout, especially when you've been typing so long, will be a hit on your productivity and will be a lesson in humility (at least it was for me as I naively assumed it would be easy). I'm a touch typist who doesn't look at the actual keys much, if that helps. The only thing that bothers me about typing in dvorak is that a lot of games or programs want to use WASD or hjkl to control a game or to move the cursor around. I have learned to use dvorak in vim without issue, but if I'm playing a roguelike (angband, for example) I'll switch back to qwerty to make it easier. On the plus side, it completely solved the problem I was having, which was pain in my pinky fingers and the side of my hand. That went away after I added dvorak and never came back.

prirun 5y ago
I saw a post on HN a while back and the poster was talking about using pinky for backspace because that avoided twisting the wrist. While that is true, it requires stretching the hand and fingers. To avoid this stretch, you have to move your whole arm. I hit backspace with my ring finger because while it does require flexing the wrist a bit, it doesn't require any stretching or arm movement (on my hand). I play piano, and figuring out which fingers to use is a big deal to minimize stretching that can lead to tension. So for anyone stretching their hand or fingers to reach keys, I'd suggest you give a longer finger a try. I touch type also, but never use my pinkies for anything on the number row.
- godshatter 5y ago
  Interesting. I'll do that. I can't hit the key without removing my finger from the 'J' key but I can still do so if I move my wrist and not my arm.
  - prirun 5y ago
    You want to remove your finger from the J key. If you don't, you're back to stretching your hand. Here's an experiment: stretch your hand out as wide as you can and try to move your fingers up and down. Doesn't work so great. Now leave your fingers relaxed, like they are laying on a ball and try the same motion. Much easier! When I hit Backspace, my index finger is on the bottom edge of the 0 key, where 0, O and P intersect, because my index finger is shorter than my ring finger. While hitting Backspace, all my fingers are straight - no hand stretching. I do have pretty big hands, so that's a factor too. If I wanted to (I don't!) I could leave my index finger on J and reach backspace with my pinkie by twisting my wrist. Or I can leave it on J and stretch to reach BS with my ring finger, but that's an uncomfortable stretch that would put my head in an uproar within a day.

prirun 5y ago

I saw a post on HN a while back and the poster was talking about using pinky for backspace because that avoided twisting the wrist. While that is true, it requires stretching the hand and fingers. To avoid this stretch, you have to move your whole arm. I hit backspace with my ring finger because while it does require flexing the wrist a bit, it doesn't require any stretching or arm movement (on my hand). I play piano, and figuring out which fingers to use is a big deal to minimize stretching that can lead to tension. So for anyone stretching their hand or fingers to reach keys, I'd suggest you give a longer finger a try. I touch type also, but never use my pinkies for anything on the number row.

godshatter 5y ago
Interesting. I'll do that. I can't hit the key without removing my finger from the 'J' key but I can still do so if I move my wrist and not my arm.
- prirun 5y ago
  You want to remove your finger from the J key. If you don't, you're back to stretching your hand. Here's an experiment: stretch your hand out as wide as you can and try to move your fingers up and down. Doesn't work so great. Now leave your fingers relaxed, like they are laying on a ball and try the same motion. Much easier! When I hit Backspace, my index finger is on the bottom edge of the 0 key, where 0, O and P intersect, because my index finger is shorter than my ring finger. While hitting Backspace, all my fingers are straight - no hand stretching. I do have pretty big hands, so that's a factor too. If I wanted to (I don't!) I could leave my index finger on J and reach backspace with my pinkie by twisting my wrist. Or I can leave it on J and stretch to reach BS with my ring finger, but that's an uncomfortable stretch that would put my head in an uproar within a day.