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> lest I find myself embarrassingly useless when presenting on a random work computer that doesn’t support this I use a completely custom layout one a small ke
by lawn 3y ago
> lest I find myself embarrassingly useless when presenting on a random work computer that doesn’t support this
I use a completely custom layout one a small keyboard you're describing, but I can still type just as well (in fact even faster) on a regular keyboard with a regular keymap.
This fear is completely overblown. As long as you sometimes use a regular keyboard, you will retain your muscle memory.
- fake-name 3y agoI cannot do this. Just because you can do so easily does not mean everyone can. I am apparently unable to segment my muscle memory like you seem to be able to (I'm actually jealous you can do that!).
- gumby 3y agoI don't think it's any different from, say, speaking other languages or switching back and forth from countries that drive on different sides. These things just become automatic.
- eichin 3y agoBut that's not universal either; I have a friend who started losing english vocabulary when they first learned french. (The collected-anecdote metaphor (not, afaik backed up by any particular cognitive science) seems to be having "slots" for language, one-vs-two-vs-many...)
- lawn 3y agoI just think it comes down to practice, like being able to speak multiple languages or program in different programming languages. And something that can help is to differentiate your layout physically. In my case an entirely different keyboard, but even something like pressing space with the other hand can help keep them separate.
- tevon 3y agoCompletely agree, however when I customized a standard keyboard, I DID have issues switching back. Now I've customized an ortholinear split hand keyboard, and my brain seems to keep this as a completely separate mental map and I have no issues switching to my laptop keyboard anymore.