> I haven't any objective measurements to help this conversation, but it ma=
y
> be useful to remember that the QWERTY layout was designed to
> _intentionally_ slow down the typists in the days of mechanical
> typewriters, where if they typed too fast the hammers would jam...
>

The QWERTY layout was designed to keep common letter combinations at
least a key apart, in order to prevent jams and thereby speeding UP
the typist, not intentionally slowing them.

On the DVORAK subject, I decided learning it wasn't worth the effort,
as the QWERTY is present everywhere I go (smartphone, laptop, desktop,
friend's PCs, coworker's PCs, Linux, Apple, Windows, etc). Even the
different sized enter keys, backspace keys, home / pgdown/ pgup and
number pad between different computers are enough to throw off my
typing speed, never mind a different alphabet layout. Maybe I'm just
stuck in my ways.
--=20
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