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Dvorak Keyboard Typing: Free Tutorial Read (Teaching yourself the Dvorak keyboard) first. This tutorial assumes that you have a keyboard diagram with guide lines. (Print a Dvorak keyboard diagram) in front of you, and that you change your keyboard to Dvorak using the supplied directions, in your software. (Type on a Dvorak keyboard in 30 seconds) This is for those who prefer a more structured learning. First, copy this tutorial to your word processor. Go to Edit, at the top of your screen, choose Select All, click Copy, go to your word processor, and then click Paste (from the Edit menu). This will give you a copy on your computer to work with. When finished, do not save the changes, this will allow your tutorial to be used again. Place your cursor at the end of a line, press ‘Enter’, to put the curser below the line, and copy the line which is now above, for example: You can type faster with Dvorak, using less effort. You can type faster with Dvorak, using less effort. You can type fastar with Dvarak usinggg | Both your correct typing as well as your errors will be readily visible. Do not save the changes. This tutorial will teach you the layout of the keys. These instructions are based on learning science, and should be followed carefully, to insure maximum use of your time. If you want help ‘finding’ the home row keys at first, make the ‘soft keys’ as described in Dvorak keyboard buy or make your own. This however, will not be necessary for most. Using this process, I was able to learn the keyboard, (type without looking, most of the time) in a little over an hour. But never mind the time, stick with it, it will come. Work in 30 minute time periods with at least a 5 min break in between. First, let’s learn the home row keys. Set up the keyboard diagram near your monitor. You have already set your keyboard to Dvorak. ( see instructions). Print, and set up this tutorial so as to be easily seen, and copied. Your posture should be erect, with your hands suspended over the keys ‘with air under your palms and wrists’, with only the fingertips touching the keyboard, your forearms horizontal. Keys should be stroked ‘as if they were red hot’. And of course, fingers should stay on their assigned letters on the 'home row', leaving only to strike another key, then returning. Place your fingers on the shaded letters AOEU and HTNS. Go slowly. Type no faster than 1 key per second. Type: aoeu htns aoeu htns aoeu htns aoeu htns aoeu htns The I is typed using the finger that types the U. Your finger should leave the U key, go to the I key, then return to the U key. This should be done each time that you type ‘UI’. This is to begin to train your mind and fingers to see a letter, and type, eventually without thinking. Do the same with this whole lesson. This is different and more effective than just putting your finger on the key and pressing 5 times. The D is typed with the same finger used to type the H. As before, Your finger should leave the H key, go to the D key, then return to the H key. This should be done each time that you type ‘HD’. This is to begin to train your mind and fingers to see a letter, and type, eventually without thinking. Do the same with this whole lesson. This is different and more effective than just putting your finger on the key and pressing 5 times. aoeui dhtns aoeui dhtns aoeui dhtns aoeui dhtns aoeui dhtns iueoa snthd iueoa snthd iueoa dhtns iueoa snthd Using the home row alone, we can type 5000 words. the and to that it he on as his at this one had not said do she these other into has see out no than its did tha hat ent ion tio has tho Repeat 5 times, resting for a minute between. Repeat until comfortable. Now, let’s learn our first letter on the top row - Type S-l-o-w-l-y.R is typed using ONLY the finger that also strikes the N. Your finger should leave the N key, go to the R key, then return to the N key. This should be done each time that you type ‘NR’. This is to begin to train your mind and fingers to see a letter, and type, eventually without thinking. Do the same with this whole lesson. This is different and more effective than just putting your finger on the key and pressing 5 times.Type: nr nr nr nr nr rn rn rn rise raise reason ridden ride road P is typed using ONLY the finger that also strikes the U.up up up up up pu pu pu pu pass past put paid pain do not raise pain The L is typed using ONLY the finger that also strikes the S.sl sl sl sl sl sl ls ls list lot lid last lens lad The C is typed using ONLY the finger that also strikes the T.tc tc tc tc tc tc ct ct cat cot act could include oct the cat acted on the cot The G is typed using ONLY the finger that strikes the H.hg hg hg hg hg gh gh gh gh get thing together go gather The y is typed using ONLY the finger that strikes the U.uy uy uy uy uy uy yu yu yu yu yahoo yet your they day pay The F Is typed using ONLY the finger used to type the H.hf hf hf hf hf hf hf fh fh fh fh for fish puff fort father fad the fish fry is here The M comes from the H finger.hm hm hm hm hm hm mh mh mh met may him me ham man The K Is done with the U finger.uk uk uk uk uk uk ku ku ku kid keg kit keep kick The W comes from the T finger, (not from Texas).tw tw tw tw tw tw wt wt wt wit wind sew wad wood wig The wig was on the keg The B is the H finger.hb hb hb hb hbhb bh bh been bet bed bulb boat but The N finger pushes the V button.nv nv nv nv nv nv vn vn vn valley vale bevil very voice value the valley has been windy U types X.ux ux ux ux ux ux xu xu xu xu box xenon xeno xero xerxes x ray E types J.ej ej ej ej ej ej je je je je jab jam jail jib jest jet jab the box for jest S does Z.sz sz sz sz sz sz zs zs zs zone zoom zero zest zinc zig O does Q.oq oq oq oq oq qo qo qo quad quake quart queen quilt quiz Now, you have typed the alphabet. The punctuation, , . ‘’ ‘ <> / ? = + [ { } } ] | ; : 1234567890!@#$%^&*(), is done the same way using the fingers indicated by the lines on the diagram. Use the shift key for capitals and the ‘upper punctuation’. After you have a degree of accuracy, you can move on to speed training. For additional practice, copy text from a book or magazine, using the directions above. For other tutorials…… www.mit.edu:8001/people/jcb/dvorak/dvorak-course/ Mavis Beacon 5 typing course has Dvorak , later versions do not. Write them a letter……The Dvortyboards site (Resources) has a free downloadable (2MB) interactive tutorial on their page. © 2002 Malcolm Greenway |