THE HISTORY OF DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS 
-------------------------------------- 
Dvorak keyboard layouts are based on designs created by August Dvorak, a 
professor at the University of Washington during the 1930s and 1940s. Dr. 
Dvorak studied the way people type standard English, and determined the 
most common letter combinations. He then designed new keyboard layouts to 
maximise efficiency (by placing common letters on the home row), reduce 
fatigue, and make the stronger fingers of the hands do most of the work. 
These layouts, now called Dvorak or simplified keyboards, were initially 
developed for two-handed typists. Following World War II, Dvorak layouts 
were developed for typists who use the right or left hand alone. 
 
SOME FUNNY AND SAD FACT OF QWERTY KEYBOARD 
------------------------------------------ 
It is well known that the QWERTY keyboard was designed by Christopher 
Sholes to slow typists down, to prevent them from jamming the keys in old 
manual typewriters.

It is surprised that part of the QWERTY layout was driven by the decision 
to place all of the letters in the word "typewriter" on the top row so that 
salesmen wouldn't have to hunt and peck. 
 
INSTALLING A DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUT FOR MS-DOS OR MS-WINDOWS 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
The MS-DOS Supplemental Disk provides the DVORAK.SYS file. This 
file supports the Dvorak keyboard layouts for two-handed and 
single-handed typists who use MS-DOS 6. 
 
To install a United States (US) Dvorak keyboard layout for MS-DOS: 
 
1. Run the Setup program included with the Supplemental disk files. 
   For example, if your Supplemental disk files are on a floppy 
   disk for drive A, insert the disk in drive A, and change to 
   that drive by typing the following at the command prompt: 
 
   A: 
 
   To run the Setup program, you need to specify the drive and directory 
   to which you want to install the files. For example, if you want to 
   install the files on drive C in a directory called SUPP, type 
   the following at the command prompt: 
 
   SETUP C:\SUPP 
 
   Follow the instructions on your screen. 
 
2. Copy the DVORAK.SYS file to the directory that contains your 
   MS-DOS files. For example, if the file is in C:\SUPP and your 
   MS-DOS files are contained in C:\DOS, type the following at 
   the command prompt: 
 
   COPY C:\SUPP\DVORAK.SYS C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS 
  
3. To begin using one of the new keyboard layouts, type the 
   appropriate command (as shown in the table below) at the MS-DOS 
   command prompt and press ENTER. 
       
   Keyboard Layout          Command 
   --------------------------------------------------------- 
   Two-handed Dvorak        KEYB DV,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS 
 
   Right-handed Dvorak      KEYB RH,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS 
 
   Left-handed Dvorak       KEYB LH,,C:\DOS\DVORAK.SYS 
 
To load one of these keyboard layouts automatically when your computer starts, 
include the appropriate KEYB command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The KEYB 
command should be placed after a PATH command that includes your MS-DOS 
directory. If your AUTOEXEC.BAT file includes the win or dosshell command, 
make sure the KEYB command comes before the WIN or DOSSHELL command. 
 
Once you have loaded one of the Dvorak layouts, you can easily switch between 
the Dvorak layout and the U.S. standard layout. 
 
* To switch back to the U.S. standard layout, press CTRL+ALT+F1. 
 
* To switch to the Dvorak layout, press CTRL+ALT+F2. 
 
* To disable the United States (U.S.) Dvorak keyboard layout 
  for MS-DOS 
 
* To disable the United States (U.S.) Dvorak keyboard layout 
  for MS-DOS, delete the line with the KEYB command from your 
  AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 
 
If you are using Windows 3.1, the Dvorak layout is a part of the operating 
system. 
 
To activate the Dvorak layout in Windows, follow these steps: 
 
1. Go to the Control Panel 
2. Select "International" 
3. Select "Country = US" 
4. Select "Language = English (American)" 
5. Select "Keyboard = US Dvorak" 
 
The first time you do this, you may be asked to insert an installation 
disk. This is one of the disks that came with Windows (or with your computer, 
if Windows was preinstalled). 
 
 
TURNING TO USE THE DVORAK KEYBOARD LAYOUTS 
-------------------------------------------
Essentially, the Dvorak keyboard is a style of typing. Actually, you don't 
really have to buy an actual Dvorak keyboard. You are going to type in the 
Dvorak typing style, the most efficient typing style.
 
Dr Dylan James recommended against labelling  your keys, 
but rather to print out the layout and keep the piece of paper next to you as 
you type. This is what a Dvorak typing teachers wanted you to do in the first 
place (if you join a class) and it really works. This is a very effective way 
to help you resist the temptation to look at the keyboard. 
 
Before you decide to turn to Dvorak keyboard, there are some realistic things 
you have to think about, and then sort them out. 
 
If you are a secretary, or a professional typist using computer, you or your 
colleague may have to spend several minutes to install a Dvorak drive program, 
since by default, most computer system present as a QWERTY system. No matter 
how a little trouble in the very beginning, just think about the benefits that 
will come several weeks later, more efficiency, more money, less tiredness, less 
typing injury, more joy. My advice to anyone considering switching is to 
choose a non-stressful week or two in which maximum typing speed isn't 
required. This will keep you from temporarily switching back when you get 
frustrated, which would wreak havoc with your learning.  
 
If you are a boss and want your staff work more efficiently, you are the right 
person to encourage them to turn to the Dvorak keyboard. Maybe they are very 
busy at the moment, learning to type Dvorak may consume many hours, so, you 
may choose a non-stressful week to start to promote the Dvorak. 
 
If you are a student, and just can use network computer in the school, it may 
be hard for you to install a Dvorak program to the computer system. You may 
have to ask the administrator of the network to install it. If you can ask 
some comrades, it may be much easier. 
 
If you are a person who have to always go around various computer system and 
type a lot, it may be a big trouble for you to ask various managers to install 
Dvorak drive program, forge the Dvorak as I did. 
 
If you always stick on the same platform, say, you are a home computer user, 
the Dvorak will be your best choice to save typing time, then you can play 
more games, play more with your family members.