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Dvorak keyboard layout (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The encyclopedia article on the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, covering the 1932 patent application, later standardization and the economists' critique of the Dvorak claims.
- How much weight it carries
- Community-edited and heavily referenced to the original Dvorak and Navy materials and to academic critiques. Use it for dates and for the existence of the critiques; read the cited papers for their arguments.
Facts taken from this source
- The American National Standards Institute designated the Dvorak keyboard as an alternative standard keyboard layout in 1982.
“The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) designated the Dvorak keyboard as an alternative standard keyboard layout in 1982” (Standards section)
- In an experiment run by Dvorak, 2,700 high school students who took Dvorak typing classes learned the layout in one-third the time it took to learn QWERTY.
“The experiment put 2,700 high school students through Dvorak typing classes and found that students learned Dvorak in one-third the time it took to learn QWERTY.” (Early history section)
- By letter-frequency analysis, about 70 percent of letter keystrokes on the Dvorak layout fall on the home row, about 22 percent on the top row and 8 percent on the bottom row.
“About 70% of letter keyboard strokes on Dvorak are done on the home row and only 22% and 8% on the top and bottom rows respectively.” (Design section)
- The Dvorak layout's designers claim that keeping more strokes on the home row means fewer finger movements, allowing a typist to type faster, more accurately and with less strain on the hand and fingers.
“allowing a typist to type faster, more accurately, and with less strain to the hand and fingers” (Design section)
- August Dvorak and William Dealey patented the Dvorak layout in 1936 as a faster and more ergonomic alternative to QWERTY for typing English.
“It was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak and his brother-in-law, William Dealey, as a faster and more ergonomic alternative for typing English” (Lead section)
- Wikipedia says Dvorak and Dealey applied for a patent on their keyboard layout in 1932.
“the layout for which Dvorak & Dealey applied for a patent in 1932” (Original layout)
- In the GSA study by Earle Strong, retraining QWERTY typists to Dvorak until they regained their earlier speed took 100 hours of training, more than the Navy test had claimed.
“which took 100 hours of training, more than was claimed in Dvorak's Navy test” (Government studies section)
- The 1956 General Services Administration study by Earle Strong used a sample of ten people in each group, and found Dvorak no more efficient than QWERTY.
“In 1956, a study with a sample of 10 people in each group conducted by Earle Strong of the U.S. General Services Administration found Dvorak no more efficient than QWERTY” (Government studies section)
- Wikipedia says the economists Stan Liebowitz and Stephen E. Margolis wrote articles in the Journal of Law and Economics in the 1990s.
“In the 1990s, economists Stan Liebowitz and Stephen E. Margolis wrote articles in the Journal of Law and Economics” (Criticism)
- Economists Liebowitz and Margolis wrote in 1990 that the best-documented experiments and recent ergonomic studies suggest little or no advantage for the Dvorak keyboard.
“the best-documented experiments, as well as recent ergonomic studies, suggest little or no advantage for the Dvorak keyboard.” (Economists' critique section)