The keyboard is irrelevant if you don’t look at the keys, it’s the keyboard layout that’s relevant, and that’s a software setting. I was very confused the first time I used a computer whose keyboard layout had been changed to Dvorak.
But there is something of a problem if you share a computer with someone who uses Qwerty, I guess. Switching back and forth might get annoying (although maybe you can set an AutoHotKey to do it?).
Other people use my computer fairly often, and I just set it to shift back and forth with command+shift+1. I can change it before I give it to them, so others won’t even know if I don’t want them to.
What do keyboards have to do with typing system? The keyboard really just tells the system which keys have been pressed, interpreting that as QWERTY or Colemak or Dvorak input (or even stenographic cords) is entirely up to the computer receiving that data.
If you are trusted enough to make minor personalization changes to computers (installing Colemak or Dvorak), then it’s maybe 1-2 minutes to get typing at full speed at any arbitrary computer. If you aren’t, then you should spend the effort to get a better job instead.
Still, I must admit it hadn’t occurred to me to simply change the software and ignore the symbols on the hardware. I had always encountered alternate keyboard layouts in the context of purchasing physical keyboards, for some reason.
Yeah, I’d find the school IT guy and ask about non-qwerty keyboard layouts. You can try get that set up on your school account. If that’s not possible because they lock down everything, then go ahead and learn to touch-type on qwerty (in addition to either Colemak or Dvorak).
The thing with being in middle school or high school is that you have a lot more ability than children, and a lot more time than adults. It’s the perfect place to spend some time learning to touch-type, or make chainmail, or practice doing return-on-investment and value-of-information calculations, or whatever.
he keyboard really just tells the system which keys have been pressed, interpreting that as QWERTY or Colemak or Dvorak input (or even stenographic cords) is entirely up to the computer receiving that data.
Strictly speaking, not so (anymore?). Among other things, my USB mouse can transmit keystrokes. However, the computer can still respond in any manner to any input, including treating one letter as another. I think that macros executed in hardware could be royally borked by such a substitution, however.
What if you spend a lot of time using keyboards purchased by someone else?
The keyboard is irrelevant if you don’t look at the keys, it’s the keyboard layout that’s relevant, and that’s a software setting. I was very confused the first time I used a computer whose keyboard layout had been changed to Dvorak.
But there is something of a problem if you share a computer with someone who uses Qwerty, I guess. Switching back and forth might get annoying (although maybe you can set an AutoHotKey to do it?).
Other people use my computer fairly often, and I just set it to shift back and forth with command+shift+1. I can change it before I give it to them, so others won’t even know if I don’t want them to.
I have to admit, I hadn’t thought of that.
No need for AHK, layout-switching shortcuts exist in every operating system I’ve used.
Keyboard covers can solve the hardware side of this problem.
What do keyboards have to do with typing system? The keyboard really just tells the system which keys have been pressed, interpreting that as QWERTY or Colemak or Dvorak input (or even stenographic cords) is entirely up to the computer receiving that data.
If you are trusted enough to make minor personalization changes to computers (installing Colemak or Dvorak), then it’s maybe 1-2 minutes to get typing at full speed at any arbitrary computer. If you aren’t, then you should spend the effort to get a better job instead.
Well, my “job” is a high school, so …
Still, I must admit it hadn’t occurred to me to simply change the software and ignore the symbols on the hardware. I had always encountered alternate keyboard layouts in the context of purchasing physical keyboards, for some reason.
Yeah, I’d find the school IT guy and ask about non-qwerty keyboard layouts. You can try get that set up on your school account. If that’s not possible because they lock down everything, then go ahead and learn to touch-type on qwerty (in addition to either Colemak or Dvorak).
The thing with being in middle school or high school is that you have a lot more ability than children, and a lot more time than adults. It’s the perfect place to spend some time learning to touch-type, or make chainmail, or practice doing return-on-investment and value-of-information calculations, or whatever.
Strictly speaking, not so (anymore?). Among other things, my USB mouse can transmit keystrokes. However, the computer can still respond in any manner to any input, including treating one letter as another. I think that macros executed in hardware could be royally borked by such a substitution, however.