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Introduction - One Hand Typing and One Handed KeyboardsAn overview of all of the one hand typing options, one hand keyboards and alternative keyboard layouts like One Hand Dvorak. Including how to analyze which is best for each person.To learn how to use the normal keyboard with one hand, click here.There are many ways to type with one hand. I type with one hand. I lost most of my left hand when I was 10 years old in an accident. By High School I was able do from 40 - 80 wpm, depending on the amount of diet soda and sleep I 'd had! . I was usually the fastest typist in my class - competing on the same NORMAL keyboard with my two handed peers (no adaptive equipment).See video clip of how I typeToday I have eight books in the marketplace, several best sellers. I typed every word of those manuscripts myself and. I feel very strongly that typing on the same keyboard all of my two handed peers use has been a very good thing for my self-esteem, my employability, and thinking skills in general. Why? When considering which alternative is best, you must answer these questions first:
Let's explore each of those issues for the One Handed Typist:OR,Never mind Lilly, I trust you, I don't have time to read all of this, I just want to know what I need to buy for my 12 or under child who needs to type with one hand.HOW FAST WILL THE USER BE ABLE TO TYPE ONCE THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHED?Speed of the accomplished one handed typists seems to be about the same on all of the systems available. In theory, those using One Handed Dvorak should be faster. But research shows that is just not the case. Besides, there are just not enough people who went on with One Handed Dvorak to confirm that theory. I, for instance, use the normal keyboard, I do 40 to 80 wpm (depending on the amount of sleep and coffee I have in my system!). HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE A ONE HANDED TYPIST TO LEARN THE ONE HANDED SYSTEM?Learning time will be fastest for those who never were speed touch typists if they use the normal keyboard and One Hand Qwerty. Most people have at least played with a normal keyboard, and have a vague idea where the keys are. Learning time will be faster for those who WERE speed touch typist with two hands before their disability if they use Half Qwerty. As to how long it actually is going to take, well how long did it take you to learn to read? How long did it take the person in the desk next to you? How long it takes to learn one hand typing has NOTHING to do with using one hand one two. It will depend on the user. Some memorize where the keys are -- without looking -- in a few hours. For others, it takes a few months. WILL THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ALTERNATIVE BE AROUND IN 10 YEARS?Of course we can only guess at the answer to this. But if we look at the life span of the average small computer manufacturer, then we have cause to worry. What will your user do if they are trained on an alternative keyboard, which eventually breaks down, and the company is gone? Well, they will go back to the normal Qwerty keyboard and start over learning what I suggest you try in the first place. One thing is fairly certain, when the starship Enterprise really does launch, there is going to be a normal QWERTY keyboard on board. WILL THE USER STAY WITH THE ALTERNATIVE? OR WILL THE PREFER TO 'FIT IN' WITH THEIR PEERS WHO EITHER DO NOT USE A KEYBOARD, OR HUNT AND PECK SLOWLY ON THE NORMAL KEYBOARD?I do a survey every few years, the last was to over 9000 people: OT's, teachers, amputees, and many others with disabilities. I asked them, "Of any of the people you know, who were taught to use an alternatives to a normal keyboard, how many are now actually using that alternative in the workplace?" IS THE "GOOD" HAND STRONG? CAN IT TAKE THE BURDEN NORMALLY SHARED BY TWO HANDS?If one hand has good usage, then, although harder on the hands, the standard ONE HAND QWERTY is perhaps the best choice for two reasons. WILL THE REASON THE HAND/ARM IS DISABLED GO AWAY WITH TIME? PERHAPS AN INJURY THAT WILL HEAL?
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