Keyboard Layout: Dvorak vs Colemak: is it Worthwhile to Improve the Dvorak Layout?

[Ian Kelly]

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 12:11 AM, Xah Lee <xahlee at gmail.com> wrote:
> numerical keypad is useful to many. Most people can't touch type. Even
> for touch typist, many doesn't do the number keys. So, when they need
> to type credit, phone number, etc, they go for the number pad.

It's not about being *able* to touch type with the number keys in the
main section.  When you're doing primarily numerical data entry, the
number pad is typically much faster to touch type with than the main
number keys.  In the main section, the number keys are too far removed
from the home row to be able to type with any speed, and if you
reposition your hands directly above them then the Enter, decimal, and
Shift keys are no longer easily accessible.  Touch typing on the
number pad gives you everything you're likely to need in easy reach of
your right hand, and if you need something else as well then your left
hand is free to hover over it.