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Dvorak proponents claim the layout requires less finger motion and reduces errors compared to the standard QWERTY[1][2] keyboard arrangement. It is claimed that the reduction in finger distance traveled permits faster typing while also reducing repetitive strain injuries,[3] although that claim is controversial.[4][5] The Dvorak layout was designed to replace the QWERTY keyboard pattern (the de facto standard keyboard layout, so named for the starting letters in the top row). The Dvorak pattern was designed with the belief that it would significantly increase typing speeds with respect to the QWERTY layout. Dvorak believed that there were many problems with the original QWERTY keyboard pattern such as:[7]
• Many common letter combinations require awkward finger motions.
• Many common letter combinations require a finger to jump over the home row.
• Many common letter combinations are typed with one hand. (e.g. was, were)
• Most typing is done with the left hand, which for most people is not the dominant hand.
• About 16% of typing is done on the lower row, 52% on the top row and only 32% on the home row.

Dvorak studied letter frequencies and the physiology of the hand and created a new pattern to alleviate the above problems, based on the following principles:[7]

• Letters should be typed by alternating between hands (which makes typing more rhythmic, increases speed, reduces error, and reduces fatigue). On a Dvorak keyboard, vowels are all on the left home row, as well as the most used symbol characters, while the most used consonants are on the right.
• For maximum speed and efficiency, the most common letters and bigrams should be typed on the home row where the fingers rest, and under the strongest fingers (Thus, about 70% of keyboard strokes on the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard are done on the home row and only 22% and 8% on the top and bottom rows respectively).
• The least common letters should be on the bottom row which is the hardest row to reach.
The right hand should do more of the typing because most people are right-handed.

Dvorak Simplified Keyboard .

Makes sense to me.

As I understand it, the standard keyboard was actually designed to slow typist down to avoid key jams in the old mechanical typewriters.