Ola Lindberg

I have been using Svorak (a Swedish variant of the Dvorak keyboard layout) for some years, so I’ve had the chance to use it under some different operative systems. The standard Dvorak layout is available in all (?) operative systems but the Swedish variant is available out of the box in Linux only. Luckily there are ways to install a layout, that you then can select from your keyboard settings, it in both Windows and Mac OS X. It works fine for the most part.

One issue I have been dabbling with a lot is that when switching between layouts, both OS X and Windows, it changes per application. This means that if you have Firefox and Notepad opened you’ll have to switch layout twice to get it in both applications. It’s really annoying if you switch a lot (for example if you do pair programming and switch every 10 minutes). Other annoiances are that multiple layouts sometimes seems to cause problems with inconsistent shortcuts between the layouts (i.e. ctrl-c means ctrl-c in one layout but not in the other).

Svorak with AutoHotkey

Instead of installing a keyboard layout I’m now running AutoHotkey to remap my keys. It’s a tool that allows you to create macros, so I have one (big) macro that remaps my layout from Swedish to Svorak. It works perfectly! It also makes it easy to customizatie my layout (e.g. swap CapsLock with the Left Shift key). AutoHotkey also allows to generate an executable file that’s easy to put on a USB stick and bring to other computers. Just start it and it remaps the keys. Close (or pause) it and you’ll get the Swedish layout back.

The Svorak A1 layout extended for the Kinesis Contoured

Since I’m using the Kinesis Contoured keyborad I wanted a layout optimized for that. My modifications to the Svorak A1 layout are:

• Swap CapsLock and Left Shift. It made Shift much easier to reach.
• Duplicate all AltGr key compinations from the right hand to the left. I did this to be able to write for example curly brackets with two hands instead of stretching one. (There is one layout called Svorak A5 that also have the AltGr combinations on the left side similar to mine so check that out as well)
• I’ll probably remapp the Insert key to some better location than the standard (for the Contoured keyboard); Keypad + < combination.

I created different tray icons for Swedish and Svorak but I couldn’t get AutoHotkey to change between them. Hopefully I’ll be able to fix that later.

Download my Svorak A1 (extended for the Kinesis Contoured) AutoHotkey script file (you’ll need to install AutoHotkey as well). Download icon and layout files

Svorak with PortableKeyboardLayout

Another flexible way of remapping the keyboard layout is to use the tool PortableKeyboardLayout. It currently supports several different layouts but not Svorak so you’ll need to install both the program and then add the layout by copying it to the layouts folder. You’ll also need to change the layouts definition in pkl.ini to: layout = dvorak-svorak-a1:Svorak A1 (Extended). Several different configuration possibilities are available, unfortunately I couldn’t find any documentation (the project is really new so that’s probably change soon!).

I ran this for a while and it worked fine! I had some issues with some GTK applications (i.e. Inkscape) but try it out. It’s really nice!

Download my Svorak A1 (Extended for Kinesis Contoured) PortableKeyboardLayout (you’ll need to install PortableKeyboardLayout). This file also contains the layout (SvorakA1Extended.klc) for the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. This file was used to generate the PortableKeyboardLayout file but it can also be used as a native keyboard driver. See Microsoft KeyboardLayout Creator help for more information about that.

PortableKeyboardLayout has the possibility to display an image of the layout you are using. Unfortunately couldn’t I manage to generate the image in the correct format so there aren’t any such image for the Svorak A1 layout.

Coffee Driven Development introduced me to the personal productivity technique Pomodoro and it feels a bit familiar with how I usually work.

Some years ago I started to use Workrave as a break reminder to ease the pains in my hands. At first it was a bit frustrating (to take 5 min breaks every 30 min of keyboarding) but after a while I noticed that it was easier to focus on the tasks. I also noticed that it was easier to solve problems I was stuck with after letting it go for 5 minutes. The stress levels also decreased since you get a natural way to track what you are working with and get rid of the items on your TODO list.

I can’t recommend working in ~30 minutes chunks enough and Workrave works perfect to remind you! If your’e on the Mac AntiRSI is a great tool!

I have been using a Kinesis Advantage keyboard for half a year now and I think it’s a great keyboard. My hands feels more relaxed now than before and my RSI symptoms have decreased dramatically.

Since I mostly use a Swedish variant of Dvorak (Svorak-A1) I had some problems finding the built in shortcuts for selecting different settings on the layout (the shortcuts mentioned in the manual doesn’t work the same way on a Swedish layout as on a En/Us layout).

On a Swedish version of the Advantage, use the following shortcuts instead

Turn on and off audible tones (sounds for Caps Lock / Num Lock)

• Program + (?+\)

Turn on and off key clicks

• Program + (*’)

Instant Configuration

• (´`) + (w) for “Windows mode”
• (´`) + (p) for “non Windows mode” (use this for international Windows layout and in Linux)
• (´`) + (m) for “Macintosh mode”

Reset (there are several different resets, see the manual for more info) the keyboard:

• Program + Shift + F10

Kinesis On-Board Dvorak Layout (on a Swedish computer)

• Program + Shift + F5

If you are using a Swedish layout and switch to the on-board Dvorak layout your layout will look a bit different than the layout presented in the manual. The attached image shows how my layout works or download the SVG of the layout.

AntiRSI is a program that helps you to take breaks by reminding you about them. When I used MacOSX I realy loved AntiRSI and now, it seems to be avalible for Gnome (or at least almost available for Gnome ^_^)!

In the end of 2005 I wrote about stretching. I have now found some other exercises that I do instead. The new exercises includes both moving your hands gently, to increase blood flow, and stretching afterwards.

Note! Before you do any of these, please consult your doctor! This is just what seems to work for me and might do you more harm than good.

Picture 1, 2 and 3 shows how I move my hands to get more blood into the wrists and picture 4 shows the streching I do afterwards.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4