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3 tips for learning the Dvorak keyboard in under a month

21 May

If you’ve suffered from wrist problems such as carpal tunnel, you know exactly how painful it can be to type. A couple months ago I was wearing a wrist brace, had invested in an expensive ergonomic keyboard and was still in a lot of pain. Anything from turning a key in a door to picking up a TV remote would send shooting pain through my arm.

Frustrated with the lack of improvement in my wrist, I had heard that using a Dvorak keyboard had “cured” many a wrist problem. The Dvorak keys are laid out completely differently than QWERTY, and forces your hand posture and typing into a position that does not strain your wrist. Desperate for relief, I decided to learn Dvorak, and am happy to report that after a week, my wrist pain was highly reduced and over three weeks, it is almost nonexistant.

Dvorak Keyboard Layout

Here’s how to get up and running with Dvorak in about a month:

1. Get a Dvorak keyboard cover

Just don’t even try to get started without one of these. I’m on a MacBook and absolutely love these translucent KB Covers. The cover includes the QWERTY layout on it in smaller characters, so you won’t be totally lost if you’re still typing QWERTY.

2. Spend an hour a day practicing online

Check out Dvorak Keyboard Training: http://learn.dvorak.nl/

Before switching over to Dvorak full time, I spent about a week just practicing on this site. It’s frustrating at first, but over time you will get the hang of it.

3. Go full time Dvorak

You probably don’t think you’re ready for Dvorak after a week of touch typing with the Dvorak Keyboard Training site. Well, that’s true. You’re not. But you’re going to do it anyway. The only way to fully learn is to just make the leap. It’s gonna suck for a week or two, but your wrists will thank you. Keep training online even after you’ve gone 100% Dvorak.

If you’re anything like me, the relief from pain will be well worth the time spent to learn Dvorak.

Adventures in Video Editing

23 Sep

Also known as the time I had to use screen capturing software #1 to record the screen capture from screen capturing software #2 because #2 refused to export my completed screen capture.

Got that?

Yeah, what a disaster. I really want to like Screenflow (previously known as screen capture software #2), but I have encountered so many bugs that I really have to wonder if the people who make this software have ever tried to do a screen capture (or edit a video). I have talked with their support in the past who have been very nice, but I’ve never received a satisfactory answer as to how to resolve a variety of issues.

Those issues include: crashing, encoding errors, random “unable to save” projects, random “unable to rename media” problems, and then today — unable to export the video I have been working on for a couple weeks into anything that resembles an actual video. If I wanted an avant garde post-modern art piece with squiggly lines and cryptic graphics, what I exported would be AWESOME. I could probably get an MFA with that alone. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’m going for.

I’ve learned to work with Screenflow in the past by fastidiously saving my projects and quitting and restarting the application every 20 minutes. That usually holds most of the aforementioned bugs at bay.

Self Portrait Taken Amidst The Video Crisis

Regarding the exporting problem, I’ve contacted Screenflow and expect to hear from them in a couple days and try to work out what’s happened this time around. For the time being, I was really in a bind. I NEEDED MY VIDEO, GOSH DARNIT! So I did what all resourceful people do and used another screen capturing software, Camtasia, to capture my screenflow in full screen preview prior to the export gobblygook. Pretty smart, right?

PRETTY INSANE, RIGHT?

Camtasia, I was delighted to find out, works. It has successfully exported my video and while it’s not 100% the way I want it, it’s good enough.

If you do a fair amount of video editing, I’d love to know what software you use. I’ve found myself using Screenflow because iMovie simply does not that the features or granular control I need. I have been trying to hold off on Final Cut Pro simply because of the price tag, but maybe it’s time.

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