QWERTY vs Alternative Layouts

QWERTY is ubiquitous; alternatives (e.g., TR‑F, Dvorak, Colemak) aim for balanced finger travel. Many see reduced strain and smoother rhythm after the switch.

Speed and learning

Beginners may ramp faster on optimized layouts; switching from QWERTY takes 2–4 weeks of focused practice. Games/shortcuts may need remapping.

Switch plan

• Use the new layout exclusively for 2 weeks; keep QWERTY for emergencies.
• Drill bigrams and word clusters, not random keys.