August Dvorak — The Man Who Tried to Save Typing
August Dvorak (1894-1975) was an American educational psychologist who spent decades trying to save typing. He believed QWERTY was fundamentally broken. He created what's considered the most ergonomically efficient keyboard layout ever — the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard. Then watched the world ignore it.
Early life
- Born: May 5, 1894 in Glencoe, Minnesota
- Education: PhD in educational psychology, University of Minnesota
- Career: Professor at University of Washington (1925-1965)
- Specialty: Vocational training, applied psychology
The Dvorak keyboard origin
Why he started
- Watched students struggle with typewriter typing
- Researched typing inefficiencies in QWERTY
- Convinced QWERTY was harmful to learners
- Decided to create better alternative
Research process (1930s)
- Studied letter frequency in English
- Analyzed finger strength differences
- Considered typing comfort metrics
- Patented design 1936
Co-creator: Dr. William Dealey (cousin)
- Statistician who helped with frequency analysis
- Less credited but instrumental
Dvorak Simplified Keyboard principles
Vowels on left home row
- A, O, E, U, I on left home row
- Common vowels = high left hand usage
Common consonants on right home row
- D, H, T, N, S on right home row
- Common consonants = high right hand usage
Strong fingers do most work
- Index fingers handle most-common letters
- Pinky fingers handle least-common
Alternating hand pattern
- Most English words alternate left-right-left
- Smoother typing rhythm
Less finger travel
- Estimated 60% of typing on home row (vs QWERTY's 30%)
The promise
Dvorak claimed:
- 70% faster learning (verified mixed)
- 30% faster typing speed (research disputes)
- Less fatigue (likely true)
- Higher accuracy (some evidence)
Why it failed to take over
Bad timing
- Released 1936 during Great Depression
- Limited typewriter manufacturing capacity
- No company committed to switch production
Network effects already established
- Touch typing already taught on QWERTY
- Millions of typists trained
- Switching cost too high
Studies were disputed
- WWII Navy study claimed Dvorak benefits — later questioned
- Liebowitz and Margolis study (1996) debunked many claims
- Real-world benefit smaller than Dvorak claimed
August Dvorak frustrated
- Spent his life advocating
- Saw limited adoption
- Died 1975 with QWERTY still dominant
His legacy
Modern users
- Estimated 1-2 million Dvorak users worldwide
- Cult following in programmer/typist communities
- Available on every OS
Influenced later layouts
- Colemak (2006) — Dvorak-inspired but less disruptive
- Workman (2010) — Dvorak philosophy with ergonomic emphasis
- Programmer Dvorak — modified for code
Educational impact
- Proved alternatives possible
- Demonstrated optimization is feasible
- Inspired ergonomic typing movement
The Liebowitz-Margolis controversy
Stan Liebowitz and Stephen Margolis (1996) published influential paper:
- Argued Dvorak's superiority is myth
- WWII Navy study was flawed (Dvorak himself ran it!)
- Real efficiency gain only 5-10%, not 30%
This sparked still-ongoing debate about:
- How much faster IS Dvorak?
- Was it network effects or merit that won QWERTY?
- Path dependency vs Pareto efficiency
Most modern researchers: Dvorak slightly better but not dramatically.
Should you learn Dvorak today?
Yes, if
- Curious experimenter
- Heavy daily typing
- Already touch type 80+ WPM on QWERTY
- 6-week investment available
No, if
- Need universal compatibility
- Casual typist
- Already happy with QWERTY
See Dvorak Simplified Keyboard.
August Dvorak's life lesson
Sometimes the best technology doesn't win. Network effects, switching costs, and historical accident often beat pure merit.
QWERTY's example is studied in economics as path dependency — once a standard is established, even superior alternatives struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Dvorak really faster?
Marginally yes (5-15% gain). Not dramatically as Dvorak claimed.
Why didn't his keyboard win?
Bad timing + network effects + QWERTY good enough.
Was he a one-trick inventor?
No — also studied vocational training, learning theory, more.
Did he get rich from his patent?
No — never widely commercialized.
Modern equivalent of Dvorak?
Colemak (2006) — easier QWERTY-to-X switch.
Is QWERTY a "worse is better" example?
Often cited as such. Or just adequate-enough plus lock-in.
Honor his legacy
Try Dvorak experimentally if curious. Typing Hero App supports Dvorak and 37 other layouts.
For more: Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, QWERTY vs Dvorak, The history of touch typing.