The Workman keyboard

The Workman keyboard is an alternative to the traditional QWERTY keyboard that was designed to improve typing efficiency and reduce strain on the fingers and wrists. The keyboard is named after its creator, OJ Bucao, who developed it in 2010 as an improvement upon the Colemak keyboard layout.

Like the Dvorak keyboard, the Workman keyboard places the most frequently used letters in the home row. However, unlike the Dvorak keyboard, the Workman keyboard also takes into account the frequency of letter pairs and common finger combinations in English words.

The Workman keyboard has a unique layout that is designed to minimize lateral finger movement and prevent awkward finger stretches. The letters "A", "R", "S", "T", "D", and "H" are all located in the home row, and the letters "E" and "O" are placed in the center column for easy access. The less commonly used letters, such as "Q", "Z", and "X", are placed in harder-to-reach positions to reduce accidental keystrokes.

Studies have shown that the Workman keyboard can improve typing speed and reduce strain on the fingers and wrists. One study found that users of the Workman keyboard had significantly less finger movement and keystrokes than users of the QWERTY keyboard.

Despite the potential benefits of the Workman keyboard, it has not gained widespread adoption. This is likely due to the fact that the QWERTY keyboard has become the standard and is used by the vast majority of people. Additionally, switching to the Workman keyboard requires a significant amount of relearning and can be difficult for people who are used to the QWERTY keyboard.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in alternative keyboard layouts, including the Workman keyboard. As technology continues to evolve and people become more aware of the importance of ergonomic design, it is possible that alternative keyboard layouts like the Workman keyboard may become more popular and widely used.