Benj Edwards - Oct 10, 2022 8:19 p.m. UTC

Tired of QWERTY? Starting with iOS 16—which released last month—the Apple iPhone present helps the 86-12 months-antique Dvorak keyboard format natively. Previously, Dvorak typing aficionados needed to acceptable up a third-party app to usage the layout.

Dvorak makes usage of a antithetic statement of keys than the standard QWERTY format with the extremity of enhancing typing velocity and ergonomic comfort. August Dvorak and William Dealey invented the format successful 1936 aft analyzing the deficiencies of the QWERTY typewriter keyboard, which changed into already 60 years vintage astatine that point.

Apple and Dvorak person an absorbing records. The organisation first included section Dvorak assistance for its computers wrong the US exemplary of the Apple IIc, released successful 1984. It blanketed a peculiar "Keyboard" fastener that could swap the format betwixt QWERTY and Dvorak logically, nevertheless the bodily keycaps mightiness privation to beryllium re-arranged to lucifer successful lawsuit you needed a statement reference.

Interestingly, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak ("Woz") discovered Dvorak circular 1993 and ne'er seemed returned (he wasn't progressive with Dvorak connected the Apple IIc, helium says). In an physics message to Ars Technica, Woz stated however helium archetypal recovered retired Dvorak. "I was connected a formation to Tokyo and I ran Mavis Beacon teaches typing successful Dvorak mode," helium wrote. "I spent 5 hours studying it and ne'er erstwhile much checked retired a QWERTY keyboard. That’s each it took. My lad had already converted successfully, and discovered Dvorak successful a little clip and accelerated got up to the adjacent velocity helium typed successful QWERTY successful astir per week."

To usage Dvorak connected your iPhone, archetypal marque definite you person upgraded to iOS sixteen oregon later. Next, unfastened the Settings app and navigate to General > Keyboard > Keyboards, past pat your connection and prime "Dvorak" from the listing. The adjacent clip you propulsion up the keyboard, you volition spot the chiseled format, with a home enactment that reads "AOEUIDHTNS"—exactly however August Dvorak could person appreciated it.

It's truly worthy noting that Dvorak's purported velocity improvements travel from the usage of 10 palms to kind, truthful if you're conscionable studying Dvorak, you won't spot immoderate velocity upgrades implicit QWERTY portion typing with fingers, which see your thumbs. However, longtime Dvorak users volition perchance beryllium pleased.

"What I preferred maximum astir Dvorak past was the feeling of the usage of overmuch little powerfulness unneurotic with your hands," Woz stated. "Since iPhones came, I needed to edifice to QWERTY nevertheless it wasn’t successful my caput anymore. I were a wholly accelerated QWERTY typist my implicit life, but present it’s agelong past. I request to person a look astatine the letters connected my iPhone."

Ars knowledgeable Wozniak of the autochthonal Dvorak assistance successful iOS sixteen, and helium spoke back, "OMG! Thank you precise an atrocious lot!"

You request to login oregon make an account to remark.