The “Enlightenment” reveals itself in every aspect of our lives and society. For typists, and computer users everywhere, the Typematrix keyboard is the expression of this revelation.
When typewriters where invented, being that the keys where placed at the end of pegs that would hit each other if they were not off-set, all the keys were placed off-set from each other in order for the typewriter to work.. That is why keys are still off set. Not because it is good for us, not because it is efficient, but because of old technology that we don’t even use anymore.
The aligned keyboard has many perks. First it is less stress on the fingers, second it is more condensed, and third, it just makes you feel less dumb for continuing to use out-dated technology that causes carpel tunnel syndrome. In addition to adding Dvorak to the keyboard layout, the speed and ease of typing is enhanced even more.
My experience with the Dvorak Typematrix 2030 Keyboard
Let me just say, before I even used the keyboard I noticed how cool and “smart” it looked. I saw the future, or rather, a smarter use of the present when looking at the keyboard. It just makes sense. We don’t use leaches to draw blood anymore, we don’t travel by horse drawn carriage, and we don’t have a Monarch (at least technically), so why are we using outdated keyboard technology, especially when so much of our society is centered around computers and the Internet.
Once I plugged it in (and it instantly worked – I use Ubuntu on my computer, and had no problems with functionality) and got to start using it, I began to see how amazing this new set up is.
At first I would miss keys because I was still use to having to reach way too far for them. It took me about a week to get use to not working as hard to type. After I got it down it became very easy. The other obstacle that took about a week or two to over come is the change in the shift, enter and back space keys. They are in a much better and more usable/accessible place with the Typematrix 2030, but still will take a little bit of use before you adjust. My advice is to slow down for the first week or so that you are using the keyboard. Now on my fourth week of use I type this article without any of the above mentioned quirks.
The next big change I saw was that, unlike Dvorak, when other people see the aligned keyboard layout, and explain it to them, they are much more likely (haven’t met anyone who said, “This isn’t for me”) to see the value in it. Dvorak has always been the, “I’m use to the other way, I don’t want to learn a new typeset,” but the Typematrix cannot be dismissed. It is just smart.
This is the revolution, or the “enlightenment.” We are finding out that there is a better way to do just about everything we do. Whether it is planting smart (Permaculture), fighting smart (Jeet Kune Do), voting smart (Third-Party, Independent, and Ron Paul), smart energy (Solar, Wind, Geo-Thermal) or eating smart (Local, Organic), we keep finding smarter ways of doing what we already do.
The enlightenment isn’t about completely changing society, it is about giving society a tune-up. It’s about taking a step back and accessing how we do things. Most of the time there is a smarter way, a way which takes less work, less resources, and produces better results.
The Typematrix 2030 is the tune-up to the standard keyboard, and if you add Dvorak you will be set for a life time of writing and communicating over the Internet.
For more information about the Typematrix Keyboard visit their website: typematrix.com
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http://freeindependentsun.com/technology/dvorak-less-stress-more-efficient-worth-the-effort/
Jack Wagner is the Editor of The Free Independent-Sun. Born in Sonoma, California and currently residing in San Francisco, Jack set up The Free Independent-Sun on July 4th, 2009, after sleeping in and not making his usual trip up north for his hometown festivities. He figured he'd do something revolutionary to make up for it. In the Summer of 2010 Jack registered Seraf Media with the City and County of San Francisco as a Sole-Proprietorship. He is dedicated to articulating the finer points of the Revolution in order to bring about a Global Renaissance and Abundant World Economy. He also isn't afraid to get his hands dirty transplanting succulents. 
