My journey from QWERTY to Colemak-DHm: An ergonomic choice

Introduction to my keyboard layout change

A few months ago, I made a decision that completely transformed how I interact with my computer: abandoning the AZERTY layout I had used all my life to adopt Colemak-DHm. This transition wasn't just a geek's whim, but a genuine quest for ergonomic improvement and efficiency. Like many professionals spending their days in front of a screen, I had started to experience digital fatigue and wrist tension that concerned me.

QWERTY, designed in the era of mechanical typewriters to slow down typing and prevent jams, was never conceived for the digital age. Yet, through simple cultural inertia, we continue to use it. Colemak-DHm, on the other hand, was specifically designed to minimize finger movement and offer a more natural, less tiring typing experience.

The Colemak-DHm layout explained

Colemak-DHm places the most frequently used letters directly under your fingertips on the home row. The layout maintains ARST on the left and NEIO on the right home row, allowing approximately 90% of English typing to occur without leaving this comfortable position. The "DHm" variant specifically improves the original Colemak by moving the D and H keys to more ergonomic positions that follow the natural curling motion of your fingers.

Unlike more radical alternative layouts, Colemak-DHm keeps many keys in their original QWERTY positions, including common shortcut keys like Z, X, C, and V. This thoughtful design creates a balance between improved ergonomics and a manageable learning curve. The layout also distributes typing workload more evenly between your hands and dramatically reduces awkward finger movements that contribute to strain.

Why I decided to leave QWERTY behind

The QWERTY layout we all use by default is actually an archaic inheritance. Designed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes, its primary goal was to prevent typewriter hammers from jamming. To achieve this, it deliberately slowed typing speed by separating frequently used letter pairs.

This design presents several major ergonomic problems. Fingers travel unnecessarily long distances, about 2-3 times more than needed. The top row is overused despite being the least accessible. The left hand is overloaded for English and French texts. After years of intensive use, I began experiencing wrist pain and persistent finger fatigue.

Colemak-DHm isn't just another random keyboard layout. It's a thoughtfully designed system based on statistical analysis of letter frequency and finger movement efficiency. The "DH" modification refers to the "Curl Degree of Hand" which places common keys under the natural curling position of your fingers.

My equipment: the ZSA Voyager split keyboard

My transition to Colemak-DHm coincided with another significant change in my typing setup: switching to a split keyboard. I chose the ZSA Voyager, a compact split mechanical keyboard designed with ergonomics as a priority.

The ZSA Voyager proved to be an ideal companion for my layout transition. Its programmability made it trivial to implement the Colemak-DHm layout without any operating system changes. I could easily customize the layout to my specific needs, adding layers for special characters and functions. The keycaps can be physically rearranged, which helped me visualize the new layout during the learning process.

The ortholinear design with its grid-based key arrangement made it easier to build proper finger placement habits compared to traditional staggered rows. The Voyager's design also encouraged me to use all my fingers properly—something I realized I had never done correctly on a traditional keyboard.

Training tools that accelerated my learning

Keybr.com: Adaptive learning algorithm

Keybr.com became my primary training ground during this transition. What makes this tool particularly effective is its intelligent algorithm that adapts to your skill level. Rather than overwhelming you with the entire keyboard at once, Keybr introduces a few keys at a time, focusing on the most common letters first. It only adds new keys once you've demonstrated proficiency with the current set.

The site generates readable, pronounceable pseudo-words using your active character set, which makes practice feel more natural than random character sequences. I particularly appreciated the detailed statistics tracking my progress over time—seeing my speed gradually increase from 10 WPM to 40 WPM provided concrete evidence that my brain was adapting to the new layout.

Keybr also offers heat maps showing which keys are giving you trouble, allowing for targeted practice. This feature helped me identify specific problem areas—for instance, I struggled with the new positions of D and H in the Colemak-DHm layout, so I could focus extra attention on those keys.

Typ.ing: Real-world typing practice

While Keybr was excellent for building foundational skills, Typ.ing provided a different kind of practice that complemented my training. This minimalist typing test site offers practice with real text passages rather than generated content.

What I found most valuable about Typ.ing was its variety of test materials—from common English words to code snippets and quotes. This diversity helped me apply my developing Colemak-DHm skills to different contexts, particularly programming, which is essential for my daily work.

The clean interface with instant feedback on accuracy and speed helped me track improvements in a real-world typing context. Seeing my accuracy consistently above 95% after just a few weeks was tremendously encouraging, even though my speed was still developing.

Both tools offered the crucial ability to select Colemak as my layout, ensuring that the on-screen keyboard matched my physical keyboard. This visual reinforcement was invaluable during the early days when I was constantly looking down at my keys.

Journal of my transition

Day 1: The difficult first steps

December 2, 2024: My journey began with rearranging the keycaps on my Voyager keyboard to match the Colemak-DHm layout, while still keeping the QWERTY layout active in the system. That evening, I took the plunge and activated the Colemak-DHm layout.

The experience was humbling. What used to be automatic became painfully deliberate. A simple sentence that would normally take seconds stretched into minutes of hunting and pecking. My first test on Keybr.com showed a dismal 10 WPM—a far cry from my usual 80+ WPM on QWERTY.

Week 1: Progressive adaptation

December 3-9, 2024: I made the bold decision to keep using Colemak-DHm for work, despite the productivity hit. For urgent communications, I resorted to using my phone, which still had a QWERTY layout.

Coding was surprisingly less affected than I expected. While special characters took some hunting, the logical layout of Colemak-DHm meant that many programming patterns remained intuitive.

By day three, I was starting to develop some muscle memory. My typing speed increased to around 30 WPM with 100% accuracy—still slow, but a significant improvement. The most frustrating moments came when I wasn't thinking consciously about typing. My fingers would automatically revert to QWERTY positions, resulting in nonsensical output.

After one month: Progress assessment

January 2025: After nearly a month of consistent use, I found myself in a much better place with Colemak-DHm. The most significant change I noticed was how much less my fingers and wrists moved while typing. With QWERTY, my fingers were constantly dancing across the keyboard; with Colemak-DHm, they stayed much more centered on the home row.

My speed tests showed consistent improvement. On Typ.ing, I reached 32 WPM with 96.76% accuracy. On Keybr.com, I achieved 40 WPM with 100% accuracy. The most surprising discovery was realizing that I had never properly used all ten fingers when typing before.

Benefits experienced after the transition

The most significant benefit has been the dramatic reduction in hand and wrist fatigue. With approximately 90% of typing occurring on the home row (compared to just 34% on QWERTY), my hands maintain a more stable, natural position.

I've also noticed a reduction in early symptoms of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) that had begun to concern me. The occasional tingling in my fingers after marathon coding sessions has become rare, and morning stiffness in my hands has diminished considerably.

While my typing speed initially plummeted, the recovery has been steady. The accuracy improvements have been particularly satisfying. With Colemak-DHm, the more logical placement of keys and reduced finger travel has resulted in fewer mistakes, especially during extended typing sessions.

Challenges and solutions

The first week was, without exaggeration, one of the most frustrating experiences of my professional life. Going from expert to novice overnight was humbling and occasionally infuriating. To manage this frustration, I accepted from the beginning that this would be a weeks-long process, not days. I celebrated small victories rather than focusing on my former speed.

A practical challenge I hadn't fully anticipated was how to handle other keyboards that I couldn't customize. My laptop's built-in keyboard still used QWERTY. Eventually, I started carrying my split keyboard for extended use of other computers and installed keyboard layout switching software for my laptop.

Interestingly, after about three months of exclusive Colemak-DHm use, my QWERTY abilities had degraded significantly. I've made peace with this trade-off, as the ergonomic benefits far outweigh the occasional inconvenience.

Advice for those wanting to make the change

If you're considering making the switch, begin your transition during a period of lower workload. Invest in a programmable keyboard like the ZSA Voyager. Prepare your environment by setting up layout switching software and reference materials before starting.

The most important mental preparation is setting realistic expectations. Your typing speed will drop dramatically at first, and the frustration can be intense. Commit fully to the new layout rather than switching back and forth. Use this opportunity to develop correct finger positioning rather than transferring bad habits from your old layout.

Remember that this transition is a marathon, not a sprint. The ergonomic benefits are long-term investments in your physical health that will pay dividends throughout your career.

Conclusion: Was it worth it?

After several months of using Colemak-DHm on my ZSA Voyager split keyboard, I can confidently say that the transition was absolutely worth the initial struggle. The combination of an ergonomic layout with a split keyboard has transformed my daily computer interaction from a potential source of physical strain into a comfortable, sustainable activity.

The journey wasn't easy—those first few weeks of drastically reduced productivity and constant frustration tested my resolve. However, the long-term benefits have far outweighed the temporary setbacks. The reduction in physical strain alone justifies the switch, but the improvements in typing accuracy and overall comfort have been unexpected bonuses.

For others considering this change, I offer this encouragement: the difficulty is temporary, but the benefits are permanent. Your brain is remarkably adaptable, and what seems impossibly foreign in the first week will become second nature faster than you expect. My only regret is not making this change sooner.