Plum Keyboard
Encyclopedia
The PLUM keyboard is a now discontinued computer keyboard which varies from the traditional QWERTY keyboard in both physical key layout and letter arrangement. Unlike most keyboards, the PLUM keyboard organizes keys in a square grid, as opposed to the staggered rows of a typewriter.
Like the Dvorak
keyboard layout, the organization of letters on the PLUM keyboard was designed to place the most frequently used letters under the fingers of the typist, thus minimizing finger movement. However there is no attempt to replicate the Dvorak 'alternating between hands' motion caused by having the vowels under the left hand and most often used consonants under the right; the vowels on the Plum keyboard are instead spread out along the home row. Vertical movement of the fingers is intended to be reduced by placing the most commonly used letters on the central home row. This has also tended to move the vowels centrally, as was deliberate with the Dvorak layout. As the PLUM based this on simple letter frequency rather than vowels in particular, the less-frequent U remains on the upper row.
It is notable that the Enter key has moved to a half-length "spacebar" position alongside the spacebar itself. Each is now used by one thumb alone; left for Enter and right for Space.
The layout of the PLUM keyboard is compact, using standard key sizes throughout, rather than the usual widened keytops for control keys. This has led to criticism, particularly over the positioning of the Shift keys. These are at each end of the home row. Although usable for text entry by a touch-typist experienced with the PLUM layout, they are unpopular with programmers who make extensive use of shift for non-letter characters.
It is debatable whether this layout reduces repetitive strain injury
, but the general consensus is that while it might prolong it slightly, the QWERTY keyboard might simply aggravate pains without causing the disease, and studies have shown that typists are not any more likely to develop RSI than normal people. Users of PLUM keyboards, however have claimed that after switching keyboard layouts, their pains went away. While there are currently no good studies comparing the efficiency of the PLUM and Dvorak keyboards, the Dvorak keyboard is more mainstream, but the PLUM keyboard has a keyboard layout that many find more memorable, with the rows spelling out the words "PLUM" and "READONTHIS".
PLUM layouts are only available from one manufacturer. Their build quality has been criticized as poor.
Like the Dvorak
Dvorak Simplified Keyboard
The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard is a keyboard layout patented in 1936 by Dr. August Dvorak and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Dealey. Over the years several slight variations were designed by the team led by Dvorak or by ANSI...
keyboard layout, the organization of letters on the PLUM keyboard was designed to place the most frequently used letters under the fingers of the typist, thus minimizing finger movement. However there is no attempt to replicate the Dvorak 'alternating between hands' motion caused by having the vowels under the left hand and most often used consonants under the right; the vowels on the Plum keyboard are instead spread out along the home row. Vertical movement of the fingers is intended to be reduced by placing the most commonly used letters on the central home row. This has also tended to move the vowels centrally, as was deliberate with the Dvorak layout. As the PLUM based this on simple letter frequency rather than vowels in particular, the less-frequent U remains on the upper row.
It is notable that the Enter key has moved to a half-length "spacebar" position alongside the spacebar itself. Each is now used by one thumb alone; left for Enter and right for Space.
The layout of the PLUM keyboard is compact, using standard key sizes throughout, rather than the usual widened keytops for control keys. This has led to criticism, particularly over the positioning of the Shift keys. These are at each end of the home row. Although usable for text entry by a touch-typist experienced with the PLUM layout, they are unpopular with programmers who make extensive use of shift for non-letter characters.
It is debatable whether this layout reduces repetitive strain injury
Repetitive strain injury
Repetitive strain injury is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by...
, but the general consensus is that while it might prolong it slightly, the QWERTY keyboard might simply aggravate pains without causing the disease, and studies have shown that typists are not any more likely to develop RSI than normal people. Users of PLUM keyboards, however have claimed that after switching keyboard layouts, their pains went away. While there are currently no good studies comparing the efficiency of the PLUM and Dvorak keyboards, the Dvorak keyboard is more mainstream, but the PLUM keyboard has a keyboard layout that many find more memorable, with the rows spelling out the words "PLUM" and "READONTHIS".
PLUM layouts are only available from one manufacturer. Their build quality has been criticized as poor.