I. Why QWERTZ is Not Enough
QWERTZ was designed as a technical workaround for early typewriters – not as the ergonomic gold standard.
In everyday digital life, the layout forces unnecessary finger travel because frequently used letters are spread across three rows.
Anyone who types for many hours consequently feels tension in forearms, shoulders, and neck more quickly.
More background information on protecting your hands can be found in the Ergonomics Guide.
Our Accuracy Guide shows exercises you can use to compensate for QWERTZ weaknesses until the new layout is set.
- High finger travel: Only a third of the keystrokes land on the home row; the rest require constant jumps to the top and bottom rows.
- Unbalanced hand strain: The left and right hand do not work equally, which is particularly tiring for right-handed users.
- Special character brake: German umlauts and common punctuation marks are far apart and interrupt the typing flow.
II. Path Dependence: How Standards Become Established
Remington’s market success made QWERTZ the norm in schools, government agencies, and businesses.
As soon as thousands of people were trained, manuals were printed, and machines were produced, any layout change became expensive.
Mental routines from our Mindset article help to cushion drops in motivation during the transition phase.
- Network effect: The more people used QWERTZ, the more valuable the layout became for manufacturers, teachers, and typists.
- Retraining costs: Companies would have had to invest training time and would have lost productivity during the transition phase.
- Muscle memory: Years of routine make every key change a cognitive challenge.
III. Alternative Layouts in Portrait
Modern layouts are based on data analysis and biomechanics rather than the limitations of a typewriter.
Dvorak, Colemak, and Workman appeal to different target groups – from the efficiency purist to the pragmatic switcher.
The Ergonomics Guide bundles which settings support your posture with concrete checklists.
III.A Dvorak Simplified Keyboard
Focus: 71 % of keystrokes remain on the home row; the hands alternate consistently.
FastFingerRace simulation runs 2023 (n=540) reduced finger travel by 29 %% compared to QWERTZ and lowered typos per minute by 18 %%.
- Strengths: Minimal finger travel, balanced hand strain, and clear vowel-consonant separation.
- Limitations: Barely compatible with QWERTZ hotkeys; special characters must be relearned.
III.B Colemak
Philosophy: Retains familiar control keys and changes only 17 letter positions.
Community data from 2023 (n=620) shows a return to 95 %% of the initial speed after 18 days, with 12 %% less finger travel at the same time.
- Strengths: Short learning phase, better use of the home row, and 85 % shortcut compatibility according to FastFingerRace retraining logs.
- Limitations: Individual profiles or third-party layouts are necessary to cover all systems.
III.C Workman
Approach: Reduces lateral finger movement and shifts load to the stronger fingers.
In our developer teams (n=310), the measured ulnar deviation of the hands decreases by 21 %% compared to QWERTZ.
- Strengths: Ergonomic alignment for German and English texts, balanced hand rotation.
- Limitations: Smaller community and fewer pre-installed training resources.
III.D Key Metrics in Comparison
The metrics are based on 4,200 training sessions from our community and 540 simulation runs per layout.
| Layout | Finger Travel | Learning Curve | Shortcut Compatibility | Recommended Target Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QWERTZ | 7.2 m per 1,000 keystrokes (Community Benchmark, n=4,200) | No learning time, but stagnant comfort gain | 100 %% System and Software Shortcuts | Familiar office workflows, shared workstations |
| Dvorak | 5.1 m per 1,000 keystrokes (Simulation Runs, n=540) | 27 days to 90 %% initial WPM (Median, n=184) | 20 %% Shortcut Coverage without adjustments | Ergonomics purists, competitive typing sports |
| Colemak | 5.8 m per 1,000 keystrokes (Community Heatmaps, n=620) | 18 days to 95 %% initial WPM (Median) | 85 %% Shortcut Coverage according to retraining logs | Content teams, support, heavy typists |
| Workman | 5.5 m per 1,000 keystrokes (Developer Panels, n=310) | 21 days to 92 %% initial WPM (Median) | 60 %% Shortcut Coverage, especially adaptable in IDEs | Programmers, hybrid desk work |
IV. Comparison at a Glance
The table clearly shows where each approach excels – comfort, efficiency, or compatibility.
- Immediately noticeable comfort: Colemak reduces finger travel without shortcut frustration.
- Maximum efficiency: Dvorak unfolds its potential after an intensive practice phase.
- Relief for programming work: Workman places brackets and common combinations in ergonomically favorable positions.
V. Strategies for Switching
A well-planned switch prevents productivity losses and keeps motivation high.
Start with clear metrics: typing speed, error rate, and comfort rating.
- Dual-Layout Phase: Set up the new layout as an additional keyboard driver and practice in separate sessions.
- Planned Training Sprints: 20 minutes of deliberate practice per day are enough for growing muscle memory.
- Shortcut Drills: Practice all important system and software shortcuts in slow series.
- Real-Time Analysis: Tools like Keybr or Monkeytype immediately show problematic bigrams.
VI. Voices from the Community
"After 17 days of Colemak training, I was back at 98 %% of my original speed and my wrists finally felt relaxed."
"Workman saved my evening sprints: 30 %% fewer typos according to FastFingerRace analysis, and I can code for two hours again without my forearms burning."
VII. 30-Day Retraining Plan & Check-ins
The 30-day retraining plan gives you a ready-to-use TXT checklist with daily focus drills, active breaks, and reflection prompts.
Each session combines a technique and a speed block; log WPM, accuracy, and comfort to track progress week over week.
- Week 1: Stabilize posture, anchor the home row, and drill diagonal transitions.
- Week 2: Build precision with capital letters, symbols, and gaze control.
- Week 3: Boost speed with interval sprints, combo drills, and real texts.
- Week 4: Lock in transfer with multitasking drills, stress tests, and recovery days.
VIII. Conclusion: When the Switch is Worth It
If recurring pain, monotonous strain, or ambitious performance goals dominate, it's worth looking beyond QWERTZ.
Anyone who types daily benefits long-term from a layout that is equally gentle on the body and the workflow.