Conversion exercise from SHOLES QWERTY TO Maltron QWERTY
Introduction from Lillian
Dear Maltron User,
We are delighted that you are giving yourself the opportunity of working on the MALTRON split keyboard. It is our considered belief that the 21st Century, will see the complete phasing out of what are now called 'standard' keyboards and the universal use of split keyboards.
You will want to know why we think that. Here are some reasons.
More and more people use keyboards earlier and for longer periods of time in their lives. Keyboards are no longer used only in offices at work, they are used in schools and the home. Keyboard literacy is already taken for granted in many countries.
There is now general recognition that many aches and pains in the back, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers have been incorrectly diagnosed as rheumatic or arthritic. In fact, they are due to the 'standard' keyboard, which causes sustained strain from wrist abduction and pronation, and has a letter layout designed to slow the typist down, and it makes accurate keying difficult.
The MALTRON keyboard avoids all physical malfunctions and because each finger learns to feel instantly when it is not using its own row of keys, keying is almost automatically much more accurate. Because you are a skilled QWERTY operator you will be using the MALTRON keyboard in the QWERTY mode. Please be assured that learning in QWERTY mode will not reduce your ability to use a standard keyboard. Your fingers will not forget the different stretches. However, experience has shown that once the finger muscles relax into the more comfortable shaped-to-fit-finger-length MALTRON design, all users prefer to use it because they find it is much more comfortable, can be operated for longer without tiring, is more accurate and is faster.
You could convert to the MALTRON keyboard just by following the instructions and keying the alphabet many times until you get the feel of the new shape, but do remember that your finger muscles will have contracted to fit the flat horizontal 'standard' keyboard. So to allow time for your muscles to stretch out to their natural length and to ensure that you make the conversion to a split keyboard and 'scooped' shape easily we have provided 14 carefully arranged exercises.
Together with the exercises there are also some instructions and notes on posture and preparation for keying. If you read and follow these you will find the conversion to your MALTRON keyboard is interesting, and quick and easy.
We send you good wishes for your easy conversion, well being and success.
Yours sincerely
LILLIAN G. MALT