Xah Lee, 2008-07
On the issue of key mapping, modifier keys, ergonomics… part of the problem is the keyboard hardware itself.
The standard keyboard out there used by some 99% of computers worldwide, namely the PC keyboard, is derived from the design of type writers.
A Generic PC Keyboard.
The design of the typewriter itself, is largely concerned about getting the machine to actually work. Like most inventions, in the beginning the concern is just to get it to work. The concept of keyboarding ergonomics didn't come about or become popular after about some 100 years.
Let's consider some examples:
The Backspace key, the Return (aka Enter) key, are among the most useful special keys. However, they are placed in the most inconvenient spots, pressed by the weakest finger the pinky.
` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =
Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ] \
A S D F G H J K L ; '
Z X C V B N M , . /
The vertical key column positions are jagged. i.e. The columns 1QAZ, 2WSX, 3EDC, etc, are slanted. Worse is that the jagging is not a regular, not symmetric for both hands, but in a ad hoc slant from top left to bottom right. So, for example, going from key D to E, your middle finger moves upwards and in the direction of your pinky. Going from K to I, your right middle finger also moves upward but in the direction of your thumb.
The number of keys for the Left and right are not symmetric.
` 12345 67890 -=
QWERT YUIOP []\
ASDFG HJKL; '
ZXCVB NM,./
Notice in the above picture, how the right side has lots of extra keys, operated by your stretched pinky.
So, all of the above combined, makes today's conventional keyboard really a bad piece of hardware.
Now, when we consider the placement of modifier keys, or consider key mapping, or consider optimal keybindings for emacs, the PC keyboard hardware puts a lot constraint.
One keyboard that is well known and loved, is the Kinesis Keyboard and also the more expensive and less popular Maltron keyboard. They both fixed all of the above problems.
For many other ergonomic keyboards that fix these problems, see: Fancy Ergonomic Keyboards You Didn't Know Existed.
There are many variety of input devices in the past 2 decades, some intended to replace the keyboard. (few of them based on “chording”. See Chording keyboard ) Some of them are good in principle but maybe bad in practice. Perhaps some of them are truely good. None of them actually caught on. (except the Kenesis to some degree) The main problem is getting people to change (if there's such a need at all).
The PC keyboard, although it's fairly bad when considered ergonomically, but it works ok. It is widespread, and most people who have to use a keyboard, don't need to type that much. Vast majority of computer users today, use computer to read check/write email, instant chat, read news, watch video, play music, play games. Typing does not happen that much. Even for programers, perhaps a majority don't need to do continuous, intensive, typing in prolonged hours. They don't want to change, partly because they don't need to. Even, i estimate that at least 30% of people who makes a living by coding, does not even touch type.
The problem is similar for acceptance of the Dvorak Keyboard Layout. Major change is hard to get adapted. Major change is costly.
Small change or gradual change do happen. For example, most keyboard sold today has several special buttons that launch apps or control music players. The split ergonomic keyboards has also been widely adapted. Mouse has become universal since mid 1995, and Mouse wheel too, since Microsoft introduced/popularized it in late 1990s.
The Ctrl and Alt keys, on both sides of keyboard, symmetrically distanced to the thumbs when hands rests in a touch-typing position, are on all Microsoft's ergonomic keyboards , and almost all PC keyboards today (only notable exception is Apple's keyboards).
On the key layout side, the Dvorak is now available on all major operating systems, and there are gradually more programers using it.