PLUM keyboard

The PLUM keyboardcite web
url=http://www.plum.bz
title=PLUM Home Page] is a 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.cite web
title=Keyboard layout diagram
url=http://www.plum.bz/images/kb1starticle_r3_j.jpg
publisher=PLUM]

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. There is no attempt to replicate the QWERTY 'alternating hand' motion. Vertical movement of the fingers is intended to be reduced by placing the 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 type extensively, albeit naively, and make extensive use of shift for non-letter characters.

It is debatable whether this layout reduces repetitive strain injury, but the general consensusFact|date=July 2008 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 cite web
url=http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Fhardware%2F2003%2Fh0611%2F05h11%2Easp&articleid=18680&guid=8D97BB9D3A3949D39E99D7E7CF58A7FC&searchtype=0&WordList=PLUM+KEYBOARD&bJumpTo=True
title=PLUM keyboard review
publisher=Computer Power User magazine ] . 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 poor build quality has been criticized. [Citation
title = Plum keyboard review
url = http://incise.org/plum-keyboard.html
accessdate = 04-06-2008]

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