Thinking about learning Colemak (an alternative typing system/keyboard design: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colemak). It does seem to make sense for me but it's unclear if I will improve my typing speed doing this.
I am currently using a QWERTY style keyboard (actually, the German version, QWERTZ). Currently, I am averaging 85 words per minute (wpm) on the basic English typing test on 10fastfingers.com (two tries so far: https://10fastfingers.com/user/3383669/).
This question resolves N/A (money returned to bettors) if I do not actually try to learn Colemak (by my own future judgement*).
This questions resolves YES if at any time before or by closing date:
I have actually tried learning Colemak.
AND I score above 85.0 wpm with an accuracy of >= 95 % four times in a row.
This question resolves NO if, by closing date, I have actually tried to learn Colemak AND not managed to score above 85.0 wpm with an accuracy of >= 95 % four times in a row.
*Guidelines for future me to rule "I have actually tried":
Needs a considerable investment of time and effort.
Tried to go cold turkey Colemak for more than one week and used no other keyboard design during this time (using keyboard > 2 hours/day): Yes.
Finished a Colemak course with > 500 lessons like https://www.edclub.com/sportal/program-90.game: Yes.
Why would you go cold turkey? One advantage of Colemak over Dvorak is that you can make the switch gradually, with the Tarmak layouts: https://forum.colemak.com/topic/1858-learn-colemak-in-steps-with-the-tarmak-layouts/
I use Colemak and do recommend it, it's more comfortable to type in; but I probably wouldn't have made the switch if I'd needed to learn all 17 changes or however many are made all at once.
@howtodowtle I switched a few years ago. From my understanding of alternative keyboard layouts, they don't improve your typing speed, but they are slightly more ergonomic. See: the world's fastest typists still use Qwerty.
That being said, learning Colemak did indirectly improve my typing speed because it got me in the habit of practicing typing. I now average around 90 WPM on normal prose and 125 on the default Monkeytype settings.
Downside: my Qwerty speed is shot. I once had to take a coding test for a college course in a testing center, with their computers. I wasn't allowed to change the keyboard layout and was effectively nerfed.