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From what I understand, there is no hard proof that people type faster with Dvorak layouts vs. Qwerty.
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Hmm. I've read that people who are already 60 wpm typists are the most likely to find no improvement in their speed with switching. Slower QWERTY typists usually show a significant speed gain in Dvorak.
Regarding studies and proof, try this link:
Introducing the Dvorak Keyboard -- Dissenting Opinions
The author seems a bit defensive, but I think it has good information
The main site is here:
Introducing the Dvorak Keyboard Quote:
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But people who do switch tend to find it a lot easier on the hands.
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Amen to that. My hands tend to ache and ache when I use QWERTY. I have to use Dvorak for three times as long to make them ache like that.
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I remember reading that Qwerty has one advantage over Dvorak in that there is better use of alternation between the hands, which speedwise makes up for the fact that the letters are in harder-to-reach places on the Qwerty layout.
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This is entirely possible, but it surprises me. The Dvorak keyboard gives all the vowels to the left hand, to facilitate alternation. Also, if seventy percent of QWERTY typing is left handed, how is that good alternation? You could be right, but keep in mind QWERTY words like "agree, fact, grass, greater, opinion, regard..." (from the site).
One other quirk I've noticed about having both layouts available to me is defeating writers block. Have you ever noticed that you can defeat writer's block by speaking instead of writing, or by using longhand instead of computer, etc? Well, the same is true of switching between two keyboard layouts. They access different parts of the brain. I find my writing is more clear, concise, and logical when I use Dvorak. I am more creative but more poorly organized when I use QWERTY. (At this moment I am on QWERTY--I share a computer and haven't bothered to switch it yet this morning.)
Minstrel