August Dvorak facts for kids

August Dvorak (born May 5, 1894 – died October 10, 1975) was an American psychologist and university professor. He taught at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dvorak is most famous for creating a special keyboard layout.

He worked with his brother-in-law, William Dealey, to design the Dvorak keyboard layout in the 1930s. This new layout was meant to be a better way to type than the common QWERTY keyboard. Later, in the 1940s, Dvorak also designed keyboards for people who could only use one hand.

About August Dvorak

Early Life and Education

August Dvorak was born in Glencoe, Minnesota. He became an educational psychologist. This means he studied how people learn and how to make learning better. He also became a professor, teaching at a university.

Writing About Typing

Dvorak and Dealey wrote an important book called Typewriting Behavior. It was published in 1936. They wrote it with two other people, Nellie Merrick and Gertrude Ford. The book looked deeply into how people type. It explored the science of typing, including how our minds and bodies work together when we use a keyboard.

Military Service

Dvorak also served in the United States military. He was in the American Army Field Artillery. He later joined the United States Navy Reserve. During this time, he taught important subjects like mathematics and navigation.

He served during World War I on a ship called the USS Callao. This ship helped bring troops home after the war. Later, during World War II, Dvorak was the captain of a Gato-class submarine in the United States Navy. His family was of Czech descent. In the United States, his name is usually pronounced with an English 'r' sound.

See also

In Spanish: August Dvorak para niños