I would agree that one should be careful to treat statistics and direct experience separately. If the statistic help build intution, that's great, and if they differ, then the experience is probably even more valuable information.
Great point
Yea, is not comparing of single-button vs multi-button chords, but rather relates to whether dexterity is an issue for MCC.
I'm still working on it but I've got a thesis that most MCC are actually slower than typing. That's obviously super controversial but my gut is that it is true. I plan on eventually making a post for just that topic.
Figure 7 shows that it is comparing chording using two thumbs, vs chording using fingers of a single hand. My understanding is that Lyons was saying that statically, those using two thumbs (very high dexterity) had a higher typing rate during the first hour or so (first four 20 min. sessions), but after three hours or more, those using a single hand had a faster typing rate.
Interesting!
There may be limits to the shapes you can easily form, but I personally compare it to guitar playing, where the shapes are less a concern as long as one uses a comfortable hand position, and learns to form those shapes with relaxed grip. With that, they all just become patters that with enough practice, 'muscle memory' can recall at will.
I agree on guitar analogy but would refine to say more like Spanish guitar or a guitar solo in that chording is more like melody line that travels than a repeating riff.
Even so, Lyons' results were for the default keymap, correct? The numbers will certainly differ for a keymap that has been optimized, as yours has, for a number of additional criteria.
Yes my first 20 hours were on standard config which his about as unoptimal as it gets. Keys assigned in descending alphabetical order only. No accounting for ergonomics at all.