Typing

[cgh1977]

I tried Dvorak once. The problem I had was that I often worked on computers other than my own, troubleshooting software, etc. My poor brain never got far enough along in learning Dvorak to successfully switch back and forth. I wound up typing gibberish fheipamd. Whs ohro kws fnsusmf.

[wrocca]

I learned to "touch type" in about two weeks. Before that I was a five finger wonder (forefingers, middle fingers, and right thumb). Not sure of my speed... but it sure is faster than five fingers and looking up and down between keyboard and screen. They actually make Dvorak keyboards. Check it out: http://www.typematrix.com. I have had one for 10 years. I really like the columns and rows of keys instead of the weird angles for "normal" keyboards. These keyboards don't need software and, if you get the one I have, you can switch between Dvorak and Qwerty and the touch of a button with the keys imprinted with both sets of letters. Thats my two cents anyway.

"You can't do today's job with yesterday's methods and be in business tomorrow." -- Anonymous So, "Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done." -- Amelia Earhart

[BrainiacV]

I suppose I use the Columbus Method(tm), You find it and then land on it. Back in the days of high school and ASR-33 teletypes, I could span the entire keyboard with one hand (I have yet to meet anyone with hands larger than mine) and so could type with one hand and point to my handwritten notes with the other. Nowadays I use the sight directed method with both hands. Tried to learn "typing" a few times, but never got to the speed I had already achieved with my self-taught methods.

Psychosis at 10 Film at 11

[patbob]

Made my day. Thanks. :)

patbob

[Chris Trelawny Ross]

Back in the day, I learned to type on a VAX VMS system - where they unlocked the typing tutor app over the lunch hour. I can almost entirely type without having to look at the keyboard, although sometimes I do have to think about what finger to use to get a specific key. Especially the top row. When it comes to striking the keyboard - I generally hit it every time (but am careful not to abuse the poor thing). When it comes to accurately hitting specific keys, however ...

[James Lonero]

When did I learn typing? Back in summer school in Jr High School. It was hell. In that class, the typewriters did not have the letters on the keys. You had to look up a board where the keyboard arrangement was posted in the front of the auditorium. I think I got my first case of hives then. Later on, when as a freshman in college, with some practice, it would take at least four hours to type up a two page English paper (after I had written it out long hand). I guess I just needed more practice. Later in my college life, I got much better. I could whip out a 10 page term paper in one day. Then came computers and text editors. Correcting mistakes was much easier. Then came word processors, like MS Word. Now I can easily add special effects (fonts, etc.). Ah, the trials we have to go through to get to where we are.

[b_dunphy]

I was taught one handed touch typing in 1993. Despite being out of practice I stall use three or four fingers most of the time. The last time I tested myself (around 2000) I could still do about 25 wpm with 92% accuracy. In '93 right after the class I was rated at 34wpm and 97% accuracy The biggest problem is the newer "ergonomic" keyboards are worse than useless for one handed use. We are taught to use "FGHJ" as our home keys. Additionally, the ideal situation is have a trackball just below the space bar and the buttons offset just above the home keys we use although the buttons being either side of the trackball is also doable if not quite as efficient.

[b_dunphy]

typo of "still" was left intentionally. It resulted from a popup causing me to reach for the "shift" key.

[Plamen Dragiyski]

Faster typing is using backspace key faster. It's only one key which you need to know ;)

[da808wiz]

Pretty fast, about 70WPM, always finding someone who types faster, or maybe just louder, than me. Typing games, Math Blaster, Typing Master, Typing Tutor, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (recommended, less than $10 at best buy). Typing class was mandatory in the 8th grade. To pass you had to accurately type a letter using the selectric and manual typewriters. I use pretty much all my fingers, but my right pinky gets stuck sometimes from punching brick walls too many times. Of course I don't punch brick walls anymore. It's been weeks! I'm intrigued by the Dvorak. Thanks for the other posters who brought it up. My post is basically an accurate answer to your question. Boring, but accurate.

[laurhino]

Good to know I'm not the only programmer who never learned to type properly! In my case I'd written dozens of stories on the computer before they started typing lessons at school (around gr. 3), and by then I was too comfortable with my own way to see the point in switching to theirs. But I'm pretty fast for a hunt-and-pecker :)

[Stefan Bogdan]

Sweet... :)

[CDMTJX]

Back in the day... I learned on a manual typwriter in high school; while walking to school uphill both ways in snow storms. "fff jjj ddd kkk sss lll aaa ;;; ". :laugh: You needed to pound those keys! I'm still told I type "loudly"... My kids used Mavis Beacon program, seemed to work for them. I've lost the ability to type accurately unless I'm looking at the screen. Bad for touch typist, you need to instead look at what you're typing from...

[BillW33]

I am an OK touch typist, I can't make my fingers move fast enough to type at the lightning speed that the secretaries can do. When programming, I usually don't need great speed as the ideas usually don't flow much faster than I can type. :)

Just because the code works, it doesn't mean that it is good code.