Touch typing

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Sureboss

Sureboss

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Such a useful skill to have, I'd left part of my H&S coursework at college, I have a print out of what I did, just typed it out and it took me about 10 minutes (1 & a 1/2 pages). I'm so glad I can touch type, such a fantastic time saving skill and it feels so rewarding when you are doing it.
 
I have the ability to do so, but I find that I only ever use it when I cannot physically see the keyboard. I've always found that I can type faster (not much, but faster regardless) using 3 fingers on my left hand and two fingers on my right and looking at the keyboard when I first place my hands down to see where they are on the keys.
 
What is your WPM Tornado? I sit around 80 or 90 wpm when I focus a bit to touch type.

The best part about touch typing is once you get the hang of it you can type huge things up without even looking at what you just typed and it turns out fine, such as this right here, for a small scale example.
 
Azuremen
What is your WPM Tornado? I sit around 80 or 90 wpm when I focus a bit to touch type.
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Last time I had it checked (a few years ago, mind) it was around the low 90s where I topped out. We had a class in 11th grade that we did competitions in, and I was usually competing for first in that class.

I'm having trouble figuring out what to call the typing style I use. Its mostly touch typing, but it has so many idiosyncrasies with real touch typing that I can't really call it that.
 
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I can't 'officially' touch type I suppose, but I type without looking at the keyboard. I've just sort of learned it naturally I guess. And yeah, it is pretty handy - particularly when you're copying stuff off the projector screen in I.T class.

Looking at the keyboard when I type actually confuses me half the time - I find looking at what's appearing on the screen is much easier to be honest. That way, if I make a mistake I can correct it instantly.
 
I can do it but when I know I'm doing it I can't do it... :/
 
I touch type, but now that you mentioned it, It's a bit harder. Kinda like the other day when I wondered how I knew how to tie my shoes...
 
Yeah, I don't really do it all exactly the way they teach either. I never look at the keyboard besides the initial placement or when I repeatedly keep hitting the wrong key. If I only look at the keyboard I an't notice when I make a mistake. I just typed that looking at the keyboard and did not notice the error. Are there any online ways to find your WPM?
 
I can type without looking at the keyboard. I freak people out at work by continuing to type as I look at them to start a conversation with them when they come to my desk. I don't use the "home keys" style of touch-typing, but I'm fast and accurate enough. I also know when I've made a mistake, without even looking. My fingers just report back to my brain that they didn't go where they were supposed to.
 
Touch typing is the skill with PCs. That, and knowing the shortcuts - moving your hand to the mouse is a big waste of time and effort. A teacher in the 3rd grade taught me to touch-type, and a dysfunctional laptop-touchpad taught me to use hotkeys.

GilesGuthrie
I can type without looking at the keyboard. I freak people out at work by continuing to type as I look at them to start a conversation with them when they come to my desk. I don't use the "home keys" style of touch-typing, but I'm fast and accurate enough. I also know when I've made a mistake, without even looking. My fingers just report back to my brain that they didn't go where they were supposed to.
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^ That. It keeps freaking out family members when I turn my head to talk, while still typing. Used to be able to do it on the piano as well, but not anymore.
 
Metar
Touch typing is the skill with PCs. That, and knowing the shortcuts - moving your hand to the mouse is a big waste of time and effort. A teacher in the 3rd grade taught me to touch-type, and a dysfunctional laptop-touchpad taught me to use hotkeys.
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Yeah, I'm with you. Short-Cuts are the real time saver. I know heaps of people, mostly receptionists and like, who can type at pretty fast speeds, yet spend 30 seconds trying to highlight precisely every time they want to Bold something.

Actually people who really annoying are people who type a long sentence, read it back, realise they've made a spelling mistake, the just hold backspace and delete half the stuff they just wrote to get back to the point to correct the mistake.
 
Can't touch type, but can type fast enough using 2 fingers from each hand, and I'm quite accurate too. I don't need to do much typing at work so can get by with no problems.

But touch typing would help you to kill zombies...

 
Casio
Yeah, I'm with you. Short-Cuts are the real time saver. I know heaps of people, mostly receptionists and like, who can type at pretty fast speeds, yet spend 30 seconds trying to highlight precisely every time they want to Bold something.

Actually people who really annoying are people who type a long sentence, read it back, realise they've made a spelling mistake, the just hold backspace and delete half the stuff they just wrote to get back to the point to correct the mistake.
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You mean people don't just wait till they're directly below the wrong word, then press up, then press the key for the right-mouse, then down-down-down-(to the word)-enter?

The one that gets me is the people who move their hand to the mouse to move to the next field in a form. Are they not aware of the TAB key?

Oh, and while we're on the subject, people who click "Apply", then "OK": what's going on in their minds?
 
I was first introduced to touch typing with Mario Teaches Typing 2 many years ago, then my skills were solidified with a proper typing class in 6th grade. I also now type and correct my mistakes without thinking. I've been using (and adoring) my Das Keyboard for a little over two years now, and after many hours of coding, I have learned the placement of all special characters and numbers. I think geeks take it for granted, but it is indeed a valuable skill to have.

das-keyboard-ii-2.jpg
 
GilesGuthrie
You mean people don't just wait till they're directly below the wrong word, then press up, then press the key for the right-mouse, then down-down-down-(to the word)-enter?

The one that gets me is the people who move their hand to the mouse to move to the next field in a form. Are they not aware of the TAB key?

Oh, and while we're on the subject, people who click "Apply", then "OK": what's going on in their minds?
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Actually I've thought of the worst.

*Caps On* P *Caps Off* eople who like to use the *Caps On* C *Caps off* aps *Caps On* L *Caps off* ock key to capitalise words. *Caps On* R *Caps Off* ather then pressing the key directly below it.

---------------

On a slightly related topic, are you guys Right or Left Shifters? I'm actually a big left Shifter which is actually what has stopped me from buying a Netbook cause I can't find one with a decent Left Shift key.
 
Left shifter here. Unless I'm lazy and typing with one hand, in which case I use whichever is nearer.

Jordan
I was first introduced to touch typing with Mario Teaches Typing 2 many years ago, then my skills were solidified with a proper typing class in 6th grade. I also now type and correct my mistakes without thinking. I've been using (and adoring) my Das Keyboard for a little over two years now, and after many hours of coding, I have learned the placement of all special characters and numbers. I think geeks take it for granted, but it is indeed a valuable skill to have.

das-keyboard-ii-2.jpg
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:O! I love it! Not loving that price tag, though. Particularly as my keyboards usually end up drenched in coffee. Might attack the keys on my Logitech with some black spray paint actually... It's rather tempting.
 
Left-shifter: I'm using an antiquated Northgate OmniKey with the old location for the Ctrl key, as well - so my fifth finger can do Ctrl+Shift in one move (useful for the Gnome Terminal, Linux-users), and most of the regular Ctrl-combos (cutting, undo, etc) are done with the left hand alone.

And Jordan, I fear my OmniKey is so filthy by now that it resembles your blacked-out keyboard. :p
 
I took a typing course at school when I was about 12. Only it was with typing machines instead of computers. Never finished it, but I did enough to learn how to position my hands correctly on the keyboard and to memorize where all the letters are.

So yes, I touch type. In fact my work keyboard is similar to the "Das Keyboard" Jordan posted. Most of the letters are erased from use. It's actually cool because I can see which keys I type the most, but when someone needs to use my computer I always end up having to type for them.

I'll post a picture of it when I get home.
 
Left shifters, don't think I've ever touched the right shifter on either PC or laptop keyboard. Little finger rests on the left shifter.
 
Jondot
:O! I love it! Not loving that price tag, though. Particularly as my keyboards usually end up drenched in coffee. Might attack the keys on my Logitech with some black spray paint actually... It's rather tempting.
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It is expensive compared to other keyboards, but it's worth it for me since it is something that use for hours on end, each day. It's also not just about the blank keys - it uses a special mechanical switch design, much like the old IBM Model M keyboards that are so famous for their tactile and auditory feedback. The Das keys aren't quite as heavy, but it's a real pleasure to type on. Each key is actually weighted differently, depending on the strength of the finger that should be pressing it.
 
Hmm... My OmniKey isn't quite as high-tech (keys are weighed the same), but I still use it, grime and age (I fear it's older than me!) and all (including no functional [ button or right-key) because it is just so much more comfortable. The keys give proper resistance when pushed, and there's that awesome machine-gun sound when I type quickly. I type for hours every day, but it's the mouse that gives me problems, if any.
 
I tend to do a lot of touch typing and am fairly good at it. Not especially fast at it but certianly turns heads when I look away and continue typing.

As for Keyboards, I've always wanted a Kinesis Ergo. Haven't had the disposable income that would allow me a guilt-free purchase of it though.

My wife'd shoot me if I purchased a blank keyboard, but that Das looks good.

Speedtest = 42 words/minute
 
Wow, that Kinesis looks great. It's tough to beat the comfort of a split keyboard design.
 
I dont think I can justify spending 360 dollars on a keyboard, unless im writing more than a thousand pages.

32WPM from the speed test...
 
30WPM on that speed test, which is plenty fast for me. I don't really touch-type, but I only glance down every now and then. Most words, I have a way I put my hand to type it out quickly; it's hard to explain, though.
 

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