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-   -   Touch-typing (https://pirate.planetarion.com/showthread.php?t=194398)

Hebdomad 5 May 2007 11:17

Touch-typing
 
When I type I don't think about what I'm doing. I either look at the keyboard for the first letter, or perhaps I just know where it is, and then I continue typing without looking down. I can invariable copy reasonably long lengths of text from a paper source onto the computer with ease. Sometimes I get the alignment wrong, or see an incorrect letter appear on the screen, but I soon correct that.

I have no visual map of the keys. I seem to use my kinetic memory for that. I couldn't tell you where the R key is on the keyboard, but when I'm in the middle of word with R in it I reach the key without a problem.

That is, I've been using that approach until recently. Because I have a masochistic desire to use baroque Unix programs that use a stupid amount of keyboard short-cuts for pretty-much everything I now need to know where the R key is, amongst others, from nowhere. Therefore, I've been learning to touch-type.

I can touch-type now, but quite slowly. If I'm typing in a few things in I'll touch-type. But If I've a large amount of text I need to enter I fall back onto my older, faster kinetic approach out of frustration.

Who out of you touch-type? Have you been in a similar situation where you've had to relearn how to type? It's a cocking joke to be honest.

Allfather 5 May 2007 12:26

Re: Touch-typing
 
If you actually touch type you should know where the letters are instinctively.
To me it seems od you have problems finding the keyboard shortcuts if you manage to type olly olly oxen free without watching them elusive keys.

Hebdomad 5 May 2007 12:37

Re: Touch-typing
 
Well, now I can, I do.

It is odd. That's why I posted this thread. I explained the difference.

I like how I'm reiterating the thread for you.

Deffeh 5 May 2007 12:53

Re: Touch-typing
 
I use two fingers at great speed. Its difficult to explain how stupid or insane i look until you actually see it happening.

Deffeh 5 May 2007 12:53

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Deffeh
I use two fingers at great speed.

Just like i do with your mum.

SYMM 5 May 2007 13:15

Re: Touch-typing
 
I type with the index and little fingers of my left hand, and the middle and ring fingers of my right hand. My left hand is in a normal typing position, but my right hand sits with the index finger on B and my little finger on P, at a bit of an angle. It's very odd, but I don't look at the keys and can type pretty fast.

Allfather 5 May 2007 13:15

Re: Touch-typing
 
Introvert dialog? :|

pablissimo 5 May 2007 13:20

Re: Touch-typing
 
I touch-type but I have no idea how or when I learnt to, I think it was just a natural progression. Makes typing and watching the tv easier though.

Tomkat 5 May 2007 13:27

Re: Touch-typing
 
Touchtyping is using all fingers on your hands and if any of you do do that it's quite impressive, as you have to learn how to do it.

Personally, I only use the middle fingers of both hands (like Deffeh) and occasionally my index finger for things like backspace or enter. I don't have to look at the keys - that isn't touchtyping though. It's just not looking at the keys :P

My school's recently given/lent me a laptop and the / and \ keys are next to each other on the far right of the keyboard. It really messes me up :(

_Kila_ 5 May 2007 14:19

Re: Touch-typing
 
I just instinctively reach for the keys, I know where each key is on the keyboard though if I ever need to remember or something (yes I'm sad enough to think about where the keys are on the keyboard whilst on long journeys.)
I use all my fingers to type although my little fingers aren't used very much at all, I guess I use them to hit enter, shift, tab and \ and /

BesigedB 5 May 2007 14:29

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomkat
Touchtyping is using all fingers on your hands and if any of you do do that it's quite impressive, as you have to learn how to do it.

I think i could learn to do that given some effort, because when I try to I can pull it off but really, really slowly. As it is I just type with two (mostly) but never look down.

Nodrog 5 May 2007 14:36

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomkat
Touchtyping is using all fingers on your hands and if any of you do do that it's quite impressive, as you have to learn how to do it.

Huh? I'd be amazed if the majority of hardcore computer users here couldnt touch type. I dont think I could take someone seriously if I saw them typing with a single finger on each hand (noone takes Deffeh seriously anyway).

If youre spending all that time at the computer, you might as well learn how to type properly. Mavis Beacon isnt that expensive, and its something you should have learned at school anyway. The idea of typing up a 1000+ word essay using 2 fingers horrifies me - I had no idea that practice still went on in the civilised world.

furball 5 May 2007 14:41

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Deffeh
I use two fingers at great speed. Its difficult to explain how stupid or insane i look until you actually see it happening.

Likewise. Left index finger for keys on the left side of the keyboard, right index finger for keys on the right side of the keyboard, left/right thumb on the spacebar, 60 WPM tyvm.

Knight Theamion 5 May 2007 14:45

Re: Touch-typing
 
i have no idea how i type, while i am typing this i think i use a combination of my index, middle and ring finger.
my pink is barely used and my thumb only for the space ...the pink is only used for the occasional enter.

My hands are fairly big to what a normal keyboard is designed for, so using my pinky on the Q or something would be 'uncool' and unneeded...

Nodrog 5 May 2007 14:51

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by furball
Likewise. Left index finger for keys on the left side of the keyboard, right index finger for keys on the right side of the keyboard, left/right thumb on the spacebar, 60 WPM tyvm.

I dont believe for a minute you can reach 60wpm with single finger typing, what sort of test did you do?

Deepflow 5 May 2007 14:55

Re: Touch-typing
 
I touch type with all my fingers except for my little fingers, and am reasonably quick.

Im not sure how i learnt, but i had a computer in the house all my life, so i guess it was just lots and lots of practice :)

edit: after reading Dante's post i realise i do use my little finger for shift/ctrl/etc :o

SYMM 5 May 2007 15:09

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodrog
I dont believe for a minute you can reach 60wpm with single finger typing, what sort of test did you do?

I just did the first four results for "typing speed test" on Google and got 65-67wpm on each of them if that's any use...

Dante Hicks 5 May 2007 15:59

Re: Touch-typing
 
I remember only ever using one finger per hand to type when I was about 10, but as I got older, like Pabs said, it just evolved to the point where I can almost touch-type. I've tried to "re-learn" to type using the formal methods, but I find it incredibly frustrating (just as Weeks said) and give up.

I have two possible theroes/excuses.
1. I simply have learnt too many bad habits and don't have the motivation to unlearn them (this is true with a lot of programming stuff but much less so than a few years ago).
2. My hands are the wrong shape/size. They don't seem to fit where your fingers should sit according to the diagrams I've seen. Since most typists (originally) were women (possibly, I've no evidence at all for that statement), is there a optimal range for certain styles of typing which is likely to be quite low?

edit : Most "one finger" typists I've seen to tend to use their little finger occassionally, even if only for occassional use of the shift key.

milo 5 May 2007 16:39

Re: Touch-typing
 
Like hebdomad i can basically touch type as long as i don't think about it - which is more than a little ****ing diffucult attis moment as im having to think about it - im typing with all fingers on both hands except for my little fingers that seem to be balancing my palms tail like. I vaguely remember only typing with both index fingers but that was soon overcome with AOL chatrooms.



edit here you go deffeh

furball 5 May 2007 17:06

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodrog
I dont believe for a minute you can reach 60wpm with single finger typing, what sort of test did you do?

I did a test (Wizard of Oz) just now and got 75 WPM with 1 error, but it was quite easy. I then did another one (Fishing in Finland) and got 68 WPM with 3 errors.

www.typingtest.com

It's just a case of knowing where the keys are and being able to move your fingers very quickly. I'd love to type 'properly', since I'm probably near the maximum speed for this style of typing, but as Dante said it's very difficult to do.

Tomkat 5 May 2007 17:26

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodrog
I dont believe for a minute you can reach 60wpm with single finger typing, what sort of test did you do?


I got 91 WPM on the Fishing one. I only really use my middle fingers.

On Wizard of Oz I got 93 WPM with 2 fingers and made 15 mistakes. Most of those mistakes were from misplacing my fingers for the shift keys for the capital letters.

SYMM 5 May 2007 18:09

Re: Touch-typing
 
that's pretty terrible accuracy, try again and see how you do when you're down to 1 mistake per minute.

Tomkat 5 May 2007 18:42

Re: Touch-typing
 
Yeah I guess it is. The main reason for my inaccuracy is because I'm very fast at typing in lowercase (from using IRC) but not for writing reports/essays etc (where capital letters are needed). Also because your middle finger isn't the right position to find the shift keys quickly.

Deffeh 5 May 2007 19:03

Re: Touch-typing
 
hey guys at least this thread didnt turn into a pissing contest

Hebdomad 5 May 2007 23:22

Re: Touch-typing
 
I use all my fingers (including my little fingers for shift, enter, del and the arrow keys and my thumbs for pressing the space-bar), yet I don't touch type (using the formal method). I'm fast enough - I can generally type as fast as the touch-typers, but I just don't know where the keys are if asked.

I quite like the fact I'm using my kinetic memory for it, but I still think I'd be better if I touch-typed properly. But it requires motivation and the usage of my visual memory which I always find taxing.

pig 5 May 2007 23:25

Re: Touch-typing
 
I can type pretty well.

It used to be my party trick to sit in a packed library and chat up a girl while I was looking at her and chatting and at the same time typing away.

I know from what I am writing when I make a mistake without looking at it and automatically undo my damage. All without looking.

furball 5 May 2007 23:43

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by pig
I know from what I am writing when I make a mistake without looking at it and automatically undo my damage. All without looking.

Same here. I made mistakes on the typing test but as long as you hadn't finished the word, you were allowed to go back and correct them without it being counted as an error - and my hands automatically do that.


(I just realised that my right little finger operates the shift key, how cool is that)

pig 6 May 2007 00:26

Re: Touch-typing
 
Left little finger here.

dda-II 6 May 2007 06:05

Re: Touch-typing
 
I learned to touch type when I was in the 9th grade taking a typing class in school. Oddly enough it was on a thing called a typewriter rather than a keyboard. Quaint.

(Congratualations for no one up to this point saying they touch type with their male member.)

Nadar 6 May 2007 12:28

Re: Touch-typing
 
I'm not sure what I do. I think I use all my fingers when typing, but I might not be using them on the "correct" buttons according to touch-typing. Typing and finding the correct letters has become some kind of a reflex to me; I know how to do it without thinking about what to do next. Kinda like learning how to drive a car or ride a bicycle I guess.

Demon Dave 6 May 2007 12:47

Re: Touch-typing
 
It appears at the moment that i only use my index and middle fingers on each hand to type, with left little finger operating shift and ctrl etc. Currently I'm alternating between using my left thumb and right index finger on the space bar.

My mum on the other hand does touch type, but then she was a typist in the Home Office before having my sister and I

All Systems Go 6 May 2007 12:49

Re: Touch-typing
 
Are you the result of an illicit affair with Michael Howard?

Chef! 6 May 2007 13:00

Re: Touch-typing
 
I managed to get 74wpm with six errors on the Oz test. I use pretty much every finger on both of my hands but i think the reason i do this i because since year 7 i have been taught to do so.

All Systems Go 6 May 2007 13:09

Re: Touch-typing
 
I use two fingers on each hand. lus my left thumb for the spacebar.

I can't do any tping tests on this computer as one of the letters doesn't work.

Appocomaster 7 May 2007 00:16

Re: Touch-typing
 
I've been able to type alpha numeric + caps pretty much blindfold for the last 6 or 7 years now, due to the amount of time I spent in IRC chat rooms when I was 13/14/15. I definitely have bad habits and don't type properly (my right hand is too far over and I never use my right little finger to type enter, I think), but I use most of my fingers and when not thinking about it can type pretty quickly. I cba with wpm tests at the moment, but the wpm drastically drops when I need to include things like !£$%^&*. I can usually get () and . , : ; because I use them more often :D.

Tomkat 7 May 2007 13:16

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Deffeh
hey guys at least this thread didnt turn into a pissing contest

I only made that post to prove nodrog wrong. It's these little triumphs that get me through each day.


Quote:

Originally Posted by pig
It used to be my party trick to sit in a packed library and chat up a girl while I was looking at her and chatting and at the same time typing away.

Library Parties :salute:

pablissimo 7 May 2007 16:05

Re: Touch-typing
 
85 wpm with two errors on whatever the **** nonsense about business I was typing, but that was on a laptop keyboard and I'm pretty sure I'd be more proficient on a proper one.

Dante Hicks 7 May 2007 16:24

Re: Touch-typing
 
Surely neural-links are less than a decade away in terms of text input, maybe with another year to have filter stuff so you don't get output like:
"And as we see in Figure 2.1, the economic...
oh my god look at that girl out there, I wonder what whipping her until she bled would be like...no hang on, she's about 13....no way, 18 easy....so why the school uniform then...shit, it's all so wrong...maybe you should go back into therapy....
...system of Chile suffered a massive decline between..." and so on, which would get tedious to go back and edit.

furball 7 May 2007 16:27

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks
..." and so on, which would get tedious to go back and edit.


Likewise it'd be fairly easy to correct - it'd only take a single thought to erase a portion of text and (theoretically) visualise how the section of text should look.

JonnyBGood 7 May 2007 17:00

Re: Touch-typing
 
I use all of my fingers to type when I'm on a proper keyboard, on a laptop keyboard because it's so much smaller I almost never use the last two fingers on my right hand or the small finger on my left hand. Actually just from typing there I realised on a laptop keyboard I use my little finger on my left hand for the shift/caps lock shit and the third finger (index?) on right hand for backspace and return. I guess I know how to touch-type but I never really learned it formally so I assume there'd be a bunch of errors I was making (in terms of speed and proficiency, not actual typing errors).

roadrunner_0 7 May 2007 17:48

Re: Touch-typing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks
Surely neural-links are less than a decade away in terms of text input, maybe with another year to have filter stuff so you don't get output like:
"And as we see in Figure 2.1, the economic...
oh my god look at that girl out there, I wonder what whipping her until she bled would be like...no hang on, she's about 13....no way, 18 easy....so why the school uniform then...shit, it's all so wrong...maybe you should go back into therapy....
...system of Chile suffered a massive decline between..." and so on, which would get tedious to go back and edit.


you must spread some reputation arond before giving it to dante again!



that is the single funniest thing i have read all month

All Systems Go 11 May 2007 14:18

Re: Touch-typing
 
I had a job interview today and as we were gonig through my CV the interviewer sounded incredably surprised by the the fact that I could touch-type 70wpm

Until this thread I wasn't 100% sure what touch-typing was. I can't touch-type, though I can type rather quickly though I do tend to look down at the keyboard at time but I think this is more of a force of habit rather than any real need to see what I am doing. Whilst saying that I'm not looking at what I'm typing and I seem to be making more mistakes than usual and my typing is slower.

Dante Hicks 12 May 2007 01:27

Re: Touch-typing
 
Being a reasonable typist and generally quick to navigate around Windows (i.e. knowing a few keyboard short-cuts) has probably impressed more people during my working life than any other single thing I've done.

This speaks volumes about the qualities I possess as a human being. :(

Tactitus 12 May 2007 01:36

Re: Touch-typing
 
I learned touch-typing in high school but that was back in the pre-PC days when typewriters roamed the earth. ;)

Given my eventual profession as a computer programmer it turned out to be far more useful than I ever would have imagined. :)


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