How did you get faster at typing?

[ajunakey]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

[irendulic]

I think it's more muscle memory. I have no problem typing without looking at keyboard or on blank keyboard, but I really have to think hard to "recreate" the keyboard without my hands on it.

This image helped me a lot when I started typing properly. Holding your fingers "in neutral" on asdf (left hand) and jkl; (right hand) and with time they just seem to know their way around the keyboard without me thinking about it.
http://libraries.wichita.edu/subsplus/assets/fckuserfiles/i_fingering_guide.gif

[atlas3686]

It's true just takes some practice, check out www.typingweb.com/tutor/ if you need some help getting started.

[Novus]

I can touch type because we were indoctrinated in kindergarden ... well we had to pass a basic typing test which I think really helped and we were exposed to computers relatively young.
It just takes some practice and you'll eventually pick it up.
Blanks are a great way to start.

As a touch typist it's really annoying when I use another format (in another country for example) that I'm not used to.
Since the HHKB isn't a standard format it'll also take you some time to adjust to that as well.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I've been teaching myself how to use the number row on top instead of the numpad lately. It takes time and a lot of frustration. As others have said, the best way to learn is practice and have a printout of the layout for you to look at if you get lost. Maybe try some typing games. Other than, try to have a positive attitude. If you view it as a chore or not fun you're more likely to fail.

[chibishin]

practice practice practice

as the others have said, it's all muscle memory, and the more you do it, the better you'll get.

[ajunakey]

thanks fellas. i'll be sure to practice your recommended methods 

[Nixietube]

i forced myself to learn touch typing and i am still learing. currently at 60 wpm and i get better every month just by typing

[Tony]

Touch type. Change to a better, optimized layout. Practice. Practice. Practice.

[minho]

Literally just type a lot. For me, a teenager that wastes time on chat and Reddit, this is no problem at all. Over the course of about 4 years, I went from 80 wpm to 125 wpm (I kind of flatlined at 125. Not sure how to improve from here).

The more you type, the better you learn how to touch type. Switching to a 60% layout forced me to learn how to type on the number row, something I had never really bothered to learn before, and I am now noticeably faster at typing on the number row.

[daerid]

Literally just type a lot. For me, a teenager that wastes time on chat and Reddit, this is no problem at all. Over the course of about 4 years, I went from 80 wpm to 125 wpm (I kind of flatlined at 125. Not sure how to improve from here).

The more you type, the better you learn how to touch type. Switching to a 60% layout forced me to learn how to type on the number row, something I had never really bothered to learn before, and I am now noticeably faster at typing on the number row.

This. I got into online games very early in computer-related life. IRC, Forums, ICQ, AIM, all that crap. Plus writing scripts for games and stuff like that. After a while you just develop muscle memory.

[zig_ziglar]

I think there are physical and mental barriers at a genetic level that, while maybe not making it impossible, introduce severe diminishing returns past a certain speed. For example, I literally can't read fast enough to exhaust my physical speed. Others might have the opposite problem or a mix of both.

I think the average upper ceiling is around 100wpm, but this probably differs from layout to layout.

But yeah, it's definitely muscle memory that allows you to touch type and the only way to develop this is repetition while not looking/cheating. Better off starting slow, but CORRECT, and just practice, practice, practice.

[kenmai9]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

[Sifo]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

THIS

[Zeal]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

THIS

Same here. I forced myself to type faster by playing MMOs while fighting mobs/bosses and communicating.

[riotonthebay]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

THIS

Same here. I forced myself to type faster by playing MMOs while fighting mobs/bosses and communicating.

I was always in competitive guilds when I played WoW, which means I was spoiled by vent. I can see how this would help though...

[zig_ziglar]

It could also help to switch to a more efficient layout like Dvorak or Colemak. There are so many common words that are awkward to type on QWERTY or rely on a high percentage of left hand finger-work.

I only type at around 120wpm on QWERTY. It feels like my hands are jumping all over the place compared with other layouts. I got to 100wpm on Dvorak in a couple of weeks, which I am now a lot faster on. I'm starting to learn Colemak now as I need to be able to use standard editing shortcuts at work (ie CTL+C), because I can't install things like autohotkey etc.

[PolaBurrr]

Using a typing program/tutor really helps. I actually learned to touch type properly at a fast speed when I was in 7th grade, when we all had to take a mandatory career ed. class that had a unit on touch typing. Literally, we would spend an hour each day using a typing program and just learn to touch type.

[Decaffeinator]

About two months ago I picked up Dvorak. I went cold turkey, and I did not use a typing tutor. I just pulled up an image of the layout and resumed my day as normal. For the first two weeks, it's pretty miserable. But now my typing speed is gradually increasing. 

Moving to an alternative layout can be a bit annoying, but it clears up all those bad habits by abolishing them entirely. Just make sure you're practicing good habits when you start!

[wuqe]

Also makes your emails more succinct. And nobody notices!

[Linkbane]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

You could take advantage of the moment and make best use of it by learning a new layout. Nothing but practice will help; starting with a picture of the layout on-screen is best.

[minho]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

You could take advantage of the moment and make best use of it by learning a new layout. Nothing but practice will help; starting with a picture of the layout on-screen is best.

dvorak.nl maybe?

I tried to use that to learn Dvorak over winter break but was unsuccessful. I can type the home row at probably a nice 40 wpm though

[Linkbane]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

You could take advantage of the moment and make best use of it by learning a new layout. Nothing but practice will help; starting with a picture of the layout on-screen is best.

dvorak.nl maybe?

I tried to use that to learn Dvorak over winter break but was unsuccessful. I can type the home row at probably a nice 40 wpm though

Push, I remember that. I went from 80 to 160 in a little over a year after swapping, which I can't say is normal haha. There are transition layouts and apparently Colemak is easier to learn, I just am too hipster and must use the OG alternate layout. I have my doubts about alternation, but at least there are some nice digraphs on Dvorak.

[minho]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

You could take advantage of the moment and make best use of it by learning a new layout. Nothing but practice will help; starting with a picture of the layout on-screen is best.

dvorak.nl maybe?

I tried to use that to learn Dvorak over winter break but was unsuccessful. I can type the home row at probably a nice 40 wpm though

Push, I remember that. I went from 80 to 160 in a little over a year after swapping, which I can't say is normal haha. There are transition layouts and apparently Colemak is easier to learn, I just am too hipster and must use the OG alternate layout. I have my doubts about alternation, but at least there are some nice digraphs on Dvorak.

OG alternate layout? Alternation? What is that 

[tbc]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

DAT TRUTH

no greater motivator or trainer has been found

[Linkbane]

You could take advantage of the moment and make best use of it by learning a new layout. Nothing but practice will help; starting with a picture of the layout on-screen is best.

dvorak.nl maybe?

I tried to use that to learn Dvorak over winter break but was unsuccessful. I can type the home row at probably a nice 40 wpm though

Push, I remember that. I went from 80 to 160 in a little over a year after swapping, which I can't say is normal haha. There are transition layouts and apparently Colemak is easier to learn, I just am too hipster and must use the OG alternate layout. I have my doubts about alternation, but at least there are some nice digraphs on Dvorak.

OG alternate layout? Alternation? What is that 

Mostly technical terms, you'd have to have done some research into alternate layouts if you were to know. Alternation is the switching of hands after every letter, which is better for accuracy and speed than using one hand in succession, as well as less tiring. I say it's OG because it's far older than any other alternate layout; it's in the ANSI and made in the 20s, I believe. Also doesn't make any stupid concessions to QWERTY like Colemak does.

[flopska]

I wrote this little tool http://flopska.github.io/ruby-typing/ to reach higher speeds. The ads and the loading times of the available tools disturbed me.

Higher speeds come with a lot of training and regular typing.

[nomaded]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

I originally learned to touchtype on a an actual typewriter when I was in middle school. This was something my parents wanted me to learn. For many years after, I wasn't very fast at typing Qwerty, mostly because I didn't really need to be.

Then when I got into college, I started to play with friends on a MUD. A MUD in kind of like WoW, but it was all text, so you had to use your imagination based on the text descriptions of what was going on. You had to type out commands you wanted to do, like movement or combat. So, I very quickly increased my typing speed of Qwerty.

About 10 years ago, I decided to switch to Dvorak. Even though I was touchtyping Qwerty, when I switched to Dvorak, I'm actually using the "correct" fingers for the layout. It also helps significantly to move away from a staggered keyboard. I have no idea how fast I am. I don't really care about speed, I type fast enough to do whatever I want. To me, Dvorak is all about comfort in typing.

[nomaded]

About two months ago I picked up Dvorak. I went cold turkey, and I did not use a typing tutor. I just pulled up an image of the layout and resumed my day as normal. For the first two weeks, it's pretty miserable. But now my typing speed is gradually increasing. 

Moving to an alternative layout can be a bit annoying, but it clears up all those bad habits by abolishing them entirely. Just make sure you're practicing good habits when you start!

THIS.

When I switched to Dvorak, I also went cold turkey after about a week of trying to learn Dvorak and still type Qwerty for work things. I ended up propping up a print out of the layout between the monitor and the keyboard to help me memorize the layout. Also, I went with a simple web-based typing tutorial to help learn the layout: http://gigliwood.com/abcd/lessons/.

[ajunakey]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

Haha that's a great way to teach oneself

[kaltar]

Met a guy that had a Dreamcast with a game called "Type of the Dead" or something like that. and you had to type words to kill the zombies. He went from single finger - looking at the keys to 140 wpm in a year. Practiced for hours every day. I was so jealous of his skills, because additionally he used vi to program, and now he was the faster coder in the world!

[zig_ziglar]

Met a guy that had a Dreamcast with a game called "Type of the Dead" or something like that. and you had to type words to kill the zombies. He went from single finger - looking at the keys to 140 wpm in a year. Practiced for hours every day. I was so jealous of his skills, because additionally he used vi to program, and now he was the faster coder in the world!

"The typing of the dead" - and what a great idea to improve by playing this game! There is a Steam version nowdays.

[ajunakey]

Met a guy that had a Dreamcast with a game called "Type of the Dead" or something like that. and you had to type words to kill the zombies. He went from single finger - looking at the keys to 140 wpm in a year. Practiced for hours every day. I was so jealous of his skills, because additionally he used vi to program, and now he was the faster coder in the world!

"The typing of the dead" - and what a great idea to improve by playing this game! There is a Steam version nowdays.

Yeah I've seen some people play it! I might buy it during the steam sale (if it goes on sale)

[dinoxor]

Not only should you practice, but you should practice with precision!

http://www.typing-lessons.org/help.php?e=PRINCIPLES

These priciples have helped me with the number row TREMENDOUSLY
Precision is key and you will eventually pick up speed.

It also helps to dedicate a few minutes each day to practice

I like to use this website: http://10fastfingers.com/typing-test/english

It tracks your progress so you can see your improvements over time.

[futurebird]

I'm a self taught touch typist. But I learned everything with my right hand shifted so that my index finger is on "h." Is it worth it for me to try to relearn the position of that hand?

[esko997]

Just practice I guess. My typing is a refined version of hunt and peck thats just gotten much faster over the years. The problem with this method now is that it tends to be very inaccurate as its based entirely on muscle memory -- and as soon as I go over to a slightly different keyboard layout I start making a lot of mistakes because again, its all muscle memory.

Would love to learn how to properly touch type -- but every time I try I revert back to my old ways because its faster.

[Linkbane]

Just practice I guess. My typing is a refined version of hunt and peck thats just gotten much faster over the years. The problem with this method now is that it tends to be very inaccurate as its based entirely on muscle memory -- and as soon as I go over to a slightly different keyboard layout I start making a lot of mistakes because again, its all muscle memory.

Would love to learn how to properly touch type -- but every time I try I revert back to my old ways because its faster.

47 isn't fast if you compare to anyone who doesn't hunt-and-peck, just thought you ought to know. 50 wpm is about average.

[oluf]

CLI

[esko997]

Just practice I guess. My typing is a refined version of hunt and peck thats just gotten much faster over the years. The problem with this method now is that it tends to be very inaccurate as its based entirely on muscle memory -- and as soon as I go over to a slightly different keyboard layout I start making a lot of mistakes because again, its all muscle memory.

Would love to learn how to properly touch type -- but every time I try I revert back to my old ways because its faster.

47 isn't fast if you compare to anyone who doesn't hunt-and-peck, just thought you ought to know. 50 wpm is about average.

Lol no I realize that 47 is pretty horrible -- got some blank keycaps in the mail though, maybe that will force me to learn to touch type.

[Linkbane]

Just practice I guess. My typing is a refined version of hunt and peck thats just gotten much faster over the years. The problem with this method now is that it tends to be very inaccurate as its based entirely on muscle memory -- and as soon as I go over to a slightly different keyboard layout I start making a lot of mistakes because again, its all muscle memory.

Would love to learn how to properly touch type -- but every time I try I revert back to my old ways because its faster.

47 isn't fast if you compare to anyone who doesn't hunt-and-peck, just thought you ought to know. 50 wpm is about average.

Lol no I realize that 47 is pretty horrible -- got some blank keycaps in the mail though, maybe that will force me to learn to touch type.

You could always take the opportunity and learn a new layabout while you're at it.

[futurebird]

For the time being I am opting not to try to move my right hand. It took me long enough to learn to touch type in this position.  I'm not fast at all yet. Only 25wpm. But I only stated touch typing on a blank board less than a week ago.

I can hunt and peck out 50wpm but I want to get faster than that. So I am forcing myself to learn to touch type.

[Linkbane]

For the time being I am opting not to try to move my right hand. It took me long enough to learn to touch type in this position.  I'm not fast at all yet. Only 25wpm. But I only stated touch typing on a blank board less than a week ago.

I can hunt and peck out 50wpm but I want to get faster than that. So I am forcing myself to learn to touch type.

Good stuff, great way to do it. I applaud that will to improve.

[demik]

No friends. More time to hit 160wins per minute.

[zig_ziglar]

Learn Colemak layout from scratch using finger a placement chart so you know which finger is supposed to press which key. Why learn Qwerty if you essentially have to start from ground zero in order to learn properly? Might as well learn a layout that is efficient and promotes fast speed speeds and reduces RSI/CTS.

[Linkbane]

Learn Colemak layout from scratch using finger a placement chart so you know which finger is supposed to press which key. Why learn Qwerty if you essentially have to start from ground zero in order to learn properly? Might as well learn a layout that is efficient and promotes fast speed speeds and reduces RSI/CTS.

Colemak doesn't promote high speeds; it uses rolls, and not alternations, simple as that. It's better than QWERTY, but that doesn't mean too much.

[davkol]

The same could be said about any layout, due to lack of data.

[epzy]

No friends. More time to hit 160wins per minute.

xD

[ajunakey]

No friends. More time to hit 160wins per minute.

lol'd

[Linkbane]

The same could be said about any layout, due to lack of data.

There's quite a bit of data on Dvorak, especially considering Blackburn. If anything, there's very little data on Colemak, lacking any formal studies.

[Sifo]

No friends. More time to hit 160wins per minute.

But you're friends with me : (

[davkol]

The same could be said about any layout, due to lack of data.

There's quite a bit of data on Dvorak, especially considering Blackburn. If anything, there's very little data on Colemak, lacking any formal studies.

There's quite a bit of data on QWERTY, especially considering Wrona or Zaviačičová.

Speaking of studies, I've yet to see a real-world Dvorak-QWERTY comparison that isn't flawed.

[Linkbane]

The same could be said about any layout, due to lack of data.

There's quite a bit of data on Dvorak, especially considering Blackburn. If anything, there's very little data on Colemak, lacking any formal studies.

There's quite a bit of data on QWERTY, especially considering Wrona or Zaviačičová.

Speaking of studies, I've yet to see a real-world Dvorak-QWERTY comparison that isn't flawed.

In which way? Carpalx and other statistics not good enough? I can try to dig something up, a few months ago some study from the 1990s in the US concluded a 2.4% wpm gain, I can look for it if you'd like. Certainly way past Sholes and Dvoraks' time. Colemak elitists, unite.

[davkol]

You mean something like this (PDF) article by Leonard West? They tested only digrams and on rather small scale... the output was 4% superiority of Dvorak, which is not a big deal. There were more studies like that, especially in the 70's and 80's, but... they always looked only at some aspects (like speed of typing bigrams) and with very few participants. No ground-breaking results either.

carpalx is not a study. It's a parametric model and its output obviously depends on supplied parameters. (I should know, I'm actually extending carpalx.) The defaults are... well, how did they get there? Moreover, the results don't say much about performance *in actuality*.

I'm definitely not opposed to the idea of other layouts (working on carpalx and want to learn yet another layout), but for different reasons (philosophy, subjective comfort, hypothetically easier learning). There simply isn't enough data to claim that different optimized software layouts noticeably affect speed or RSI.

[smknjoe]

After getting into the life-long bad habit of looking at the keys while I typed (and thinking typing was only for secretaries) I finally taught myself to type properly following this this tutorial: http://www.typing-lessons.org/
I went from always having to look at the keys to using a blank Leopold TLK Otaku full time within a month or two of practicing about 15 minutes a day. I don't like to use the term "touch typing" as it implies that there are other kinds of typing that are considered acceptable. You either know how to type or you don't. If you have to look at the keys you don't. Learning to type properly can really help increase your productivity. Good luck!

[Linkbane]

You mean something like this (PDF) article by Leonard West? They tested only digrams and on rather small scale... the output was 4% superiority of Dvorak, which is not a big deal. There were more studies like that, especially in the 70's and 80's, but... they always looked only at some aspects (like speed of typing bigrams) and with very few participants. No ground-breaking results either.

carpalx is not a study. It's a parametric model and its output obviously depends on supplied parameters. (I should know, I'm actually extending carpalx.) The defaults are... well, how did they get there? Moreover, the results don't say much about performance *in actuality*.

I'm definitely not opposed to the idea of other layouts (working on carpalx and want to learn yet another layout), but for different reasons (philosophy, subjective comfort, hypothetically easier learning). There simply isn't enough data to claim that different optimized software layouts noticeably affect speed or RSI.

Good thing that because there is a small sample size, any conclusions are either false or irrelevant.
And perhaps 4% isn't a big deal to you, but to me it's quite significant (and it is higher, so why would you learn the worse way?) especially considering the significantly reduced finger travel.

[zig_ziglar]

Browse youtube and watch videos of people typing on Dvorak or Colemak layout. Preferably ones where they have split screen showing their keyboard and the text as it is typed. You will see for yourself that this "4%" statistic is meaningless.

I watched one last night by simply typing "Colemak" into the search field and it was titled something like "Colemak 136wpm". Not the fastest speed ever, but you can see how little his fingers travel from the home row and how smooth and rhythmic the typing pattern is compared to a similar speed on Qwerty.

Draw your own conclusions either way. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but hey - it never hurts to allow a broad range of information and evidence to underlay your opinions, does it? Least of all, you; he who stands the most to gain from it.

[Linkbane]

Browse youtube and watch videos of people typing on Dvorak or Colemak layout. Preferably ones where they have split screen showing their keyboard and the text as it is typed. You will see for yourself that this "4%" statistic is meaningless.

I watched one last night by simply typing "Colemak" into the search field and it was titled something like "Colemak 136wpm". Not the fastest speed ever, but you can see how little his fingers travel from the home row and how smooth and rhythmic the typing pattern is compared to a similar speed on Qwerty.

Draw your own conclusions either way. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but hey - it never hurts to allow a broad range of information and evidence to underlay your opinions, does it? Least of all, you; he who stands the most to gain from it.

I think you completely misunderstood. We were talking about Dvorak vs QWERTY, Colemak had absolutely nothing to do to with it. What do you mean by 'least of all, I'. I do not stand to gain much more than anyone here, I'm just assuming that you were talking like that because you misunderstood.

[zig_ziglar]

I should've quoted Dovkal, as that was who I was addressing, not you. I'm in agreeance with you.

I probably shouldn't bundle Colemak with Dvorak, but that's what I did, as I feel the (unplausable) research against Dvorak is the same sentiment argued against Colemak by the same nay sayers.

Both Dvorak and Colemak reduce travel beyond the home row significantly. Something you have to "see" for yourself; hence my suggestion to watch a video or two. I only drew reference to Colemak as I had that particular video fresh in mind.

The misunderstanding is mutual, but my fault for not quoting the comment I was addressing 

[Linkbane]

I should've quoted Dovkal, as that was who I was addressing, not you. I'm in agreeance with you.

I probably shouldn't bundle Colemak with Dvorak, but that's what I did, as I feel the (unplausable) research against Dvorak is the same sentiment argued against Colemak by the same nay sayers.

Both Dvorak and Colemak reduce travel beyond the home row significantly. Something you have to "see" for yourself; hence my suggestion to watch a video or two. I only drew reference to Colemak as I had that particular video fresh in mind.

The misunderstanding is mutual, but my fault for not quoting the comment I was addressing 

Ah, no worry. I certainly don't have anything against Colemak, it just has been communicated to me that alternation is best for typing while rolls reduce travel, and that the two factors are sometimes mixed up. I do certainly seen excellent Colemak typists better than myself by a respectable margin, I just want to clear any misconceptions that it is just 'superior' to everything else, if you see what I mean.

[zig_ziglar]

I think both Dvorak and Colemak are great options, each in their own right; and both superior to Qwerty. I've learnt both, but I'm better at Dvorak. In my experience I would say that Colemak is a less steep learning curve when transitioning from Qwerty. The left-right,left-right rhythm of Dvorak and key placement compared to Qwerty is just COMPLETELY different and takes a lot of time to adjust to. Colemak was developed well after Dvorak and the idea behind it was to address the transition issue, but also try to further improve upon the efficiencies of Dvorak.

The main reason why I like Colemak is the editing shortcuts, such as CTRL C, X, V etc are in the same location as Qwerty. In places where you can't use keyremapping software, this is an almost must-have factor.

[Linkbane]

I think both Dvorak and Colemak are great options, each in their own right; and both superior to Qwerty. I've learnt both, but I'm better at Dvorak. In my experience I would say that Colemak is a less steep learning curve when transitioning from Qwerty. The left-right,left-right rhythm of Dvorak and key placement compared to Qwerty is just COMPLETELY different and takes a lot of time to adjust to. Colemak was developed well after Dvorak and the idea behind it was to address the transition issue, but also try to further improve upon the efficiencies of Dvorak.

The main reason why I like Colemak is the editing shortcuts, such as CTRL C, X, V etc are in the same location as Qwerty. In places where you can't use keyremapping software, this is an almost must-have factor.

Ah yes, the coding has always been a factor to, it seems, almost everyone. At first it was a bit jarring, but now I'm so used to Dvorak shortcuts that it's strange for me to go back to QWERTY; although many are two handed, (nicely, CTRL+W is easier to press) it's not too much lost labor for me. Do you mainly type on Dvorak, and how was the transition from it to Colemak? I gave it a shot, but there just wasn't enough motivation for me.

[zig_ziglar]

I think both Dvorak and Colemak are great options, each in their own right; and both superior to Qwerty. I've learnt both, but I'm better at Dvorak. In my experience I would say that Colemak is a less steep learning curve when transitioning from Qwerty. The left-right,left-right rhythm of Dvorak and key placement compared to Qwerty is just COMPLETELY different and takes a lot of time to adjust to. Colemak was developed well after Dvorak and the idea behind it was to address the transition issue, but also try to further improve upon the efficiencies of Dvorak.

The main reason why I like Colemak is the editing shortcuts, such as CTRL C, X, V etc are in the same location as Qwerty. In places where you can't use keyremapping software, this is an almost must-have factor.

Ah yes, the coding has always been a factor to, it seems, almost everyone. At first it was a bit jarring, but now I'm so used to Dvorak shortcuts that it's strange for me to go back to QWERTY; although many are two handed, (nicely, CTRL+W is easier to press) it's not too much lost labor for me. Do you mainly type on Dvorak, and how was the transition from it to Colemak? I gave it a shot, but there just wasn't enough motivation for me.

Sadly, I've reverted back to Qwerty at work, where I do the majority of my typing - because I use the editing commands so much AND my work won't allow me to install the keyboard layout for Colemak. It is very difficult to be profficient in more than one layout simultaneously, so I expect my efficiency in either has diminished as a result

Colemak is probably easier to learn straight from Qwerty than Qwerty->Dvorak, but it wasn't "that" hard.

[Linkbane]

Sadly, I've reverted back to Qwerty at work, where I do the majority of my typing - because I use the editing commands so much AND my work won't allow me to install the keyboard layout for Colemak. It is very difficult to be profficient in more than one layout simultaneously, so I expect my efficiency in either has diminished as a result

Colemak is probably easier to learn straight from Qwerty than Qwerty->Dvorak, but it wasn't "that" hard.

Ah, the unsympathetic work, my apologies. If only you got your hands on a CODE, with its switchable Dvorak/Colemak via DIP switches..

[zig_ziglar]

Sadly, I've reverted back to Qwerty at work, where I do the majority of my typing - because I use the editing commands so much AND my work won't allow me to install the keyboard layout for Colemak. It is very difficult to be profficient in more than one layout simultaneously, so I expect my efficiency in either has diminished as a result

Colemak is probably easier to learn straight from Qwerty than Qwerty->Dvorak, but it wasn't "that" hard.

Ah, the unsympathetic work, my apologies. If only you got your hands on a CODE, with its switchable Dvorak/Colemak via DIP switches..

They made me fill out a long-winded form and write an email to level 2 IT, which was never acknowledged (months ago), so gave up. We've got a new operations manager here though, (who I've been getting along well with), so I might be able to get somewhere starting from the top.

As far as the code goes - I have honestly thought about it for a while, but I'm kind of torn between on a Code or a Kinesis Advantage.

[Linkbane]

Sadly, I've reverted back to Qwerty at work, where I do the majority of my typing - because I use the editing commands so much AND my work won't allow me to install the keyboard layout for Colemak. It is very difficult to be profficient in more than one layout simultaneously, so I expect my efficiency in either has diminished as a result

Colemak is probably easier to learn straight from Qwerty than Qwerty->Dvorak, but it wasn't "that" hard.

Ah, the unsympathetic work, my apologies. If only you got your hands on a CODE, with its switchable Dvorak/Colemak via DIP switches..

They made me fill out a long-winded form and write an email to level 2 IT, which was never acknowledged (months ago), so gave up. We've got a new operations manager here though, (who I've been getting along well with), so I might be able to get somewhere starting from the top.

As far as the code goes - I have honestly thought about it for a while, but I'm kind of torn between on a Code or a Kinesis Advantage.

They let you do whatever you want, whenever they want, eh?
And I would say if you could get the Kinesis, that'd be pretty cool to have. Definitely easier to say that it's for ergonomic purposes, and seeing as both are switchable.. not bad.

[zig_ziglar]

I should just request an ergonomics assessment and then suggest the Kinesis Advantage and see what happens - they may supply it for me haha Then again, they probably only have Microsoft Ergonomic boards on their stocklist.

[taylordcraig]

double post

[taylordcraig]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

THIS

Same here. I forced myself to type faster by playing MMOs while fighting mobs/bosses and communicating.

I was always in competitive guilds when I played WoW, which means I was spoiled by vent. I can see how this would help though...

This, but we had class specific channels so all our warlocks would be penising[**** was censored; WOW] around during the pulls. =3

[futurebird]

I feel like progress is slow for me. I think what I need to do is get in to a heated political debate. That has always made me type a bit faster. That said even though it's still a bit slower the feel of touch typing has me hooked. I ought to go and take a typing test and see how I'm doing.

[vatin]

I guess the best way is to practice. The more you use it, the more you get better at it. But everyone has their limits.

[zig_ziglar]

I feel like progress is slow for me. I think what I need to do is get in to a heated political debate. That has always made me type a bit faster. That said even though it's still a bit slower the feel of touch typing has me hooked. I ought to go and take a typing test and see how I'm doing.

Pity you're not Australian - with a recent change in Government and the new Budget being released yesterday - there is plenty to debate right now. Like how the hell our Prime minister even got a job in the public sector in the first place.

[sulonen]

I always thought I was a touch typist. With the exception of the number row. I've generally typed at ~60 wpm or so, whenever I cared to take one of those online tests.

For what it's worth, I'm too heavily invested in QWERTY to want to monkey with my layout. I need to be able to comfortably type on issued keyboards as well as my own (or just someone else's machine) and the last thing I want to do is muck myself up.

I'm a programmer, and I began to get more and more irritated with having to break out of my normal typing rhythm to peck at numbers and symbols.

I bought one of those Das boards with the blank caps, thinking I could stubborn my way into the number/symbol row. It's a nice keyboard, and I still use it, but I found it frustrating to bang away with one hand on the number row and one hand on the delete key.

I tried a variety of the free typing tutor programs and was unimpressed (most of them teach basic alpha - no numbers). I finally broke down and bought one of the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing programs. It's pretty cheesy, I grant you, with an interface that hearkens back to somewhere in the mid 90s. There aren't really any games in this one either. But it's not terrible, and it wasn't terribly expensive.

This software has a pretty good assessment feature, and starts you off with an assessment level by default when you first use it. Turns out I was a "touch typist" but I only used my pinkies to hold the shift and control keys :) The only thing I can think of is that I learned to type on a MANUAL typewriter. A very long time ago. Like, when I was a kid. I suspect I just didn't have the strength in my pinkies to hit those keys hard enough...

At any rate, I've stepped through the training, bit by bit, over the last couple of weeks. One of the things that impressed me about this software was that it did teach numbers. No symbols except for the common ones like parens and the hyphen, but still. I've learned how to use my pinkies. I've gained almost 10 wpm so far, and I can type numbers.

If there were a software tutor for programming stuff (like braces and brackets and camel casing) I'd like to try it. For now though, this has been very helpful.

I think, for practice, yes, just typing is plenty good enough. In my case, I really had to buckle down and unlearn some bad habits that I'd developed by "just typing".

Just anecdotes about my own experience. Good luck with yours.

[noisyturtle]

I'm pretty fast, but I've got a really amazing technique. You need to only use your pointer fingers and always be looking at the keyboard so you know the keys you are pressing. Make sure to double check you are pressing the right key, because sometimes my hand gets in the way and I can't see the letters, so that makes it slower. It's helpful to put your finger next to the key you want to press so you can see it, then move you hand over and press the key. I can sometimes go up to 25-30 WPM if they are short words, and that's really fast. Someone once asked me if I was a professional typer, but I said no lawl

[airlangga07]

i'm on my way to increasing my speed at touch typing, right now im still slow, averaging about 50-70 wpm,
im using linux, so what helps me a lot is using CLI, using tiling windows manager like i3wm (so you can move around through specific windows using keyboard shortcut), and most important is Vimperator plugin in Firefox. (vim-like command for browsing in firefox). so basically i'm creating a desktop environment where i dont really need a mouse anymore.

[CK Briefs]

Osu and counter strike chat as a kid
Currently sitting at 120ish wpm

[luisbg]

I think it's more muscle memory. I have no problem typing without looking at keyboard or on blank keyboard, but I really have to think hard to "recreate" the keyboard without my hands on it.

This image helped me a lot when I started typing properly. Holding your fingers "in neutral" on asdf (left hand) and jkl; (right hand) and with time they just seem to know their way around the keyboard without me thinking about it.
http://libraries.wichita.edu/subsplus/assets/fckuserfiles/i_fingering_guide.gif

Great. Now I have a file in my Home called "fingering guide".  )

[jacobolus]

I think it's more muscle memory. I have no problem typing without looking at keyboard or on blank keyboard, but I really have to think hard to "recreate" the keyboard without my hands on it.

This image helped me a lot when I started typing properly. Holding your fingers "in neutral" on asdf (left hand) and jkl; (right hand) and with time they just seem to know their way around the keyboard without me thinking about it.

* * *

Personally, I think this “fingering guide” sucks, as it encourages you to hold your left hand in a position which leaves your wrist twisted outward in an uncomfortable unergonomic position. (Also, the drawing is inaccurate in showing the row stagger on a standard keyboard.)

Here’s approximately my key fingering on a standard keyboard:

[luisbg]

I think it's more muscle memory. I have no problem typing without looking at keyboard or on blank keyboard, but I really have to think hard to "recreate" the keyboard without my hands on it.

This image helped me a lot when I started typing properly. Holding your fingers "in neutral" on asdf (left hand) and jkl; (right hand) and with time they just seem to know their way around the keyboard without me thinking about it.

Show Image

* * *

Personally, I think this “fingering guide” sucks, as it encourages you to hold your left hand in a position which leaves your wrist twisted outward in an uncomfortable unergonomic position. (Also, the drawing is inaccurate in showing the row stagger on a standard keyboard.)

Here’s approximately my key fingering on a standard keyboard:

Show Image

That is exactly what I do, but the 6 is part of the right hand. Maybe to compensate that the 'b' is not. Maybe because I am more dexterous with my right hand.

[jacobolus]

Here’s approximately my key fingering on a standard keyboard:

Show Image

That is exactly what I do, but the 6 is part of the right hand. Maybe to compensate that the 'b' is not. Maybe because I am more dexterous with my right hand.

As I said, this is approximate. I don’t necessarily have a set finger for every key. In particular, the fingering for the whole top row tends to depend a bit on context. I’m not sure actually which hand most commonly types the 6 key.

By the way “more dexterous with my right hand” is a pretty funny phrasing, considering that the word “dextrous” comes from “right handed”. ;)

[luisbg]

By the way “more dexterous with my right hand” is a pretty funny phrasing, considering that the word “dextrous” comes from “right handed”.

Yeah, I like language puns. In spanish it is diestro, for both "dexterous" (skilled) and "right handed". We also say ambidiestro, which means ambidextrous.

A friend of mine calls himself ambizurdo, which would literally mean "having two left hands".

[GiraffePencils]

Typing of the dead,
works wonders for errors and speed

[timzen]

I am really curious as to how many people that are actually fast typers (100wpm+) use the 10-finger-system. Im hovering at 70 wpm right now using about six fingers. Ive put in some hours to try learning the 10-finger-system with this software https://www.tipp10.com/en/index/ but its a steep learning curve ...

Can i get real fast with my 6-finger-freestyle?

[microsoft windows]

I can type up to about 100 wpm. Never really did any formal training--just used computers and typewriters a lot.

[esko997]

As an update, since I've started using an ErgoDox I can touch type now! I'm only hovering around 70WPM but still so stoked I can touch type -- its way more comfortable and easier to use.

[tp4tissue]

I am really curious as to how many people that are actually fast typers (100wpm+) use the 10-finger-system. Im hovering at 70 wpm right now using about six fingers. Ive put in some hours to try learning the 10-finger-system with this software https://www.tipp10.com/en/index/ but its a steep learning curve ...

Can i get real fast with my 6-finger-freestyle?

Um... it's not really 10 fingers.. it's more like 9..  left thumb usually doesn't do anything.

On the Ergodox, left thumb is backspace.. so yea. now we're back to 10.. but on regular keyboards, it's more/less 9

ANYONE can get to 125wpm... 130+ is the barrier... because at that point, you're training Very specific movements and transitions that require focus OUTSIDE of reading-comprehension.

Which means..  I'm trying to push everything outside of my mind while reading the word and typing them...  I am actively trying to NOT let that word trigger any form of comprehension..

For example..  If i'm reading LEFT..  normally, I might think, left-hand-turn-right-direction-etc-etc...

this trend of thought hinders the focus necessary to break the 125wpm barrier..  so when you're pushing past it..  you're trying to be OUTSIDE of reading comprehension.. you ONLY want the reading.. and transcription..   

.. now as far as Usefulness... this ^^^^ is a pretty useless thing to do... Some people like myself find it fun..  but overall.. it's pretty damn useless.... HAHA.. 



As far as 6-fingers..  i don't think that will hinder you from achieving any speed... but.. initially it could be more difficult because  using less fingers means potentially more hand lifting..    rolling is very important to speed ..  for example,  point..  that is a smooth motion poin-t..   if you only had 3 fingers for poi and lifted for n, 2 things happen,  you introduce a potential error at " n"  and it's slightly slower than simply rolling it with 4 fingers.


every hand lift has a slightly elevated risk of error than rolling...


so we can say on average using less fingers will likely cause more errors, and thus slow you down rhythmically due to corrections.

[tp4tissue]

As an update, since I've started using an ErgoDox I can touch type now! I'm only hovering around 70WPM but still so stoked I can touch type -- its way more comfortable and easier to use.

Don't forget.. Tenting FTW!!!  I recommend 35 to 50 degrees of tent.

[Lain1911]

repeat faster for better performance.

[Frenir]

Another great tool is to play this in the background while training -

[tp4tissue]

Another great tool is to play this in the background while training -

actually.. I've found that listening to /loud music helps to train the Decoupling of Reading Comprehension and transcription speed..

So... yea..   but ontop of that you'd want to try and avoid listening and processing the music as well..

So maybe, use loud white noise... instead of music

[timzen]

I am really curious as to how many people that are actually fast typers (100wpm+) use the 10-finger-system. Im hovering at 70 wpm right now using about six fingers. Ive put in some hours to try learning the 10-finger-system with this software https://www.tipp10.com/en/index/ but its a steep learning curve ...

Can i get real fast with my 6-finger-freestyle?

 rolling is very important to speed ..  for example,  point..  that is a smooth motion poin-t..   if you only had 3 fingers for poi and lifted for n, 2 things happen,  you introduce a potential error at " n"  and it's slightly slower than simply rolling it with 4 fingers.

every hand lift has a slightly elevated risk of error than rolling...

Thanks for the answers. What is rolling? Is it sliding fingers from one key to the other?

[davkol]

Another great tool is to play this in the background while training -

actually.. I've found that listening to /loud music helps to train the Decoupling of Reading Comprehension and transcription speed..

So... yea..   but ontop of that you'd want to try and avoid listening and processing the music as well..

So maybe, use loud white noise... instead of music

Tapping (or making any other sounds, or even playing music) to distract the opponents is a known practice in competitive games/sports (and it affects any activity that requires concentration). The key is to learn to take advantage of the rhythm (or lack of it), instead of avoidance.

[deltuhhh]

Weird thing is, I never actually bothered to remember the layout of my keyboard. All just muscle memory and practice lol

[smarmar]

Try typing as if your life depended on it.

I honestly learned how to type fast by playing Diablo II however many years ago and having to talk and run away from monsters at the same time.

But yeah, practice.

THIS

Same here. I forced myself to type faster by playing MMOs while fighting mobs/bosses and communicating.

I took a typing class in 7th grade back when we used noisy-arse electric typewriters with ink ribbons and correction cartridges. I've been typing 60WPM for about 24 years now. Ultima Online really sharpened my multi-type skills i.e. *move, text my company, cast spell, move, text, etc.* Good time, good times...

[Hundrakia]

Focus on typing lightly, with little impact on the keys themselves. Go for actuation, with as little pressure as you can. Don't necessarily lift your fingers consciously, allow town to be drawn in from the movement of your other fingers, or by the movement of that finger towards the next key. Lightness. Focus. Reading ahead instead of thinking the word you're currently typing. Flow. Pasta.

[Karura]

When I was playing Starcraft in 1998, I wasn't good enough to beat the computer opponents straight up, so at the start of every round, I would type in all the cheat codes, which I had to do really quickly, before the computer kills me.

Eventually, I got so good at typing in those cheat codes that typing just became natural to me, but I still retain some bad habits from that time, such as using only my right-hand's thumb, index finger, and middle finger to type alphanumerics, right index finger for space bar.

[Grim Fandango]

It is all just muscle memory. You learn by doing. You talk about "memorizing" where they keys are, but that is not really how typing works. I do not know where half the keys are. If you show me a blank keyboard and tell me to point at the "T", I will probably point at the wrong one. But my fingers know where they key is. Because when you ask me to type a sentence on that keyboard I can do so without thinking about where the "T" is for even a second.

I think that before you attempt to touch type, you have to learn some of this muscle memory. Free typing software can be a little boring to use, but using it for a couple of weeks every evening gives you enough experience with touch typing for your fingers to kind of know which keys to press most of the time.

My suggestion would be to continue practicing with those until you can type about 25 WPM. I know this is super slow, but at 25 WPM you have a pretty good idea of where keys are on the keyboard. From that point onward, switch cold turkey. This is where your new keyboard comes in handy. It helps you because you can not cheat. At first typing will be slow as hell, and a little annoying. You might even take longer to finish your work/reply to your e-mails and your productivity will suffer a little. Though my estimation is that it will only take the average person about 2 weeks to be back up to around 40 WPM which is probably what most hunt and peckers speed is. Months later, you will probably surpass the previous speed you had.

One thing that people do not often mention, but what I think is important, is that touch typing is not just about being able to type fast. One of the advantages, perhaps even the main advantage is that you are able to type while watching the screen instead of watching the keyboard. This makes typing much more efficient, and allows you to focus on the content of what you are typing while your hands do the rest. I also think that using the computer just becomes a more fluid and easy experience, as you can focus on the screen and do not have to look down all the time.

[Sempre]

I just started to learn touch typing. Anyone thinks its better to start learning using Dvorak instead of Qwerty?

[davkol]

Yes, I do.

[kaltar]

I just started to learn touch typing. Anyone thinks its better to start learning using Dvorak instead of Qwerty?

If you are starting from absolute zero, go Dvorak for speed and ergonomics, BUT remember that you will always have problems using qwerty (that means, the 99.9% of keyboards and computers out there... even the iPhone). And If I had a choice, probably Colemac is more efficient.

I will recommend Qwerty just to be able to get a skill that will work in any place (or almost any place, since the keyboards in east europe and asia, as an example, are quite different)

[Touch_It]

No joke, playing Diablo II.  It also helped with my spelling way more than school ever did.  Best game ever!

[vimx]

It is all just muscle memory. You learn by doing. You talk about "memorizing" where they keys are, but that is not really how typing works. I do not know where half the keys are. If you show me a blank keyboard and tell me to point at the "T", I will probably point at the wrong one. But my fingers know where they key is. Because when you ask me to type a sentence on that keyboard I can do so without thinking about where the "T" is for even a second.

I think that before you attempt to touch type, you have to learn some of this muscle memory. Free typing software can be a little boring to use, but using it for a couple of weeks every evening gives you enough experience with touch typing for your fingers to kind of know which keys to press most of the time.

My suggestion would be to continue practicing with those until you can type about 25 WPM. I know this is super slow, but at 25 WPM you have a pretty good idea of where keys are on the keyboard. From that point onward, switch cold turkey. This is where your new keyboard comes in handy. It helps you because you can not cheat. At first typing will be slow as hell, and a little annoying. You might even take longer to finish your work/reply to your e-mails and your productivity will suffer a little. Though my estimation is that it will only take the average person about 2 weeks to be back up to around 40 WPM which is probably what most hunt and peckers speed is. Months later, you will probably surpass the previous speed you had.

One thing that people do not often mention, but what I think is important, is that touch typing is not just about being able to type fast. One of the advantages, perhaps even the main advantage is that you are able to type while watching the screen instead of watching the keyboard. This makes typing much more efficient, and allows you to focus on the content of what you are typing while your hands do the rest. I also think that using the computer just becomes a more fluid and easy experience, as you can focus on the screen and do not have to look down all the time.

So much yes.  I started forcing myself to type "properly" and realized that my fingers know how to type better than my brain does!  My fingers do all kinds of stupid things when I let them go, like sliding right or left on the home row, reaching across to other-finger keys, slamming space with the same thumb, etc.  It's like my fingers have in-built macros I need to reprogram.

I am currently forcing myself to stay on home row, and alternate using left vs right space / modifier keys as previous keys suit.  Also mapped caps to ctrl.  It really slows you down at first, but speed quickly picks up again, with the added benefit of being more finger friendly.

[absyrd]

Despite being taught in school early, I didn't really pick up proper speedy typing until I joined a gaming clan and hip-hop forum and was on AIM all day long every day.

[nahka]

Played enough MMOs as a kid I guess.

[kirtmys]

Hi there,

I personally never learned to type properly and i found it really hard to fix the bad habits

This site helped a lot, there is statistics and it's tracking where you miss type and where you need more practice.
And it needs you practice every day to get rid of bad finger typing reflexes so you can type faster with correct fingers.

http://www.keybr.com/

Good luck:)

[midnightmare]

Hi there,

I personally never learned to type properly and i found it really hard to fix the bad habits

This site helped a lot, there is statistics and it's tracking where you miss type and where you need more practice.
And it needs you practice every day to get rid of bad finger typing reflexes so you can type faster with correct fingers.

http://www.keybr.com/

Good luck:)

I'll second that site, the less you have to move your head down to look at your fingers the better.

[vimx]

Oh, neat.   That keybr.com site is pretty great.   But why does it capitalize and punctuate every single "word" when you turn the option on!? 

[kirtmys]

Oh, neat.   That keybr.com site is pretty great.   But why does it capitalize and punctuate every single "word" when you turn the option on!? 

It's made for hardcore practicing i guess xD that's why it capitalize one letter and punctuate every word:)

I'll second that site, the less you have to move your head down to look at your fingers the better.

Yes you are correct, i used  another method to memorize where each finger goes, it's this one :

http://www.typingclub.com/typing-qwerty-en.html

I spent 1 month on typingclub.com and around 3 months with keybr.com , now i fixed the bad typing habits , i can type very fast and i use all fingers

The only problem i still have is with small fingers to type fast  :  a  ,  q ,  z  ,   p  ,   ";"  ,   "/"

[tp4tissue]

you guys can use which ever site to track  speed and accuracy

but make sure to rest your hands on    awef jio;     this helps you relax as it's the natural resting position of your fingers.

DO NOT worry about returning your hand to the home row..  it's not necessary and will only hinder your max speed.

[vimx]

you guys can use which ever site to track  speed and accuracy

but make sure to rest your hands on    awef jio;     this helps you relax as it's the natural resting position of your fingers.

DO NOT worry about returning your hand to the home row..  it's not necessary and will only hinder your max speed.

You keep saying this, but this is not the case for me personally.  When my hands relax, the fingers are slightly curved and I can lay the tips in a straight line on the desk.  The middle finger may be just barely higher, but it is nowhere near the curve of awef!

[davkol]

Depends on your testosterone level. ~_^

The tp4's home position is far from optimal, because of row jumps, especially on layouts that weren't designed for avoidance of mechanical-typewriter jamming; ZSDF JKL/ is arguably better, unless the layout is columnar.

[tp4tissue]

Depends on your testosterone level. ~_^

The tp4's home position is far from optimal, because of row jumps, especially on layouts that weren't designed for avoidance of mechanical-typewriter jamming; ZSDF JKL/ is arguably better, unless the layout is columnar.

Row jumps are NOT hindrances to ultimate speed..

again.. the primary hindrance is parsing speed, which is a muscle memory training limitation..


Is it possible to create a layout that require less jumps.. YES... will it help and increase your max speed?.. NO...

[davkol]

They are. The Bulgarians knew it 107 years ago.

[Laser]

To learn quickly (2 weeks), you need:

1 week practice using a program that teaches you gradually actual touch-typing and shows you keyboard on the monitor ("Mavis Bacon teaches you typing")
1 week play Sega's "Typing of the dead"

In the first week, you learn to look at monitor only, and your fingers learn the keys by themselves.
In the second, your emotional "brain" connects with the fingers and it also learns the keys in emotional-intensive moments (so you hook deeply what you learned)
Best short, intense combo method to learn fast touch typing. Just focus those 2 weeks.

(and yes, if you can't get faster, you probably don't know the proper technique )

[jacobolus]

Row jumps are NOT hindrances to ultimate speed..

If you mean row jumps using the same finger or adjacent fingers (especially middle + ring fingers), then that’s bull****.

If you mean row jumps from one hand to the other, or maybe from the index finger to the pinky, then fine.

On QWERTY, try quickly typing ynynynynynynynyn. Then try typing jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj. Just try typing qzqzqzqzqzqzqzqz at all; it’s hard to manage to even do slowly. Try quickly typing ,o,o,o,o,o,o,o,o. Then try typing jkjkjkjkjkjkjkjk.

It’s entirely obvious that some motions are more comfortable and more efficient than others, and row jumps, especially top-to-bottom jumps on the same finger, are maybe the worst.

[PieterGen]

I wrote this little tool http://flopska.github.io/ruby-typing/ to reach higher speeds. The ads and the loading times of the available tools disturbed me.

Nice !

[Eszett]

It’s important how you sit, that is, the relation height of chair and height of desk. I’m pretty tall so most furniture is an ache for me. I bought a desk which is adjustable in height, and an special chair. Now my sitting position and my hands are more relaxed, I can type with more ease. And on the long run faster, because I don’t exhaust. Here I drew a sketch of a seating position I recommend . Most chairs for tall people are too low. And most displays are placed too low (directly on the desk). If you have a back ache get a sloped seating area, it is the best you can do.

[Fragil1ty]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

I started typing at the age 11/12, I think it was 12, I'm not sure how long it took me to touch type, but it wasn't overnight of course, you just have to be persistent and be patient.

I'm 24 now and I type at around 100-125WPM depending on how I'm feeling that day, the keyboard that I'm using and so on.

[frosty]

Since I hardly have any work that requires the computer, I force myself to visit 10fastfingers.com everyday and do the standard test. I have been doing this for the past 1 month and I have improved from 48 (yes i was this slow) to 74-78 now.

[mogo]

I had good foundational teaching through grade school for typing, but getting faster... this is what genuinely made me faster.

[RED-404]

Blank keycaps and The Typing of The Dead: Overkill

[ksm123]

Blank keycaps? For me they were necessary to learn rarely used characters (Shift + digit combinations).
They are very helpful if you can type quite fast using hunt and peck method and become frustrated after you learn to touch type all keys, but before you regain speed.

One thing is necessary to remember: accuracy is much more important than raw speed. Increase speed only if your accuracy is over 99%. Otherwise you will learn how to make mistakes and reinforce this patterns at higher speeds. This will be huge hindrance when you will hit 70WPM barrier. After a few months of striving for accuracy, I've managed to break through 80WPM barrier (almost 20 years after I've learned to touchtype for the first time).

[julayyy]

I think there are some typing game that should help you.

In school, we learned how to type and I think I got better at it because I always thought typing was fun and grew up with the whole instant messaging era with AOL messaging and what not.

The best thing you can do are those typing game probably fun and easy to learn

[pnutster]

In the process of polishing up my typing skills, didn't grow up with computers, so was always used to the hunt and peck method. A Kinesis Advantage board forces me into learning how to blind type. Used some typing tools which were very helpful. However the jazzy music starts to become boring, somewhere in this forum I came across z-type: http://phoboslab.org/ztype/.

Think that is a fun way to beef up some skills.

[PieterGen]

Amphetype. https://github.com/webiest/amphetype

Nice program, for any layout

[heedpantsnow]

I need to invest a bit of time to increase my speed. Has anyone tried a variety of these tools?  Which ones work best?

[nahka]

I need to invest a bit of time to increase my speed. Has anyone tried a variety of these tools?  Which ones work best?

It's probably been linked here but I'v been enjoying keybr.com, has nice stats too to show which keys you hit most reliably and such.

[pnutster]

I wrote this little tool http://flopska.github.io/ruby-typing/ to reach higher speeds. The ads and the loading times of the available tools disturbed me.

Higher speeds come with a lot of training and regular typing.

Thanks! As a "former" hunt and pecker... Only a year ago forced to learn blind typing because of using a Kinesis board and still struggling... Any tool is welcome, but this is a really nice one!

[Veridis]

I learned touch typing when I was 18, almost six years ago.
Anyone stuck at 70 to 90wpm?
On 10 fast fingers I consistently get around 92wpm. My highest was 102wpm.

On more realistic text like Typeracer, i get an average of 78wpm.

[ksm123]

Has anyone tried a variety of these tools?  Which ones work best?

First of all try to define your problem.

• What is your current typing speed?
• Can you "blind type"? If you are not sure, then try to cover your keyboard and type. How about punctuation, numbers and shift+number combinations?
• What is your accuracy?

ad. 1: If you can type over 70WPM then ignore my post, you know more than me.

ad. 2: If you cannot type without looking at keys, then get blank keycaps.

ad. 3: If your accuracy is below 98% then slow down, and work on it. Speed without accuracy is wasted.

Amphetype is very good tool, its statistics part has no match. It shows not only mistyped words, but also words where you hesitate.
Unfortunately it looks to be abandoned.

• Its text import feature allows you to read texts with non type-able characters, that leaves you stuck during exercises.
• There is no way to exclude proper names from statistics.

Keyhero gives you some feedback on types of your errors, that is very good.

10fastfingers allows you to exercise on most common words, but do not mistake your 10fastfingers speed with your real typing speed, they can be very different. No feed back on types of mistakes you make.

Typeracer: its competitive, but it does nothing to show you what you are doing wrong.
Keybr: too much fancy graphics, too little feedback.

[appleonama]

Recently bought a HHKB with no legends so I can force myself to learn how to touch type. I'm finding it super difficult to memorize where which letters/numbers are where. How did you guys learn?

A while since you posted but I hope you made progress 
I got my hhkb not too long ago and I had some trouble at first but its becoming muscle memory.

[dusan]

1. A matrix keyboard (see my signature) helped me getting from 60 wpm to 70 wpm (at 100% accuracy) in three days of training.

2. A mechanical keyboard with standard staggered layout (see my signature) helped me getting from 60 wpm to 70 wpm (at 100% accuracy) after about two months of intense training.

Thus, actually, the layout helped me, the training helped me, while the mechanical switches just gave me inspiration.

Given that, I believe that a mechanical matrix keyboard will get me to 80 wpm at 100% accuracy, with zero extra training, at this moment. 

[tp4tissue]

There's Typing and there's Transcription

if you're typing into a software, that's transcription.. 

What your transcription speed does FOR YOU,  is an exercise to harden muscle memory of the words you encounter..


Now, as far as the actual UTILITY of typing...  it's also influenced by ones command of the language..

So here, when we actually use the typing... the training must shift towards an Environmental Necessity.

Because otherwise.. You just wouldn't use it..

[b3nd11]

Loads of practice

Hack Call Of Duty Advanced Warfare

[usno_oj]

Lots and lots of typeracer.

[Grim Fandango]

I think there are two things that go into it:

-By doing it a lot
-By doing it correctly

I think a lot of people limit themselves by not using proper technique and taking shortcuts. Sure, there are those who can type 80 WPM with 4 fingers, but it is not nearly as effortless as it would be if you would just use all fingers instead.

[azhdar]

I'm currently more concerned by my accuracy rather than my speed . What exercice would you use for this ?

[FinancialWar]

Use dvorak, you will triple your speed in two months.