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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: alka5eltzer on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:43:15

Title: Can you Touch type?
Post by: alka5eltzer on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:43:15
Can you Touch type?

If so...  When and how did you learn?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:44:12
By forcing myself to not look down. If you have no self control you could always try a blank keyboard.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: riotonthebay on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:45:24
I've been able to touch type for a while, but I became much better at it two summers ago when I did daily transcribing of conversations for a deaf friend of mine.

jwaz speaks the truth though: don't look down or get blank keycaps.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: nilpt on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:49:19
Started to learn by myself a couple of months ago with only a blank TKL.
For me it was the best way to avoid looking at the keys.
Still pretty slow but I think I got the hang of it by now.
No typing tutorials whatsoever, just forcing myself.
As an adult I have around 20 years of hunt and peck, the layout was all in memory, just needed to push myself.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: daerid on Thu, 17 April 2014, 11:55:56
Yup. Learned back in '94
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Harrowed on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:03:34
Learning just now, been using hunt and peck before but now trying to learn touch typing for better speed. Training softwares have been a big help!
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:05:12
They taught us typing in middle school but these days I think it's taught not long after kids learn to read.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Hazel on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:08:48
Over the years I developed the ability to "type without looking" from pure muscle memory, but it wasn't proper touch typing.  If I let my mind go blank, the words came out - but if you told me to press a specific key without looking, I probably couldn't do it!

Last year I decided to learn how to "properly" touch type when I became interested in alternate layouts.  After experimenting with Dvorak and Workman, I settled on Colemak.  I mostly used simple online tutorials, and then speed-testing sites like 10fastfingers.  Within a few weeks I was touch-typing Colemak full-time, and within a couple more I was typing faster than I ever could with qwerty.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Skull_Angel on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:34:39
I started getting into touch typing more seriously 3 years ago when I first met my girlfriend; got jealous about how she could out type me during event runs when we ran mmos together (we still do, but not like we use to). It's been slow coming because I haven't been too serious about it, but every now and then I'll re-run my tutoring program and retain a bit more. Currently, I glance down at the beginning of most words, but complete them on memory. I'm still not quite sure how much faster I'm typing now than I use to with one hand, but it doesn't seem like much, haha.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:39:16
Been touch typing since like 12 at least cuz too lazy to look down at keyboard while I'm microing
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: RedCloudFuneral on Thu, 17 April 2014, 12:39:51
Yeah, it just kind of happened after years of using the computer. I don't use the standard technique but I'm close enough. :p

After some time I got a blank keyboard to stop myself from looking down and that solidified it in my mind. Before I'd have moments where I'd forget where a key was, took about a week of blanks to get past that.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Linkbane on Thu, 17 April 2014, 13:29:14
After deciding to switch to Dvorak purely for speed, I can now touch type without compromise. So much practice... fingers always hurting.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: katushkin on Thu, 17 April 2014, 13:47:33
I only got into touch typing when I started using mechs, so only about a year, but I don't do it all the time. I only usually do it when I'm watching TV or having a conversation with someone (rude, I know.)

I still push the wrong buttons when I play Dota though and I'm not looking at the keyboard. Which is probably more important hah. No backspace in game!
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:03:46
Yes. xD I don't have memory of not knowing how to touch type. I guess it came natural to me via games like World of Warcraft where I needed to use my whole keyboard without looking down to be effective.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Zeal on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:20:39
Yep, been touch typing for quite a while now. I believe we started learning how to touch type since Kindergarten/Grade 1, but my typing speed didn't increase until I started playing online MMOs  :p
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: CK Briefs on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:37:40

Yep, been touch typing for quite a while now. I believe we started learning how to touch type since Kindergarten/Grade 1, but my typing speed didn't increase until I started playing online MMOs  :p

Yeah I mastered touch typing from playing CS 1.6 lol

All those g4mer chat logs helped me eh

Think I was still using my index finger on the comp when I was like in kindergarten playing neopets lol
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:38:52
We should institute an official WPM ranking..

WPM

60 : Learner

80 : Progressive

100 : Geekhalf

120 : Scrubb

130 : Proficient GHer

130+ :Dedicant


I admit these are not the greatest names, but they represent what I'd perceive as the mentality of the member with respect to Keyboarding (at that speed rating).

(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs45/f/2009/107/4/0/onion_head___smug___by_elorae_chan.gif)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:40:23
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:44:21
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:50:19
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: CK Briefs on Thu, 17 April 2014, 14:52:51
Why am I a scrub :(
Sorry I don't have the blood of sifo running through me :/
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: PolaBurrr on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:09:16
I learned to touch type in a mandatory career ed class in 7th grade. Back then, I didn't think much of how useful it would be, but now, after seeing how not everyone is able to touch type and for some, it may even take quite some time, I am happy that I was forced to take that typing class.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Zombly on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:13:12
I need to get blank key caps I always look for the & symbol, even though I know where it is, I just typed it there without looking but it happens.. this is why when I get my custom board rolling no more engraved keys, unless their pretty :$
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: EvillePanda on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:30:29
I took a keyboarding class in 8th grade.  Recently, I retaught myself to type touch using a new layout.  And I just found a website that taught similar principles.  Then, once I'd gone through all the keys, I forced myself to use it on a daily basis. It was slow going at first, but I got the hang of it eventually.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:38:04
In third and fourth grade we had to take a typing class. I've been able to touch type since then. It's actually so ingrained in me that I forget that not everyone went through my school and can touch type.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tricheboars on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:46:54
yes. and i just learned how to touch type on my ergodox in a week.  matrix layout took a few days to get use to. that is for sure.

one word always ****s me up though. and because of my job i have to type it a lot.  the word is encryption.  i have to look down everytime i type it. i dont know why.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: reefchief on Thu, 17 April 2014, 15:59:31
Im a self taught touch typer from a life of keyboard weilding. with a nice keyboard im able to type about 110wpm, but I realized I dont use my pinkies as I should and I sometimes cross over my pointer fingers to the wrong keys. Wonder if I would go faster learning to do it right?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: thestage on Thu, 17 April 2014, 16:14:55
I need to get blank key caps I always look for the & symbol, even though I know where it is, I just typed it there without looking but it happens.. this is why when I get my custom board rolling no more engraved keys, unless their pretty :$

I'm horrible with ever number key symbol except @ and ().  I basically just blindly mash my fingers around until I get the right one.  But I don't really use them, so I'm not too concerned.

I couldn't touch type for a long time as I kid.  We used to have typing classes in elementary school (and probably middle school?) and I just couldn't do it.  I think I was the worst typist in those classes. But that was a long time ago.  Nowadays, I'm just the worst typist among people who are good at typing.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Linkbane on Thu, 17 April 2014, 16:34:37
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

Haha. 120 requires a little bit of skill, but literally anyone, including your grandmother, can reach 100.

120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".

QQQQ I can't type fast so I'll go and make fun of people who can qqqqq
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 16:42:13
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

Haha. 120 requires a little bit of skill, but literally anyone, including your grandmother, can reach 100.

120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".

QQQQ I can't type fast so I'll go and make fun of people who can qqqqq

I type faster than you with QWERTY, you mad, bro? Stay low, 80 WPM peasant. If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't. Maybe I'd start a blog about typing, maybe I'd go for a 10FF test during my lunch break @ school, but again - I won't.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Smasher816 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 16:52:21
I'v been touch typing for a long time. Even though I'm only 18 I can't remember a time where I had to look down at the keyboard to type (maybe 1st grade or something).

I think most of my typing skills developed from using computers so much. I don't have any form of a "correct" typing style (don't use the home row at all).

When I got my first mechanical keyboard I decided to get a blank WASD. From programming I already had the parenthesis, brackets, and semicolon keys committed to muscle memory. My only problem was the numbers row (and their symbols) - I picked up the alpha keys immediately. After using blank keyboards for a few months I think I can safely say that I have gotten better at those pesky number row keys (although they aren't perfect every time yet).
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: catcradle5 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 17:23:49
I've been touch typing in my own sort of way since I was about 8 or 9 or so.

I only use my 3 middle fingers on my left hand, my left thumb, and my index and middle finger on my right hand. (I'm right handed but I use more of my left hand's fingers, for whatever reason.) I don't follow the "home row" style at all, and don't rest my hands in any particular position. I've only ever used QWERTY.

I average about 140 WPM and have gotten up to 180 on typeracer, when I'm really concentrating. For some reason it seems that using fewer fingers lets me type faster, because no fingers ever get in the way of each other. I move my hands, wrists, and fingers pretty rapidly; nothing ever stays in a static position.

Anyone else type in a very unique way while still getting high WPM?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Linkbane on Thu, 17 April 2014, 18:28:56
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

Haha. 120 requires a little bit of skill, but literally anyone, including your grandmother, can reach 100.

120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".

QQQQ I can't type fast so I'll go and make fun of people who can qqqqq

I type faster than you with QWERTY, you mad, bro? Stay low, 80 WPM peasant. If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't. Maybe I'd start a blog about typing, maybe I'd go for a 10FF test during my lunch break @ school, but again - I won't.

I don't use QWERTY, let's get the dirt off.
Sorry your inferiority complex is so strong. I guess everything I'm better than you at is irrelevant, because you're so cool and have a social life and have friends, which are more important up than having talent. My god, can't you see how pathetic your argument is? Probably not. When you ask yourself why you're not good at anything, just rerread your post, you self-important child.

By the way, you get to 170? Stop disgracing those with actual ability and willingness to practice.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: thestage on Thu, 17 April 2014, 18:39:59
is this thread real life

(answer: no. it's the internet)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Smasher816 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 18:41:20
I've been touch typing in my own sort of way since I was about 8 or 9 or so.

I only use my 3 middle fingers on my left hand, my left thumb, and my index and middle finger on my right hand. (I'm right handed but I use more of my left hand's fingers, for whatever reason.) I don't follow the "home row" style at all, and don't rest my hands in any particular position. I've only ever used QWERTY.

I average about 140 WPM and have gotten up to 180 on typeracer, when I'm really concentrating. For some reason it seems that using fewer fingers lets me type faster, because no fingers ever get in the way of each other. I move my hands, wrists, and fingers pretty rapidly; nothing ever stays in a static position.

Anyone else type in a very unique way while still getting high WPM?

Sounds just like me, except for faster. I can easily average somewhere around 85, but have hit 100+ on typeracer before.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: lunr on Thu, 17 April 2014, 18:41:58
I'm bit in the middle. I can but sometimes I need to do a quick glance on where my keys is. I started using blank caps lately so it helps a bit.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 19:16:20
Yes, although mostly self-taught I did a typing semester at high school.

The teacher was saying "A ... B ... C ... " and I was typing "Z ... Y ... X ..." just because :))
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 19:27:17
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

Haha. 120 requires a little bit of skill, but literally anyone, including your grandmother, can reach 100.

120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".

QQQQ I can't type fast so I'll go and make fun of people who can qqqqq

I type faster than you with QWERTY, you mad, bro? Stay low, 80 WPM peasant. If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't. Maybe I'd start a blog about typing, maybe I'd go for a 10FF test during my lunch break @ school, but again - I won't.

I don't use QWERTY, let's get the dirt off.
Sorry your inferiority complex is so strong. I guess everything I'm better than you at is irrelevant, because you're so cool and have a social life and have friends, which are more important up than having talent. My god, can't you see how pathetic your argument is? Probably not. When you ask yourself why you're not good at anything, just rerread your post, you self-important child.

By the way, you get to 170? Stop disgracing those with actual ability and willingness to practice.

1. I know you don't use QWERTY as of now, but you did once upon a time.
2. Inferiority complex? I'm not the one constantly mentioning my typing speed at every chance I get.
3. We both know Dvorak is better for getting high typing speed and that's the only reason why you might be faster. What's your typing speed at typeracer? I think you mentioned somewhere that you had sub 130, yes?
4."When you ask yourself why you're not good at anything, just rerread your post" Pardon? I've been pretty good at basically everything I've practiced in this lifetime.
5. I think 10FF is irrelevant, so you don't impress me, and if you really think getting 161 WPM on 10FF is about talent, you seriously need to reevaluate your life and stop being ignorant.
6. Can you please stop calling everyone a child? You aren't mature, even though you might think you are.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Rafen on Thu, 17 April 2014, 20:20:54
I started touch typing when I started college about 5 years ago. Used that Mavis Beacon software to learn and after forcing myself to type like that when I was coding I caught on kinda quick and now that's the only way I can type.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:21:58
Quote
If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't.

like that was a choice!

anyway, yeah i can touch type.

i'd like to thank aol chatrooms in middle school for that.

and yahoo chatrooms.

and vidya games.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:22:58
Quote
If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't.

like that was a choice!

True, lol.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Linkbane on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:35:43
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:39:15
lolololololololololololololololol

brb ribs broken from laughter.

anyway, back on topic.

this is why i've never understood the appeal of backlighting on keyboards.

i figured anybody that is that into their keyboard (well at least on gh) already knows how to touch type.. so I dont understand the need for a back light.

Which is another reason why I've gotten over the keycap fad. Out of 100 times, I maybe look down.. twice?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: intelli78 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:40:54
I had mandatory typing class in 1st or 2nd grade (~1994). Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

I did a good deed. Ann had a book in bed. Dan ran down Gill Hill.

never looked back. I use 95% standard finger placement, I think. I type Bs with the wrong hand. Also I just recently started learning to touch type numbers and symbols.  It's a lot easier when you're a kid.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:44:20
I had mandatory typing class in 1st or 2nd grade (~1994). Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

I did a good deed. Ann had a book in bed. Dan ran down Gill Hill.

never looked back. I use 95% standard finger placement, I think. I type Bs with the wrong hand. Also I just recently started learning to touch type numbers and symbols.  It's a lot easier when you're a kid.


I had a type writing class in middle school. with actual type writers. I did fairly well. It also helped that my gf at the time was the T.A. for the next period :P
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:45:55
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

I remember you said you averaged way lower on typeracer than 10FF, so please give me a real number, not a once in a lifetime irrelevant number. You typed 80-90 WPM when you used QWERTY, and then you changed to Dvorak to get fast; stop being ignorant. I use what at a much slower pace? I get 120 WPM a few times everytime I go to typeracer, which is once a week or less. So, I get 120 WPM with next to zero practice; vs you who dedicate your life to typing, starting blogs about it, spending hours upon hours practicing and you only get that typing speed (which I still quite don't know how much is, because you just gave me a random max number instead of what you average on TR). You don't have talent. What you have is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a huge chunk of ignorance. I'm not trying to brag, you just said something utterly retarded and I replied.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:47:22
What about Super Mario Bros Typing? That game was sick!

Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: intelli78 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:48:44
Also I'm really surprised how many people on here don't touch type. I don't think you can fully enjoy a mechanical keyboard without Dat flow...
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:48:54
jwaz... my ears :(
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:58:40
jwaz... my ears :(

I know, it's pretty painful.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: intelli78 on Thu, 17 April 2014, 21:59:37
I had mandatory typing class in 1st or 2nd grade (~1994). Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

I did a good deed. Ann had a book in bed. Dan ran down Gill Hill.

never looked back. I use 95% standard finger placement, I think. I type Bs with the wrong hand. Also I just recently started learning to touch type numbers and symbols.  It's a lot easier when you're a kid.


I had a type writing class in middle school. with actual type writers. I did fairly well. It also helped that my gf at the time was the T.A. for the next period :P

Well, you know what they say. Clickity clackity makes the ***** cum.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Linkbane on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:07:28
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

I remember you said you averaged way lower on typeracer than 10FF, so please give me a real number, not a once in a lifetime irrelevant number. You typed 80-90 WPM when you used QWERTY, and then you changed to Dvorak to get fast; stop being ignorant. I use what at a much slower pace? I get 120 WPM a few times everytime I go to typeracer, which is once a week or less. So, I get 120 WPM with next to zero practice; vs you who dedicate your life to typing, starting blogs about it, spending hours upon hours practicing and you only get that typing speed (which I still quite don't know how much is, because you just gave me a random max number instead of what you average on TR). You don't have talent. What you have is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a huge chunk of ignorance. I'm not trying to brag, you just said something utterly retarded and I replied.

I've typed for, oh, a year? Better than you in your whole life. It's just like some idiot watching TV saying that he could've beaten Olympians if he tried harder. Get real, you can't. You're talentless and have zero dedication. You act like an inadequate ten year old changing the subject every time you're wrong, dismissing hard evidence, because you're wrong, sad, terrible and want to play with those bigger and better han yourself. You may continue replying if you like, I've already proven you wrong.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:08:28
Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:14:09
120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

Haha. 120 requires a little bit of skill, but literally anyone, including your grandmother, can reach 100.

120 = "Scrubb"? Wtf, dawg?

It serves as reverse-psych motivation.. to push oneself above the average limitation of 125wpm..


So this way we Generate a collective of ELITE GHers.. all striving for 125 +..

 
Making GH synonymous with elite keyboarding...


It's about building the Brand really..    to do that, we need people who push limits no?

I see. I think you should change 100 WPM to "Unworthy of a mechanical keyboard".

QQQQ I can't type fast so I'll go and make fun of people who can qqqqq

I type faster than you with QWERTY, you mad, bro? Stay low, 80 WPM peasant. If I'd cut off my social life and dedicate myself to getting 170 WPM I'd manage that as well, but I won't. Maybe I'd start a blog about typing, maybe I'd go for a 10FF test during my lunch break @ school, but again - I won't.


Excuses excuses...   (http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/hehe-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862507)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Binge on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:15:55
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

I remember you said you averaged way lower on typeracer than 10FF, so please give me a real number, not a once in a lifetime irrelevant number. You typed 80-90 WPM when you used QWERTY, and then you changed to Dvorak to get fast; stop being ignorant. I use what at a much slower pace? I get 120 WPM a few times everytime I go to typeracer, which is once a week or less. So, I get 120 WPM with next to zero practice; vs you who dedicate your life to typing, starting blogs about it, spending hours upon hours practicing and you only get that typing speed (which I still quite don't know how much is, because you just gave me a random max number instead of what you average on TR). You don't have talent. What you have is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a huge chunk of ignorance. I'm not trying to brag, you just said something utterly retarded and I replied.

I've typed for, oh, a year? Better than you in your whole life. It's just like some idiot watching TV saying that he could've beaten Olympians if he tried harder. Get real, you can't. You're talentless and have zero dedication. You act like an inadequate ten year old changing the subject every time you're wrong, dismissing hard evidence, because you're wrong, sad, terrible and want to play with those bigger and better han yourself. You may continue replying if you like, I've already proven you wrong.

(http://i.imgur.com/nwb38lu.png)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: epzy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:16:27
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

I remember you said you averaged way lower on typeracer than 10FF, so please give me a real number, not a once in a lifetime irrelevant number. You typed 80-90 WPM when you used QWERTY, and then you changed to Dvorak to get fast; stop being ignorant. I use what at a much slower pace? I get 120 WPM a few times everytime I go to typeracer, which is once a week or less. So, I get 120 WPM with next to zero practice; vs you who dedicate your life to typing, starting blogs about it, spending hours upon hours practicing and you only get that typing speed (which I still quite don't know how much is, because you just gave me a random max number instead of what you average on TR). You don't have talent. What you have is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a huge chunk of ignorance. I'm not trying to brag, you just said something utterly retarded and I replied.

I've typed for, oh, a year? Better than you in your whole life. It's just like some idiot watching TV saying that he could've beaten Olympians if he tried harder. Get real, you can't. You're talentless and have zero dedication. You act like an inadequate ten year old changing the subject every time you're wrong, dismissing hard evidence, because you're wrong, sad, terrible and want to play with those bigger and better han yourself. You may continue replying if you like, I've already proven you wrong.

Lmfao, did you just compare yourself to an olympian athlete? You're a null, zero, nothing. Let me put it to you this way; If I switched to Dvorak, practiced 2-5 hours at home every day (and in my lunch break at school) for a whole year, I'd be capable of getting 160 WPM on 10FF as well. Actually, I'd get more WPM than that. I already type 120 WPM on typeracer using ****ty QWERTY, which means I'm already more potent than you were when you made the switch. I don't lack dedication, I simply spend my time on other, more important stuff. You just need 60 WPM or something for most jobs, and I already have double that, sooo... You still didn't answer my question, what's your avg. speed on TR? I like how you think you are "big", and "better", pretty strong words coming from a skinny little ****kid like yourself. You haven't proven me wrong, you've only proven that you are a waste of space. You are a sad little speciment meant for toilet cleaning. Stay ignorant, son.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:17:14
is this thread real life

(answer: no. it's the internet)

the internet is as real as any reality..   If anything it's MORE real.. because it is condensed information..

Information is the ONLY reality your brain is capable of comprehending...

All the external provisions we possess are merely sensors to convert energy into electrical information for your brain...

YOU, your consciousness, everything about your reality is only INFORMATION..   
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: jwaz on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:17:56
Okay, funs over. Back to posting childhood stories about learning to type.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:20:10
Epzy- sad and desperate. I've broken 150 on typeracer, and either way, I'm better than you. Also, Dvorak isn't why I'm fast. You use it at a much slower pace, as we can see. I just have talent.
Good at everything you've done? Now that's childish. Stop trying to brag, it's pathetic.

I remember you said you averaged way lower on typeracer than 10FF, so please give me a real number, not a once in a lifetime irrelevant number. You typed 80-90 WPM when you used QWERTY, and then you changed to Dvorak to get fast; stop being ignorant. I use what at a much slower pace? I get 120 WPM a few times everytime I go to typeracer, which is once a week or less. So, I get 120 WPM with next to zero practice; vs you who dedicate your life to typing, starting blogs about it, spending hours upon hours practicing and you only get that typing speed (which I still quite don't know how much is, because you just gave me a random max number instead of what you average on TR). You don't have talent. What you have is a lot of wasted time and energy, and a huge chunk of ignorance. I'm not trying to brag, you just said something utterly retarded and I replied.

I've typed for, oh, a year? Better than you in your whole life. It's just like some idiot watching TV saying that he could've beaten Olympians if he tried harder. Get real, you can't. You're talentless and have zero dedication. You act like an inadequate ten year old changing the subject every time you're wrong, dismissing hard evidence, because you're wrong, sad, terrible and want to play with those bigger and better han yourself. You may continue replying if you like, I've already proven you wrong.

Lmfao, did you just compare yourself to an olympian athlete? You're a null, zero, nothing. Let me put it to you this way; If I switched to Dvorak, practiced 2-5 hours at home every day (and in my lunch break at school) for a whole year, I'd be capable of getting 160 WPM on 10FF as well. Actually, I'd get more WPM than that. I already type 120 WPM on typeracer using ****ty QWERTY, which means I'm already more potent than you were when you made the switch. I don't lack dedication, I simply spend my time on other, more important stuff. You just need 60 WPM or something for most jobs, and I already have double that, sooo... You still didn't answer my question, what's your avg. speed on TR? I like how you think you are "big", and "better", pretty strong words coming from a skinny little ****kid like yourself. You haven't proven me wrong, you've only proven that you are a waste of space. You are a sad little speciment meant for toilet cleaning. Stay ignorant, son.

Dude..  don't mouth off unless you intend to PROVE it..

I honestly do NOT believe you can become a consistent 160wpm-er  just-like-that...


Lots of people have put time into this keyboarding thing around here.. and 130 is around the cut off..

consistent 130+ is NOT common
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Binge on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:22:05
c'mon guys be nice... didn't you see the meme??

get it? you're gonna have a banned time??? :D lol?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:28:33
c'mon guys be nice... didn't you see the meme??

get it? you're gonna have a banned time??? :D lol?

was that about linkbanned?

On topic, I too was forced to use good ole mavis but before mavis we used apple 2e's to do programming our of programming books...those were the days and I wouldn't say I touch type properly but on most of my keyboards and my laptop I don't really look at the keys all that often, of course i spell things wrong on occasion.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:36:20
this is why i've never understood the appeal of backlighting on keyboards.

i figured anybody that is that into their keyboard (well at least on gh) already knows how to touch type.. so I dont understand the need for a back light.

My home office and place of work are somewhat dark.  I have backlighting on some keyboards, and a predilection for lighter coloured keycaps on others.

This comes in useful when typing some of the increasingly torturous passwords that are more combinations of special characters than simple words of numbers.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:37:44
Okay, funs over. Back to posting childhood stories about learning to type.

man, in highschool, when I took typing class, I was at a solid 18 WPM.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Thu, 17 April 2014, 22:38:36
this is why i've never understood the appeal of backlighting on keyboards.

i figured anybody that is that into their keyboard (well at least on gh) already knows how to touch type.. so I dont understand the need for a back light.

My home office and place of work are somewhat dark.  I have backlighting on some keyboards, and a predilection for lighter coloured keycaps on others.

This comes in useful when typing some of the increasingly torturous passwords that are more combinations of special characters than simple words of numbers.

that makes sense, thanks for answering.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: alka5eltzer on Fri, 18 April 2014, 03:22:20
I've just takin it up myself… getting the hang of it.

Its been doing my head in how long its taking me to type using the Hunt and Peck method... I was averaging 30-40Wpm  :-[ Hence the reason I need/want to learn.

I've decided to use an old DOS program from the 80′s/90′s called Typing Tutor 5.

I like it… as for its age, it’s pretty intelligent and it can tell what keys you need to work on.. it also shows good reports for progress.
Since its DOS.. it can work in full screen so there’s no distractions for me lol.

I run it through DOSBox on my Windows 7 & 8 machines since my machines are 64bit. But this will work on any 32Bit system without DOSBox.

You can get Typing Tutor 5 here: http://filesmelt.com/dl/TT.zip

And you can get DOSBox there: http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1

I’ve placed the program file’s in my Google Drive folder… then I get DOSBox to mount this folder as a drive… so if I’m at my work computer, or at my home computer - the program is using the same files… so my progress is updated no matter where I am :-) Call it 80′s meets the cloud lol
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 18 April 2014, 05:58:12
I've just takin it up myself… getting the hang of it.

Its been doing my head in how long its taking me to type using the Hunt and Peck method... I was averaging 30-40Wpm  :-[ Hence the reason I need/want to learn.

I've decided to use an old DOS program from the 80′s/90′s called Typing Tutor 5.

I like it… as for its age, it’s pretty intelligent and it can tell what keys you need to work on.. it also shows good reports for progress.
Since its DOS.. it can work in full screen so there’s no distractions for me lol.

I run it through DOSBox on my Windows 7 & 8 machines since my machines are 64bit. But this will work on any 32Bit system without DOSBox.

You can get Typing Tutor 5 here: http://filesmelt.com/dl/TT.zip

And you can get DOSBox there: http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1

I’ve placed the program file’s in my Google Drive folder… then I get DOSBox to mount this folder as a drive… so if I’m at my work computer, or at my home computer - the program is using the same files… so my progress is updated no matter where I am :-) Call it 80′s meets the cloud lol

It doesn't really matter what software you use.. 

but ultimately it comes down to typing as many different combinations as possible.. and putting most of it down in muscle memory..


So variety really helps..
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Rewind on Fri, 18 April 2014, 06:13:23
I touch type, but I only use about 6 out of 10 fingers. I should learn how to type properly. My wpm like this is about 80-90.

The way I learned it is by just forcing myself to do it. Once you can find the backspace key without looking you can just keep trying until you find the right key.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: lonedruid on Fri, 18 April 2014, 06:23:59
it is actually much easier than you think it is to learn. After a week of practicing you can touch-type easily. :thumb: i practised with the program downloaded from this site. I had forgotten the name quite a long time ago. But when i saw your post, the name somehow came into mind quickly  :eek:
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: osi on Fri, 18 April 2014, 10:20:39
Just keep typing away - touch typing comes naturally after frequent use. :D
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Smasher816 on Fri, 18 April 2014, 11:24:59
Okay, funs over. Back to posting childhood stories about learning to type.

Ohhh man, it's story time. Luckily I was able to test out of my high school computer class because I could use word and type fast enough.

They used the oldest typing program I have ever heard of. It's called "TypeRite 2" (I'm pretty sure it was around back when people still used type writers). It's a collection of old executables with 8 character, all capital names (probably from the DOS days). The program will only run on 32bit Windows 7 (64bit fails, so you have to use dosbox).

You could not backspace. In fact pressing the backspace key, the arrow keys, or any other "special" buttons would produce a "√" character, which counted as a mistyped letter. At the end if gave you your raw score and a "net" one. The net score was created by subtracting 5 WPM for every word you typed incorrectly. I can only imagine this was to help instill perfection as a lot of type writers had no way to backspace and correct your mistakes.

Now that time has moved on and all digital programs support backspace I don't see the need for this level of masochism (banning the backspace key completely). I say if you can type 80 wpm with 90% accuracy, and by the end of the test you have corrected all your mistakes then that's great.

If anyone wants to punish themselves by trying this, then I will consider uploading a zip of it and posting a link.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: taylordcraig on Fri, 18 April 2014, 11:54:18
this is why i've never understood the appeal of backlighting on keyboards.

i figured anybody that is that into their keyboard (well at least on gh) already knows how to touch type.. so I dont understand the need for a back light.

My home office and place of work are somewhat dark.  I have backlighting on some keyboards, and a predilection for lighter coloured keycaps on others.

This comes in useful when typing some of the increasingly torturous passwords that are more combinations of special characters than simple words of numbers.

that makes sense, thanks for answering.

I have a code. I keep the back lighting on. I hardly ever look at my keyboard. I just think it looks neat under opaque caps.
I hate translucent or clear caps because they let through too much light and it blinds me.
Right now I've got hyperfuse on it, the white plate makes the glow underneath look like the teal colour of the legends on the dark gray caps.

More
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: mouse.the.lucky.dog on Fri, 18 April 2014, 11:59:30
urd@
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Polymer on Fri, 18 April 2014, 12:03:43
Did I just see people arguing and bragging about typing faster?  Making references to practice, olympic athletes and talent? 

If you want to type faster because you enjoy it..that's great.  I applaud anyone that loves an activity/hobby so much that they want to get better at it.  What it doesn't do is give any extra credibility...although some people seem to think it gives them some sort of GH street cred...and it is even sadder if a person thinks that is the case and that is why they want to be a better typist...

I guess this is to be expected being on a forum that is..well...rather geeky/nerdy in nature....you end up with a number of users with severe social issues. It is sad that people like that, who already have real life interaction problems, come on a forum where people share at least one similar interest with them and they still can't interact with those people as a reasonable human being but hey, they can be as big of a keyboard warrior as they want and they don't get beat up...they can give themselves some self confidence while in the protection of their own home. 
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 18 April 2014, 13:40:59
Did I just see people arguing and bragging about typing faster?  Making references to practice, olympic athletes and talent? 

If you want to type faster because you enjoy it..that's great.  I applaud anyone that loves an activity/hobby so much that they want to get better at it.  What it doesn't do is give any extra credibility...although some people seem to think it gives them some sort of GH street cred...and it is even sadder if a person thinks that is the case and that is why they want to be a better typist...

I guess this is to be expected being on a forum that is..well...rather geeky/nerdy in nature....you end up with a number of users with severe social issues. It is sad that people like that, who already have real life interaction problems, come on a forum where people share at least one similar interest with them and they still can't interact with those people as a reasonable human being but hey, they can be as big of a keyboard warrior as they want and they don't get beat up...they can give themselves some self confidence while in the protection of their own home. 

IDK... you seem to be the elitist here..

as if what YOU do is better than what GEEKs do.




Bragging about typing faster...? how is that different than bragging about anything else, if anything I've always been realistic about the limits of ability around wpm.. where 120 is possible for anyone, hence scrub level..


How is it that you perceive that anyone here has Severe-Social issues..


Internet behavior is very different from AFK..  TRUTH comes out here..  If I think ur full of BS.. I say it..  AFK in your REAL WORLD,   you might think ur the **** all the time,  but guess what, most people probably still think you're full of BS, they just wouldn't bother to confront you about it.



as to WHY is it that they don't confront you..  talking AFK is much slower than typing this out, which takes all of 10 seconds for me at 130WPM,  full circle...!!...

So, you see...  the Internet is the Golden road of conversation and socialization..




(http://www.onion-club.net/images/avatars/gallery/onion/A_072.gif)




Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: BulletKandy on Fri, 18 April 2014, 16:18:28
I touch type OK but sometimes I have to take a glance  :-\

Doesn't make my spelling any better though....
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Kagusaki Wolf on Fri, 18 April 2014, 16:23:53
Oh man I was laughing so hard after reading all these posts about who has the fastest wpm.  Nerd rage all the way ;)  but come on this isn't a Lakers/Celtics match.  I can type 80wpm (90 max) on a QWERTY layout.  I can't try any faster otherwise my hands start to cramp up.  Anyone else has this issue?  I might try out Dvorak and see if it'll make it much easier.  Small asian hands sucks lol 

Anywho I first learned to type back when I was a wee little pup in the 80s on my Apple II GS.  I had an avg of 40 wpm throughout the late 80s/early 90s.  Then we got AOL.  I started to learn to touch type fully by then thanks to aol chat and IM's (gotta type fast when you rp).  Even though I type at 80 wpm, I am the fastest typist at work lol
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 18 April 2014, 16:47:16
I don't touch type on a "normal" keyboard. I sort of float type and need legends to get my bearings now and then. It's better for your wrists / tendons / whatnot. I tried learning to touch type and decided I don't need the pain it will produce long term.

I DO, however, touch type on my ergonomic DIY keyboard with custom layout. I started out with blank keys on it (partly due to the weird layout) and although I am still a little slower than on a normal keyboard, I don't have to move my hands or fingers nearly as much and it feels nice to never have to look at the keyboard :) Once I'm as fast on both I'll build a 2nd board for work and switch permanently.

I don't see any real benefit or need (at least in my life) to type really fast (say, above 80wpm), but I do see the benefits of touch typing and also using a well designed ergonomic board rather than the horrendous mess that is a normal qwerty. Easier to remain focused on what you're working on / typing, since your attention isn't so divided between display and keyboard and MUCH better for the long term health of your hands / wrists / forearms / shoulders / neck.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Glenn315 on Fri, 18 April 2014, 17:55:06
I learned to touch type from playing games.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Justintoxicated on Fri, 18 April 2014, 20:38:09
I'm forcing myself to.  I'm faster when I don't use my pinkies but I'm working on typing properly now and I'm already back up to around 45 wpm, although I'm about 30% faster doing what I have always done.  I sort of hit a wall doing it improperly so I think I will be able to get much faster once I get the hang of the proper technique and get some muscle memory into my pinkey fingers.

Numbers and some characters I do have to look down a bit though, especially since I'm not using the 10 key anymore :)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Fri, 18 April 2014, 23:02:39
this is why i've never understood the appeal of backlighting on keyboards.

i figured anybody that is that into their keyboard (well at least on gh) already knows how to touch type.. so I dont understand the need for a back light.

My home office and place of work are somewhat dark.  I have backlighting on some keyboards, and a predilection for lighter coloured keycaps on others.

This comes in useful when typing some of the increasingly torturous passwords that are more combinations of special characters than simple words of numbers.

that makes sense, thanks for answering.

I have a code. I keep the back lighting on. I hardly ever look at my keyboard. I just think it looks neat under opaque caps.
I hate translucent or clear caps because they let through too much light and it blinds me.
Right now I've got hyperfuse on it, the white plate makes the glow underneath look like the teal colour of the legends on the dark gray caps.

More

i've been thinking about getting a code with mx greens.

I learned to touch type from playing games.

holy hell @ your avy.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Polymer on Fri, 18 April 2014, 23:34:51
Did I just see people arguing and bragging about typing faster?  Making references to practice, olympic athletes and talent? 

If you want to type faster because you enjoy it..that's great.  I applaud anyone that loves an activity/hobby so much that they want to get better at it.  What it doesn't do is give any extra credibility...although some people seem to think it gives them some sort of GH street cred...and it is even sadder if a person thinks that is the case and that is why they want to be a better typist...

I guess this is to be expected being on a forum that is..well...rather geeky/nerdy in nature....you end up with a number of users with severe social issues. It is sad that people like that, who already have real life interaction problems, come on a forum where people share at least one similar interest with them and they still can't interact with those people as a reasonable human being but hey, they can be as big of a keyboard warrior as they want and they don't get beat up...they can give themselves some self confidence while in the protection of their own home. 

IDK... you seem to be the elitist here..

as if what YOU do is better than what GEEKs do.

What do you mean?  I'm a geek.  I'm on Geekhack.  I like geeky things.  I'm not applying what I said to the whole board..that is obvious..I even said "a number of users" meaning some...

Bragging about typing faster...? how is that different than bragging about anything else, if anything I've always been realistic about the limits of ability around wpm.. where 120 is possible for anyone, hence scrub level..

How is it that you perceive that anyone here has Severe-Social issues..

Because they do....There are trolls, there are people that will be a bigger jerk online than in person because you don't have to face the social stigmas from being a jerk....and then you have people that have obvious social issues...

As far as bragging about WPM..it isn't bragging about it that is a problem..If you type fast great...But is that a launch pad to throw insults at people?  Hell no..does that give anyone anymore credibility?  Does it make them more knowledgeable about keyboards?  A better member on GH?  Not at all..it does none of that...
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: C5Allroad on Sat, 19 April 2014, 00:23:46
Okay, funs over. Back to posting childhood stories about learning to type.

man, in highschool, when I took typing class, I was at a solid 18 WPM.
Dude, I was a solid 10! Get on my level!  :p
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 19 April 2014, 00:26:56
Does it count as touch typing if you mainly use your index finger, middle finger, thumbs, and, on rare occasion, ring finger and pinky?  Somehow I still get 70-90WPM on average with normal typing with only those three digits doing most of my typing.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Tony on Sat, 19 April 2014, 05:57:24
Firstly I learned to touch type 20 years ago in Qwerty. Speed 60wpm

I relearned to touch type again 3 years ago, this time with Colemak layout. Speed 70wpm or so.

For anyone who don't know what Colemak is, here is a picture

(http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9264/colemak2.jpg)

Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: maatmouse on Sat, 19 April 2014, 13:02:47
Yes, I can.

I learned from doing typing classes on an old Adler electric typewriter, the hard way. ASF and all that. Then I switched to using a manual typewriter. Hard going.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: maatmouse on Sat, 19 April 2014, 18:34:41
I started typing in the 1980s in the sixth form, in the days when keyboards weren't the flat, rather dull things they are now. I have typed on an Adler electric keyboard, an Olympus manual (hard going), a BBC keyboard (the beginnings of computing), a Commodore 64 (very nice), Golfball typewriter (noisy), old Spectrum (ouch), portable typewriter (more ouch), various typewriters, UNIX computer keyboard, old Apple iMac, then IBM Model M (the original and noisy), and various Fujitsu ones, Apple iMac (current effort) and Apple laptop keyboards.

Quite a list.

And those who say a mechanical keyboard is a noisy thing, haven't been in a room full of professional typists using IBM Model Ms! Now thats noise.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: MyersKL on Sat, 19 April 2014, 19:05:47
I took typing classes as a freshman in high school (1966). We learned on Underwood manual typewriters. I later graduated to an IBM Selectric (non correctable and then correctable) and then to an IBM XT (early 1980s). My introduction to an Apple Mcintosh in the late 1980s was my first encounter with a "mouse. ("What the heck is this?"). It was a blessing to be able to cut, paste and copy without memorizing and using a bunch of key commands. The technology advances through the decades have been remarkable.

Through the years, typing has been a skill that has helped me keep bread on the table.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: System32 on Sat, 19 April 2014, 22:53:07
Kinda... I can type without looking at the keyboard just fine, but I don't do the whole traditional "hands on the the home-row" thing that everyone else seems to. Dunno how I can touch type either, I never really actively tried, it just kinda...happened.

Anyone else have a similar experience? It makes me feel odd
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Smasher816 on Sat, 19 April 2014, 23:26:48
Kinda... I can type without looking at the keyboard just fine, but I don't do the whole traditional "hands on the the home-row" thing that everyone else seems to. Dunno how I can touch type either, I never really actively tried, it just kinda...happened.

Anyone else have a similar experience? It makes me feel odd

You're not alone.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: ynrozturk on Sun, 20 April 2014, 10:02:32
I've been touch typing for a long time now, but I would only use 6-7 fingers. Totally wrong technique. Now I am using proper technique and I am up to 111 WPM. I'm still working on my right hand pinky - for some reason it just doesn't want to hit the P key. So still working on it.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: acsim on Sun, 20 April 2014, 11:07:08
I learned how to touch-type only after getting my first mechanical keyboard. I didn't know why it hadn't occurred to me before especially when I do a lot of programming. The enjoyment from typing on the cherry browns put me so deep into the "zone" while coding sometimes that I found myself coding into the night and that my room was completely dark. Without knowing how to touch-type meant that reaching for keys like the parenthesis, square brackets and numbers from 6-9 was very difficult. So I decided that I need to know my way around the keyboard. After tons of practice and typeracer in the dark, I finally mastered it. And bought myself a blank HHKB as a reward.  ;D
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Tony on Sun, 20 April 2014, 11:57:07
I've decided to use an old DOS program from the 80′s/90′s called Typing Tutor 5.

You can get Typing Tutor 5 here: http://filesmelt.com/dl/TT.zip

And you can get DOSBox there: http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1

Hi, another Typing Tutor user here. The version I use is Typing Tutor 7. The program is so good even now that I use it for weekly drills.

The program supports Qwerty and Dvorak as well as numpad, so you guys and learn how to touch type on numpad! How awesome!

Although I am a Colemak user, I find this program very useful for drills when you have learned the whole keyboard, regardless of the layout.

For anyone wants it, please search its name with torrent sites. You will get an ISO file so that you need a virtual drive software to run it.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: davkol on Mon, 21 April 2014, 17:43:22
Yes, I can. Learned it about a decade ago by going cold turkey and didn't even know what 'wpm' meant for many years.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Frenir on Mon, 21 April 2014, 17:58:26
I primarily learned it from playing MMO's where looking at your keyboard could mean failure, however I've refined it completely after I decided to get blank keycaps for my filco   :p
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: mickyman on Mon, 21 April 2014, 18:15:32
Trying to learn, got the hang of it, and reaching around 50 WPM although I want to get higher, around 80 - 100 WPM. I'm open to any tips at all, because all I'm doing right now is just using Ten Fast Fingers over and over again.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: demik on Mon, 21 April 2014, 18:18:47
Trying to learn, got the hang of it, and reaching around 50 WPM although I want to get higher, around 80 - 100 WPM. I'm open to any tips at all, because all I'm doing right now is just using Ten Fast Fingers over and over again.

ask linkbane for tips.


oh wait.. nvm.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 21 April 2014, 18:45:57
Trying to learn, got the hang of it, and reaching around 50 WPM although I want to get higher, around 80 - 100 WPM. I'm open to any tips at all, because all I'm doing right now is just using Ten Fast Fingers over and over again.

sign up to use their higher difficulty levels.. with more words..

Practicing the same thing over and over makes you faster (with that specific setup)

Practicing with MORE words, and variety is what makes you -consistently- faster.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: mickyman on Tue, 22 April 2014, 06:39:10

sign up to use their higher difficulty levels.. with more words..

Practicing the same thing over and over makes you faster (with that specific setup)

Practicing with MORE words, and variety is what makes you -consistently- faster.
I'll try that, and hopefully see some improvement. Another question, should I start off just trying to get the words correct then start to go faster?
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Tony on Wed, 23 April 2014, 01:35:26
Accuracy go first, speed will increase eventually. Join Typeracer.com to compete with typists all over the world.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Premonition on Wed, 23 April 2014, 10:22:31
Trying to learn, got the hang of it, and reaching around 50 WPM although I want to get higher, around 80 - 100 WPM. I'm open to any tips at all, because all I'm doing right now is just using Ten Fast Fingers over and over again.

Hey! I would suggest trying to use what tp4tissue said, using more words. Although the site is great for testing raw speed, a site like typehero is really useful and shows error types.  ;)
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Bucake on Wed, 23 April 2014, 10:41:10
one would think that every member of geekhack can touch-type without ever making a mistake.. ;p
i'm sure the average wpm is 4000, as well.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: pbtforever on Wed, 23 April 2014, 10:42:47
Parents made me touchtype
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Demetrium on Wed, 23 April 2014, 12:44:59
I can touch type but my form is garbage. Only use like three fingers.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Nehabje on Wed, 23 April 2014, 15:51:15
Our teachers teached us how to touch type in primary school. And I still have that skill :) (arround 60~70 Words Per Minute).
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: cherpalla on Wed, 23 April 2014, 16:14:22
We were taught touch-typing back in the early 90's in elementary school. I've never looked at my keyboard since I was in second grade or so.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 23 April 2014, 20:59:10

sign up to use their higher difficulty levels.. with more words..

Practicing the same thing over and over makes you faster (with that specific setup)

Practicing with MORE words, and variety is what makes you -consistently- faster.
I'll try that, and hopefully see some improvement. Another question, should I start off just trying to get the words correct then start to go faster?

work on accuracy first.. try to make even keystrokes so you become comfortable with the distance and the layout..

also... if you're < 30wpm right now..   and want to start Going for -Proficient Geekhacker..    you might decide to customize the layout straight away 

for example swapping t and v    t is much harder to reach than v, and yet t is used far more...  same goes for many other keys which you can optimize.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Polymer on Wed, 23 April 2014, 22:10:31
Unless you can touch type already I wouldn't bother with customized layout....I mean, you want to be able to type even on a machine that isn't yours right?

Really I'd stick with the standard alternatives if you really wanted a more efficient layout...
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: paicrai on Thu, 24 April 2014, 07:50:35
Yes.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: davkol on Thu, 24 April 2014, 12:51:43
Unless you can touch type already I wouldn't bother with customized layout....I mean, you want to be able to type even on a machine that isn't yours right?

Why would one want to do that? It isn't secure and neither ones data, nor apps&configs are available there.

Learning a new layout doesn't mean the old one is forgotten either, definitely not to the extent that it'd be impossible to enter search queries or something like that.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: Firebolt1914 on Thu, 24 April 2014, 13:54:40
I learned to touch type at a young age; like when I was around 7. Eventually, it got useful, because I had to copy hand written stuff to the computer.
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: J0hn on Thu, 24 April 2014, 15:04:37
I learned it in school at some point, but then too much gaming made me forget how to use my right hand on the keyboard, so nowadays I can only type properly with my left hand. I should learn again..
Title: Re: Can you Touch type?
Post by: iLLucionist on Sat, 03 May 2014, 16:36:58
Started typing when I was 4 years old (mainly DOS and programming in Basic/Pascal), back when I was too young to realize the beauties I was typing on (Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard with Alps and IBM Model M). Started touch typing automatically. I also play the piano, perhaps that helped me. Only thing that keeps being difficult for me after all those years, is finding which symbol is under which number key (e.g., @ or ^).