Do blank keycaps really help?

[patrickgeekhack]

I have never owned such a keyboard and therefore, don't know if they really help. I cannot see blank keycaps helping someone who already know how to touch type for such a person does not look at the keyboard when typing anyway. That being said, I have not mastered the number row. The most annoying thing I find when using the number row is when I need to use the decimal. The . is so far away from the number row. When I need to type numbers, the decimal point is almost always involved.

I don't want to use a third party software to remap the key because I'm so used to have the ~ key to where it was. I use this for my "accent grave" which I do use a lot. Moving this key will mean a huge blow to my productivity.

[Phaedrus2129]

It's not so much to help with touch typing, as for the coolness factor and to confound computer illiterate people who can't touch type so they can't use your PC.

[hyperlinked]

It's also for people who use alternate keyboard layouts or even multiple keyboard layouts on one computer.

Don't imagine it'd do much for anyone who can already touch type. It'd seem idiotic in some cases like when you need to type with one hand. I can't touch type with only one hand so the blank keys will really screw me up in those instances.

[washuai]

Short answer - yes, blank keycaps [strike]really[/strike] help.  

The number row and some pinky characters have been my touch typing weakness, for a long time.  When I first learned to type, the class didn't get through it.  Additionally, I've a long standing bad habit of going to the ten key first.  I still use the numberpad (blank, since the whole board is blank), when I'm impatient, which probably sets me back some.

I think if I actually spent some time with typing exercises and games, in addition to my blank keyboard that it would help faster.  The simple fact is, a lack of use causes the learning to go slower.  I'm sure it doesn't help that I revert to ten key, when I'm impatient, lol.  Some how I think my visual memory is hurting me.  Even if you're not looking, if you can think of where the key is, by bringing up a mental visual image, you'll still be slower.

I don't have your decimal problem at all, though.  That's because I learned the period along with the letters.  Additionally, the numbers are a larger reach than the decimal.  For me, the more on home row the keys are, the more ingrained in my memory they seem to be.

My sister doesn't touch type and is horrified by my blank keyboard.  That said, she found my gaming sensitive mouse more daunting, than my keyboard, when she actually had to tackle it.  She did crutch on notepad some, though.  I offered to turn down the sensitivity on the mouse, but she didn't let me.

Well, one hand typing does go slower for the keys not normally done with that hand on the blank keyboard.  All the more reason to get away from your desk, when eating!

[itlnstln]

To the OP's question, yes.  I had blank keys on one of my Filcos, and it completely broke me from looking at the keyboard.  These days, I like having the black-on-grey Topre keys.  Like Ripster said, they act pretty close to blank keys, but you still have legends for things like passwords which can be a ***** on completely blank keys.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

If you don't know the symbols on the layout or you want to learn how to touch type, or learn a new layout, it's great to not be able to cheat. It forces you to learn it correctly.

[patrickgeekhack]

Thanks for your input.

I was thinking about getting a Das as a Christmas gift to myself and debating whether I should get the blank keys or not since I already touch type. I think I will get the lettered keys for two reasons:
- Hyperlinked reminded me that they are not good for one hand typing. Sometimes I have my daughter on my lap and have to type with one hand.

- My wife sometimes uses my computer, although rarely, it does happen. I don't want her to be frustrated.

[didjamatic]

Yes, blanks help a ton - but I do like the so called "India ink" on the Topres where it's very difficult to see, so you are motivated to touch-type, but looking is an option.

If you deal with long passwords like this:  $*p4ss&#%.w0rd.><[]+-$!~` it helps to be able to peek because characters are starred out as you enter them.  Oh crap now you know my GH pass.

But really, for general typing, blank keys are fantastic.

[hyperlinked]

The only key that gives me fits is the '6' key. Every once in a while, I just find myself surprised at how far you have to reach to hit it.

Where did that ^ go?

Ok, and the caret character... technically it's the same as the 6 key, but I can never remember which key it is and blanks caps wouldn't help in this case because it's used so seldomly.

[hyperlinked]

So what do you guys with blank caps do when you need to type with one hand?

[sam113101]

I use autohotkey
left alt + right alt + a key on the home row gives me a number
1234567890

it's easier that way I think, I hate the number row

[patrickgeekhack]

Maybe the Unicomp Mini will be out by Christmas?

Naaaah.

I want a Blue Cherry keyboard, not a buckling spring one.

[HaaTa]

My Unicomp Spacesaver with blank keys is what finally forced me to learn to touch type.

Atm, though, I like the letters on the keys. Doing lots of layout research in Linux currently, so it helps having a keycode number and corresponding letter reference.

[AvengeR]

is there any good guide for blanking keycaps?

does that work for black keys?

[ch_123]

They work best for people who are learning to touch type but are not quite there yet. If you're a beginner, you're just punishing yourself. If you can touch type, it makes no difference, but it becomes a pain in the arse when you need to enter in numbers from the nuimber row or the like.

[itlnstln]

They work best for people who are learning to touch type but are not quite there yet. If you're a beginner, you're just punishing yourself. If you can touch type, it makes no difference, but it becomes a pain in the arse when you need to enter in numbers from the nuimber row or the like.

This.  I could touch type, but I had this weird habit of staring at the keyboard (kinda blankly) while I typed.  After I used the blank keys for awhile, it got me over the hump.  Now, it feels weird typing while watching the keys.

[patrickgeekhack]

They work best for people who are learning to touch type but are not quite there yet. If you're a beginner, you're just punishing yourself. If you can touch type, it makes no difference, but it becomes a pain in the arse when you need to enter in numbers from the nuimber row or the like.

Bingo!

[Phaedrus2129]

For some reason I've never had issues with the number row special characters. !@#$%^&*()_+. Easy. At most I'll hit & on accident instead of ^, but that's more not moving my finger over enough.

[patrickgeekhack]

The black on grey/black Topre is pretty much like a blank keycaps keyboard. It never affected me except when I needed to type with one hand.

[ch_123]

It never affected me except when I needed to type with one hand.

Is this a regular scenario for you?

*coughs*

[patrickgeekhack]

Is this a regular scenario for you?

*coughs*

I know I have said this a couple of times. But my daughter is to the point where she loves sitting on my lap when I'm on the computer. She wants me to challenge her by showing pictures of various things and animals so that she can say their names. I guess, it will be easier for me to just download the pictures and rotate through them.

[D-EJ915]

Speaking of the number row it's always bothered me that 0 is on the right side no the left, how does that make any sense at all?  I never really have any problems except sometimes with the middle shifted characters and me being lazy and not reaching far enough.

[RoboKrikit]

The first keyboards did not have a 0 at all.  I think the numeral 0 was added to Chinese keyboards around the 8th century AD.

[washuai]

Daughter and pictures - Save the pictures, make a slide show presentation, then just use the mouse - no typing involved.

I don't find one hand typing that bad.  You could mouse the on screen keyboard, if your one handed typing is so terrible, but my one handed typing is probably better than my keyboard mousing.

If you're doing something so critical, where the mouse keyboarding or one handed typing isn't fast enough, odds are your one handed legend typing isn't fast enough for the situation, either.

[hyperlinked]

I don't find one hand typing that bad.  You could mouse the on screen keyboard, if your one handed typing is so terrible, but my one handed typing is probably better than my keyboard mousing.

Yeah, but can you touch type with one hand? Does anyone know of any techniques for one handed touch typing?

Back when my wrist problems were bad and they were forcing me to look at all strategies available, one of the ones I was considering was one handed typing. I read someone's site in which he claimed he could get up to something like 70 or 80wpm with one hand.

Anyway.... this discussion about blank keycaps is fascinating. It seems that there are a number of people like me who just don't get it at all, but another group that says that in no uncertain terms that it's very very useful.

I guess I've been touch typing for so long that I'm not even able to really remember what it was like to fight that urge to to look down. I only remember vaguely that I felt pretty cool on that day when I was finally able to keep typing with my eyes glued to the typewriter paper or computer screen.

[hoggy]

I swapped my Filco to a blank keyset as I was getting confused with dvorak and qwerty (esp. with passwords).  I left the 1,4 7 and 0 key caps on as a visual guide - I find they help a bit.

I'm tempted to get a coloured keyset from KBC and set up the same 4 columns with a different colour.

[Zababa]

I could touch type, but I had this weird habit of staring at the keyboard (kinda blankly) while I typed.  After I used the blank keys for awhile, it got me over the hump.  Now, it feels weird typing while watching the keys.

I see the blank key layouts are quite controversial among you guys. Somebody likes it, somebody doesn't. I am in exactly the same situation like itlnstln has been before. I can touch type, but still am blankly staring at the keys and I know that I don't read them -- I am just keeping this as a bad habit. While typing this why deliberately not looking at the keys I feel that I can unlearn my bad habit even on a keyboard with printed keys.

[vicariouscheese]

So what do you guys with blank caps do when you need to type with one hand?

i look down at my keyboard.  my phone's speakerphone sounds like crap, so id rather be a little slow with my typing than not be able to hear correctly

blank keys are purely for aesthetic purposes for me, although it did reinforce the number row as i usually looked down for that

[Arcanius]

I type on Dvorak layout, and on my G11, and when I first got my Model M, I switched the keycaps around to make it easier to learn the layout. Recently I switched my keycaps back to Qwerty, and am still typing on Dvorak. The mismatched keycaps have helped me with accuracy (first it went down, since I'd look down and hit the wrong key), as well as with speed. My speed has gone up about 5 WPM since then. I'm guessing blank keycaps would have the same effect.
The only thing I'd be concerned about it typing with only one hand, such as when holding a phone with the other hand.
Since one hand typing is practically hunt-and-peck (at least for me), it may inconvenience you.

[hoggy]

i look down at my keyboard.  my phone's speakerphone sounds like crap, so id rather be a little slow with my typing than not be able to hear correctly

blank keys are purely for aesthetic purposes for me, although it did reinforce the number row as i usually looked down for that

You could try a headset.  Typing one handed is slow and cradling the phone with your shoulder isn't a great idea.  The headset should pay for itself - easily within it's lifetime.

[tash]

... and when I first got my Model M, I switched the keycaps around to make it easier to learn the layout...

I don't know... touch typing you should feel the  F and J key(on a qwerty) switching the keycaps forces you to look at the keyboard.

just my opinion

[Arcanius]

Very true, but considering I never touch-typed on Qwerty before that, and I was lazy to learn the right way, I switched keycaps. Regret it a bit now.

Plus, I like to type f (y on qwerty) with my left hand instead of my right. Damned hands have a mind of their own.

[tash]

you need to touch this to touch type

on the dvorak layout it is on the botom row.

[Arcanius]

Which is why I have my keycaps put on qwerty. Now I have nubs.
So much better than looking down.

[tash]

The true touch typing  is in learn braille

[Lanx]

couldn't find home w/o nubs =/

[woody]

I have memorized the female anatomy

Technically, there might be some differences.

[kidchunks]

Technically, there might be some differences.

Show Image

Why I choose exported goods..from keyboards to women. :P

[laden3]

Why I choose exported goods..from keyboards to women.

USA women meant for exportation? :scared:

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Technically, there might be some differences

Do we have to turn everything into a flamewar?

[Lanx]

if you look at the pic, the mcdee meal is the most basic meal. It's not even super sized, it's a basic burger with no cheese and the fries are the kid size. I mean we really should be seeing an overstuffed double quarter pounder w/ cheese and large fries brimming at the rim.

[patrickgeekhack]

This picture has been around for a while. What I do read from this is that although the lady on the right is big, she is saying, "I am big, but I am also beautify and I feel sexy."

[itlnstln]

Big girls need love too.  Just not from me.

[patrickgeekhack]

Big girls need love too.  Just not from me.

There's a saying in my native country which translates to: Every stale bread has its rotten cheese :-)