Best free typing software for.....

[enoy21]

... Breaking years of bad typing experience ?

I can type about 50 WPM with a 90 % accuracy for the most part but I do it mostly using only my thumb, Index and #1 fingers and almost never my ring finger or pinky (Unless hitting shift)

If I try and use the actual home keys and proper finger/key combination it takes me a LONG time with alot of errors ( like maybe 15 WPM if that ) . Is there a good software to try and retrain my fingers and muscle memory for better typing skills ?   I'm trying to break 15 years of bad habit here.

[itlnstln]

Buy a cheap, split-ergonomic keyboard.  That will get your fingers trained properly since you're forced to keep your hands on the correct side of the 'board.  Once you get that down (it doesn't take long), go back to a regular 'board and put blank caps on it.  You will be well-rewarded.  The typing tutors out there don't work worth a damn for me.

[enoy21]

Well I have the blank keys and do ok without looking currently If I use the same method I've been using for years , But It's highly inefficient in alot of cases and causes alot of issues with moving my hands around so much.  The Split Board isn't such a bad Idea to force that for a while.

[itlnstln]

The split 'board will fix a lot of bad typing habits very quickly.  I would find a used one, or something, where you don't have to spend a lot of money.  The MS Natural series is good, the 4000 is a pretty nice 'board for a rubber dome.

[Thaxll'ssillyia]

Relatively good free typingtrainer is Tipp10 (http://www.tipp10.com/en)

[Minskleip]

Get a matrix keyboard.

[enoy21]

Relatively good free typingtrainer is Tipp10 (http://www.tipp10.com/en)

Thanks for this. I'm not sure how I missed it to this point.  I've been sporatically using :

Typing Tutor

It seems when using bad habits I can type about 50 WPM but when going through those lessons, it's more like 15-35 Just on the home rows and not actually any words. I try and repeat those lessons until I can get to atleast 35 WPM.

This single post has taken me quite a long time to type properly.  

I'll check out the link above as well. Thanks.



Do most of you use wrist rests ? I've never used them but can see where they would make touch typing more comfortable.

[sinis]

only for ubuntu afaik
edit better link: http://edu.kde.org/applications/all/ktouch

it does most languages, neo, colemak, dvorak. shows statistics.

[Slavfot]

I've been using TypingMaster Pro to get rid of my bad writing habbit and have now learned to TouchType.
It's hard to break years of bad writing habbits, and it take's some time and to have patient and not just start writing as usual because you want to be fast. But it has been worth it, the hardest for me was learning to type with all the fingers on my right hand, have only used the index for all my years 'till a couple of months back.

[enoy21]

I'll take a look at the ktouch. I use debian once in a while on an older laptop so that shouldn't be an issue.

And yeah the patience and trying not to revert is the really hard part at the moment.  I really haven't practiced much but I can already see some differences. Right now it takes quiet a bit of focus and alot more glancing at the keyboard for verification that I'm using the right fingers. But sometimes if I stop thinking about it I surprise myself at ability to get out a word or three with speed.

[Keymonger]

Personally, I don't like such software that displays your CPM or WPM during typing... even if it's slightly faded to prevent distraction. A real-time display is a distraction no matter how you make it look. The focus during the learning phase should always be on accuracy, speed has to come naturally.

[enoy21]

That's an excellent thought , and to be honest I know the software shows it , but I really don't see it.    I am in fact always conscious of it , but I never pay attention until it's finished because it changes so much within a few key strokes.  I do try and get the letters as fast as possible though when in the training sessions.

It seems to me that my left forearm is getting tired with touch typing. I don't know if that's form or just unused muscles since I'm using my ring finger and pinky so much more now.

My right arm is fine, but then I like the reverse monkey grip so it's gotten extra work on that side.

[enoy21]

Well I'm getting better. I've been running drills trying to focus on 100% accuracy and repeating them until I can get around 30 WPM before moving on to the next exercise. I'm still more or less on the home row for that phase but I've been really trying to do ALL of my typing this way and I can see some speed increases already although still pretty damn slow.  The drills don't allow much rythm because they are not actual word patterns so it really slows it down.

It does feel better to type this way though.

Does anyone know if there is a 12" Wrist rest for TKL ? I found a 6" but think that would be too slow.