Novice Transcriptionist Looking For Touch Typing Training Advice

[Tigermonarchy]

Greetings all. I'm pecking this out using my lame touch typing abilities and I'm using a Tt Esports Knucker keyboard currently. I've got my eye on a TECK as my hands are really large and my body is a little odd sized for normal keyboards. Plus the sloped placement and curved layout really intrigue me. (I've read all about their lackluster customer service and build quality but really feel that this is a good option to go to besides the GoldTouch split keyboards price-wise right now. I also prefer one piece keyboards, hence why I'm not all that interested in an ErgoDox.)

But to get it, and other things I need for a better workspace and life overall, I need more money. To get that, I need to type faster. Hence this thread.

I'm currently transcribing for my living and I love the work but hate that I type so slowly. I do a lot of files per day but the work is slow as hell. I want to get into writing as a second leg to my three legged stool for working from home and to do all of that I need to type well past 75 WPM to make the effort profitable. I'm not interested in switching formats from QWERTY as I want to be compatible to most keyboards when I go out. So a few questions about integrating training into my daily routine:

• I currently use Keybr and 10FastFingers as my two trainers to exercise on. Should I alternate between the two seeing as I type real words for my work and haven't unlocked the entire keyboard on Keybr yet? Or should I focus on Keybr and then go to 10FF once I've got full technique down on a full keyset?
• Time per day and per session suggestions? I'm currently working a lot on Mturk for their tiny transcription hits and the more I do, the bigger my bonuses are. But I don't want to overtrain myself into not being able to work.
• At what point WPM wise would it be better to cut back my training and focus on daily work being the barometer of how fast I type? Or is a little training every day still worth the effort? Kind of like warmups before fitness each day.
• Finger Fitness, by Greg Irwin is my go-to hand stretching and rehab system for keeping limber. Have any of you had experience with his methods and/or other hand stretching and exercising routines? What should I be looking for in terms of finger independence in relation to keyboarding?

TIA all and all opinions and insights will be respected here. Ta.

[plegnic]

What is your current typing speed? I imagine once you can totally touch type (no matter what the speed), just continue practicing by doing work. At least then you'll be getting paid to get better at typing!

[Oobly]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67941.0

If you're serious about continuing with transcription work for a living, consider saving up, investing in a Maltron and learning the layout. More speed, more comfort, more efficiency, less risk of injury.

[MellowFellow]

Been properly touch typing using correct fingers for the right buttons since i was like 11. And I'm 19 now.
I never found these type excercises (ones that don't use real words) to be of any use for me.
Right now I avg around 110wpm after like 8 years using a keyboard, I still type like crap on type typing lessons that don't use real words.
For me i can type faster if i know the word in my mind ahead of time, but since those typing lesson things teach u ingrain muscle memory on single keys rather than full words. They never helped me or advanced my typing speed. (Your mileage may vary)
Also 10 fast fingers helps with basic words. But it doesn't help you type using punctuations e.g. periods, question mark, colons etc.
And you don't need to restrain yourself to typing using the proper "method". Most ppl type fine using whatever fingers they find comfortable on certain buttons.
As for typing sites so. I kinda like typeracer.com
It tracks your progress and it uses capitals puntuals dashes etc, instead of letters only like 10 fast fingers.
And its more important to get accuracy down first. And then speed will then increase as you get more accuracy.
Hope this helps.

[SpAmRaY]

Been properly touch typing using correct fingers for the right buttons since i was like 11. And I'm 19 now.
I never found these type excercises (ones that don't use real words) to be of any use for me.
Right now I avg around 110wpm after like 8 years using a keyboard, I still type like crap on type typing lessons that don't use real words.
For me i can type faster if i know the word in my mind ahead of time, but since those typing lesson things teach u ingrain muscle memory on single keys rather than full words. They never helped me or advanced my typing speed. (Your mileage may vary)
Also 10 fast fingers helps with basic words. But it doesn't help you type using punctuations e.g. periods, question mark, colons etc.
And you don't need to restrain yourself to typing using the proper "method". Most ppl type fine using whatever fingers they find comfortable on certain buttons.
As for typing sites so. I kinda like typeracer.com
It tracks your progress and it uses capitals puntuals dashes etc, instead of letters only like 10 fast fingers.
And its more important to get accuracy down first. And then speed will then increase as you get more accuracy.
Hope this helps.

Do you fence?

[MellowFellow]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67941.0

If you're serious about continuing with transcription work for a living, consider saving up, investing in a Maltron and learning the layout. More speed, more comfort, more efficiency, less risk of injury.

So you saying? Everyone learning to touch type. This is the best way to go about learning to touch type? Buy a Maltron? Nice advice O.O
I shoulda bought it when i was a kid. I woulda been a God typist by now

[Tigermonarchy]

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=67941.0

If you're serious about continuing with transcription work for a living, consider saving up, investing in a Maltron and learning the layout. More speed, more comfort, more efficiency, less risk of injury.

Big ups on the article. I already see some things there I'm going to use and eventually the entire main post. Big ups indeed.

Question: Maltron or Kinesis? I've seen the Kinesis layout and kind of pooh-poohed it a little but seeing the Maltron in action has got me all hot and bothered about the Kinesis as a slightly cheaper option. (Oh why must ergo keyboards cost so much?! XD)

[Oobly]

The Kinesis has a number of things which aren't as good as the Maltron:
1. rubber dome F key switches
2. the curves are not quite as strong (possibly due to the use of flexible PCB's instead of hand wiring) and relies on the keycap profile to complete the angles
3. the thumb cluster angle and position are not as good, they're higher and require a slightly different press direction, which is again not as natural or comfortable as Maltron, but this may be okay if you have really large hands.

Whether the differences are worth the extra cost is not something I can answer and probably is quite personal. Some may even prefer the Kinesis right off the bat. You can mount a numpad or trackball on the flat middle section, too.

The Kinesis is a good attempt at an affordable version of the Maltron, but there is a fair difference in actual use. I don't have either, so my information has been gathered from others posting about their experiences.

Hoggy has (had?) both and shows them off side by side in this thread: http://deskthority.net/photos-f62/some-more-ergonomic-keyboards-t1731.html

[tp4tissue]

Once you know where the individual keys are by muscle memory.

To speed-up from there,  You need to train up a large "word bank",    This is the "Burst Memory" element in the Compendium of Speed post.


All the other things help, and the elements are synergistic.



Do remember that,  If your profession is say a "medical " transciptionist,   You will need to find a program that lets you input a word list that is relevant TO YOU..   like.. lupus, or pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanocoiosis

[fohat.digs]

I would recommend a tactile keyboard.

Everyone knows that I love my ancient IBM iron and have a large desk to accommodate an aircraft carrier, but I believe that tactile feedback is necessary to signal the brain that contact has been made.

Alps switches make contact high up, and might be even better if/when you learned to not bottom out.

IBM Model M/Fs are built to last for the long haul, and Unicomps give you similar construction in a modern frame, with native USB and warranties, for very reasonable prices (ie <$100 delivered).

I prefer a pure standard-ANSI full-sized (or larger!) layout, and I recommend that you stay with a conventional keyboard unless you can be certain of using your daily driver 98% of the time without undue distraction.

If you are typing words almost exclusively, and numbers are rarely involved, consider ditching the numpad for a smaller frame.
However, if numbers are a significant proportion of your work, a numpad is essential and very efficient.

Personally, if and when I retire and no longer have to worry with large numbers of numbers on a daily basis, I will seriously consider giving up the numpad and I may move to a Colemak layout. Qwerty is the status quo, but other layouts probably offer worthwhile rewards in speed and comfort.

PS - when my kids were learning to type, their teacher recommended typing with a black handkerchief over the hands.

cheap, easy, instantly removable