Can you hunt & peck on blank keyboards?

[Veridis]

I am thinking of getting a blank set, and a lot of people can touch type here, so  keyboards with blank keycaps are not unusual.

I can fully touch type with both hands.
However, what if you have one hand busy eating, on the phone, using the mouse, etc? Could you still type with one hand?

I would guess that the relative position of the keys would help, but have no experience using blank keycaps.

[nubbinator]

You can even give impassioned speeches while typing with one hand on blank caps as long as you can touch type

[Xowie]

I am thinking of getting a blank set, and a lot of people can touch type here, so  keyboards with blank keycaps are not unusual.

However, what if you have one hand busy eating, on the phone, using the mouse, etc? Could you still type with one hand?

I would guess that the relative position of the keys would help, but have no experience using blank keycaps.

Maybe. A lot of touch typing is muscle memory, which I think may cause you to struggle a bit. I just tried typing one handed. I could get in close proximity, but that is about it.

[ConscienceDrop]

i honestly can't even tell you.

I have a set of blank PBT im using atm and I love them, but i can't really tell what the **** im typing. this is only compounded by the fact that im blind.

I'm told i touch type pretty damn well for a blind guy, but thats only when ive properly set my hands on the home row. the slightest knock off centre and suddenly fdl; mu yhpdfigh of dodyslly og. iyd tyrsll y ggivl ssmf yionth img typin to ypud adtyer tas poitng do they ind no going back one it hag  hsppenrfg.

gho e ehat hellpsQ

[rausse]

When I was trying to decide whether a blank keyboard would be good for me, I ran a little experiment where I popped all the rubber done caps off of my crappy keyboard, and mixed them up.  I used that for a few weeks, adjusted, and then got a blank HHKB which I love.

So yes, I personally can find all the keys without legends, even if I'm not fully touch typing, but I'd recommend trying it out with a scrambled keyboard first. 

[dorkvader]

there was a time when, on qwerty, I couldn't properly touch type, and had to look at the keys, even if they are blank. This was because I moved my hands about a lot when I typed and I needed to look to make sure they were properly centered. Even now, I only properly touchtype dvorak.

so: yes.

[Puddsy]

there was a time when, on qwerty, I couldn't properly touch type, and had to look at the keys, even if they are blank. This was because I moved my hands about a lot when I typed and I needed to look to make sure they were properly centered. Even now, I only properly touchtype dvorak.

so: yes.

Don't you type on Dvorak?

I remember very clearly telling you "who would ever want to use dvorak?" when you showed me your dvorak model m.

[dorkvader]

yeah I touch type in dvorak now (slowly getting better) but I use qwerty about 50% of the time, depending on what computer i'm on.

[tp4tissue]

Ah finally a serious topic on Keyboards..

I can certainly touch type under any condition.. it is my main mode of communication.. I type at least 100x more than I speak..  No I do NOT go outside.. It's winter..


basically.. One handed typing is impossible with the ergodox...

But do I miss it.. not at all..  even when drunk I can put out 120wpm..   there's really nothing stopping me from exercising maximum keyboardi-tude

[tp4tissue]

as far as hunt and peck..   If I was on a standard Non-split rectangular keyboard.. I can one hand it.. at around 40wpm..

The reason is ... You can't do quick jumps because you need to find the homing bars for touch typing even if you know where all the keys are.


One handed typing is also highly inefficient. because it requires almost constant wrist lifts.. that takes a significant amount of time..

[dorkvader]

basically.. One handed typing is impossible with the ergodox...

Here at geekhack, we question the premise of "impossible".

In this case it's not exactly true, I have included half keybaord functionality on my ergodox.
http://www.matias.ca/halfkeyboard/index.php?refID=7

One handed typing is also highly inefficient. because it requires almost constant wrist lifts.. that takes a significant amount of time..

I've become rather proficiant at 1h typing on a normal qwerty board. I just "float" my wrists above the keyboard, which makes them quick.

[tp4tissue]

basically.. One handed typing is impossible with the ergodox...

Here at geekhack, we question the premise of "impossible".

In this case it's not exactly true, I have included half keybaord functionality on my ergodox.
http://www.matias.ca/halfkeyboard/index.php?refID=7

LOL..  Possible yes.. Practical.. mmmmm... if you ONLY had 1 hand.. I guess so... hahahaha..


I've never put too serious an effort into 1 handing. The only time I SERIOUSLY tried was after I saw GoldenEye (Boris)..

[Veridis]

basically.. One handed typing is impossible with the ergodox...

Here at geekhack, we question the premise of "impossible".

In this case it's not exactly true, I have included half keybaord functionality on my ergodox.
http://www.matias.ca/halfkeyboard/index.php?refID=7

LOL..  Possible yes.. Practical.. mmmmm... if you ONLY had 1 hand.. I guess so... hahahaha..


I've never put too serious an effort into 1 handing. The only time I SERIOUSLY tried was after I saw GoldenEye (Boris)..

Of course 99% of typing would be done 2 handed, no problems with blanks here D: But if one hand was tied up and you had to send a quick message or password..

Gonna scramble the keys tonight and see how it goes

[Tony]

Don't worry. After a week you will memorize all positions on the keyboard.

[henz]

Before i decided to learn to touch type properly i had created my own touch type finger poisiton, as i wouls always play games where i had my left hand fingers on WASD. This was a hunt and peck styled writing with most alsmost only usage of index and middle finger  where i would have the right index finger on j and middlefinger on i. It worked somewhat good i guess

[davkol]

If you can touch type, it's much easier. You only need to learn to touch type with the hand on the opposite side of the keyboard; it helps to use scooped home keys like on the Kinesis Advantage.

[osi]

Yes - the hunt and peck method works on a blank board. I'd say it requires knowing generally what "section" of the board the desired keys rest.
I look down at my blank board when typing with one hand sometimes.

[Oobly]

I can't do it. I even struggle a bit with front-printed legends. But I don't really touch-type, I float my hands around and have to take a peek now and then to orient myself.