When did you learn to touch type?

[sethk_]

between elementary and middle school we had to learn, but I really picked it up from playing games

[CPTBadAss]

Ha I'm happy to hear that many of us turned class to AIM. All hail AIM.

[mobbo]

Middle school tech classes for the fundamentals; mmorpgs for the practice.

[fohat.digs]

1968

[njbair]

1968

Punch cards don't count.

[fohat.digs]

Punch cards don't count.

It was actual manual typewriters, like Hemingway and Steinbeck used.

[TopreFan333]

Punch cards don't count.

It was actual manual typewriters, like Hemingway and Steinbeck used.

Same, but in the late 1980s -- my school STILL had manual typewriters and actually the teacher insisted they were the best to learn on because they forced you to use your fingers a lot more carefully. Not 100% sold on that idea.

[njbair]

Punch cards don't count.

It was actual manual typewriters, like Hemingway and Steinbeck used.

Same, but in the late 1980s -- my school STILL had manual typewriters and actually the teacher insisted they were the best to learn on because they forced you to use your fingers a lot more carefully. Not 100% sold on that idea.

My first typing class used electronic typewriters with an LCD buffer display, so if you were fast enough you could backspace out an error before it actually typed out the line.

[Bomble]

I previously typed with 2-3 fingers of each hang, but I started getting physically tired from moving my arms around so much while I was typing assignments in my final year of high school (last year) so I re-learned how to type properly.

[swimmingbird]

Only started earlier in the year but am at 80+ wpm with practice each day

[eternalmetal]

Ha I'm happy to hear that many of us turned class to AIM. All hail AIM.

AIM was actually what made me never learn to touch type.  Typing short quick messages was just as easy with simple patterns for words than it would have been if I had learned to touch type.  Putting my hands on the home row slowed me down, so I just developed poor habits. 

Now that I know how to touch type, it's amazing that I went all through my undergrad years at uni without adopting a proper technique.

[dgneo]

I wanna say I started learning back in 3rd/4th grade. Our computer lab was full of iMac G3's IIRC. They used to have the keyboards covered in boxer briefs (one leg hole per hand), and made us learn via the good old Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

I honed my typing skills via AIM and Jerrath.

[BlueNalgene]

We got our first home computer when I was 4 (1992).  In the 1st grade the 'gifted kids' were allowed to go to the library to run exercises on old weird little typewriter type things that had digital displays, but analog cartridge things.  I wish I had the foresight to take a picture of them, I would have found them fascinating now.  From 2nd-5th grade all students were required to do those silly educational games (e.g. Math Blaster, Munchers, and other MECC games on DOS) in the computer lab on IBMs (rubber dome keyboards though).  From 6th-8th grade, the student body rotated so that at some point for a 3rd of the year you actually had to learn touch typing classes and we were graded on WPM.  In high school we had more specific courses learning things like the MS Word suite other practical things, but the entry requirement was a WPM touch typing test.

[SamirD]

They used to have the keyboards covered in boxer briefs (one leg hole per hand), and made us learn via the good old Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

I'm surprised that a parent didn't have an uproar about the underwear in the classroom, lol.  I remember Mavis Beacon.  Probably still have a copy somewhere...

[trenzafeeds]

I just wanted to be cool and use Dvorak, so I forced myself to learn. Before that though I had almost built up an ability to touch type in QWERTY just because I typed a lot and played a bunch of PC games. That was all ruined by Dvorak though 

[Lazerxzz]

About 2006 when I got my first PC. I still don't use home rows that much and only type with my ring index and middle finger and still manage to type around 120WPM. I'd really like to know if it's worth learning the proper way to type though. I've tried in the past and my speed slows down considerably so I just gave up about a day into it lol

[dr_habu]

I was 14 and we started a new computer science class. Actually calling it a class is a bit of a stretch because the teachers pretty much left us to our own devices, but the computers there had mIRC and a fun little program to test and improve your typing speed, so one way or another I was typing during those classes, and pretty quickly I found myself touch typing.

[TacticalCoder]

So, I'm just wondering when people learned to touch type

I was typing since more than ten years I'd say and was quite fast but I wasn't touch-typing... Then one day I had a girlfriend that was a secretary and did learn to touch-type properly and she beat me fair and square on typing test (some command line typing test included in Linux IIRC). I conceded defeat... Temporarily!  Learned to touch-type: for a few weeks it was hell: I was way slower than what I was used to but then it started getting better and then after 3 months I'd say I was faster than previously.
 

[SamirD]

About 2006 when I got my first PC. I still don't use home rows that much and only type with my ring index and middle finger and still manage to type around 120WPM. I'd really like to know if it's worth learning the proper way to type though. I've tried in the past and my speed slows down considerably so I just gave up about a day into it lol

Holy smokes!  I think if you'd learn the 'proper' method that uses all your fingers, you'd see a pretty decent gain.  Plus, you may be straining your hands typing like that right now.  The transition will be frustrating as your speed will drop until you get the hang of the new method, but after that you should see gains.

I was typing since more than ten years I'd say and was quite fast but I wasn't touch-typing... Then one day I had a girlfriend that was a secretary and did learn to touch-type properly and she beat me fair and square on typing test (some command line typing test included in Linux IIRC). I conceded defeat... Temporarily!  Learned to touch-type: for a few weeks it was hell: I was way slower than what I was used to but then it started getting better and then after 3 months I'd say I was faster than previously.

So a very important question--did you ever beat your girlfriend/secretary after you learned? 

[swimmingbird]

Part of the reason I started touch typing is because I felt like I needed a reason to own lots of keyboards

[jameslr]

Jr. High typing class circa 1978. I loved it because I was really into typewriters and the idea of writing fiction as a kid.

Of course, computers came along a few years later and sort of ruined me. I still touch type but I am sloppier now; I also don't use my right hand for shifting left-hand keys to uppercase. I just use my left pinky. That habit embedded itself into my muscle memory because back in the day, keyboards only came with one Ctrl key and my left pinky just picked up all chording duties.

This is exactly how I type as well. I learned to type in freshman year of high school. They had IBM 8086's with the old AT style model M's (this was 1992ish). I had a 486 at home so it was pretty antiquated hardware, but the boards were decent

[Kad]

For me it seemed to just happen after typing for a long while, I just eventually stopped needing to look at the keys to type and after being able to touch type for about 3 or 4 years I only recently made the switch to blanks and haven't had any issues.

[kyb]

Never lol. (Don't have to look but I'm not doing this 10 finger fancy dance).

I'm a programmer. Usually my brain is the bottleneck.

[CaplockJack]

Grade school.

[Macsmasher]

To those wanting to learn to 'truly' touch type without looking at your keyboard, I'll share my experience. I had always considered myself a touch typist. But it wasn't until I bought a Das Ultimate keyboard with blank keys in 2011 that I realized just how much I was relying on looking at the key inscriptions. Sure, I could touch type my alpha keys. But for symbols, F keys, even top row number keys, I had to look, and I didn't even realize the extent I was doing it until getting the blank keyboard. For about a week, I had to reference a keyboard layout jpg to learn them. Point is, the blank keyboard was the best thing I've ever done to learn true touch typing. I highly recommend it.

[SamirD]

To those wanting to learn to 'truly' touch type without looking at your keyboard, I'll share my experience. I had always considered myself a touch typist. But it wasn't until I bought a Das Ultimate keyboard with blank keys in 2011 that I realized just how much I was relying on looking at the key inscriptions. Sure, I could touch type my alpha keys. But for symbols, F keys, even top row number keys, I had to look, and I didn't even realize the extent I was doing it until getting the blank keyboard. For about a week, I had to reference a keyboard layout jpg to learn them. Point is, the blank keyboard was the best thing I've ever done to learn true touch typing. I highly recommend it.

Interesting.  I also probably use the legends more on less-used keys like the f-keys.  I know that some of the f-keys I've tried to use by touch, I always seem to screw up (f3 is the biggest culprit).  Although I've got f5 and f10 down pat.

[jcoffin1981]

I learned in 7th grade but was never that fast.  However, come high school and  college I got lots of practice and now type anywhere from 60-75 wpm.  Typing  class should be a required course at a young age, just as foreign language is beginning to be.  It kills me to see  a 50 yo doctor or other professional hunt and peck with t wo  fingers.

[swimmingbird]

To those wanting to learn to 'truly' touch type without looking at your keyboard, I'll share my experience. I had always considered myself a touch typist. But it wasn't until I bought a Das Ultimate keyboard with blank keys in 2011 that I realized just how much I was relying on looking at the key inscriptions. Sure, I could touch type my alpha keys. But for symbols, F keys, even top row number keys, I had to look, and I didn't even realize the extent I was doing it until getting the blank keyboard. For about a week, I had to reference a keyboard layout jpg to learn them. Point is, the blank keyboard was the best thing I've ever done to learn true touch typing. I highly recommend it.

Touch typing f keys or the nav cluster sounds like an absolute nightmare
This is why I use 60% boards so I never have to leave the home row

[Bucake]

when i was around 11 or 12, chatting (msn messenger) became a thing for me, so suddenly my 'skills' sky-rocketed within months. i probably haven't looked at my keyboard since then, for regular typing.
i'm not using proper form, however. i just realized i sometimes hit keys like P or L with my index finger :/
oh well.. despite the non-proper form i can still easily hit over 100wpm. not necessarily fast, but fast enough for me not to bother fixing my form

[robsterthelobster]

Elementary had small sections every week to teach typing, AIM enhanced my typing in late elementary.

Maplestory in middle school helped with touch typing.  No skype then, so you gotta type fast enough to not die.

[raymogi]

I get better at touch typing now that I regularly do the typing test at 10fastfingers.

When I first get into this hobby (3 months ago), I was at around 60-70wpm. Now I average around 100wpm.

[1swt2gs]

Years and years of gaming when I was younger.

Don't have a conventional typing method but still hash out ~115 wpm .

[rowdy]

Part of the reason I started touch typing is because I felt like I needed a reason to own lots of keyboards

You need a reason?

I think I've been doing it wrong

[SamirD]

It's amazing how many times aim is mentioned in this thread as the motivation.  )

[ghostjuggernaut]

I had a general computer class in 8th grade, which is where I began learning the home row.  Then in 9th grade I had a full blown typing class, which is where I really learned.  We had to type 60 wpm+ in order to pass the class.

[captaineleven]

I feel like so many of us learned in elementary or middle school. I learned when I was in my 7th grade computing class. But I didn't learn to touch type with my fingers on the proper keys literally until earlier this year when I got into mechanical keyboards. I realized that I was not typing the most efficient and ergonomic way so I'd been practicing for a few months. I've more or less gotten the hang of it but I still rarely use my right pinky and I can't even be bothered with the numbers on the top row. But I learned about the proper shifts to press, though. So I think it makes up for it.

[SamirD]

...I can't even be bothered with the numbers on the top row.

I don't bother with those either.  I always use the numeric keypad as I'm much, much faster there.

[swimmingbird]

Part of the reason I started touch typing is because I felt like I needed a reason to own lots of keyboards

You need a reason?

I think I've been doing it wrong

Don't want to turn this thread into unpopular keyboard opinions but yeah I don't think you can appreciate keyboards in the same way if you are a hunt and peck typist or below 60wpm

[darkspider]

It happened to me recently too. I remember I started learning touch typing about one and half years ago. I had enough time to practice those time unlike now. The time when I started collecting keyboard is also then, And my CPM(not WPM) goes up little by little, and now is about 340 with alphabet, and 200 with numpad.

[RYNEosaurus]

I've started learning this year using this website.

I can touch type now but I type really slow.

[nova779]

I learned during the summer between 6th and 7th grade, I had taken a typing class in 6th grade but the teacher didn't know how to type nor was the software we used helpful at all so when I began using the computer majority of the time I taught myself.

[Valff]

I learnt to touch type this summer (with typing.com). I still make some typos with the number row,but that's all. However, I type (very) slow: 50 wpm.
I need some practice.

[swimmingbird]

I learnt to touch type this summer (with typing.com). I still make some typos with the number row,but that's all. However, I type (very) slow: 50 wpm.
I need some practice.

I think you should stop worrying about making typos and try increasing your speed

[Kerpadge]

I learned (very reluctantly) in middle school, but it probably wasn't until college that I learned to appreciate it. All of the papers were much easier to type when I didn't have to focus on which key I was pressing and could just let my mind focus of the topic instead. A couple of months ago, I taught a middle school keyboarding class and met a whole bunch of kids that had the mentality I did back when I was learning. Of course, they also grew up in the age of smart phones and on-screen "keyboards." I'd say 90% of them couldn't touch type at all, and that included the 8th graders that were taking the course for the third time. Those who could touch type finished their lessons a couple of weeks early (six week course). What was worse was the complete lack of troubleshooting skills and computer literacy. They could all use an app on their phones, but only a handful could operate a computer, or could be bothered to read the text on their screen to figure out what to do without very explicit instructions.

[captaineleven]

...I can't even be bothered with the numbers on the top row.

I don't bother with those either.  I always use the numeric keypad as I'm much, much faster there.

Haha yeah same. I used to work at a Kumon and data entry of the kids' grades were much, much faster with the number pad. I could also execute shortcuts that made the job a lot easier. I don't use keypads as much anymore unless I'm inputting grades (as I ought to be doing now) so I don't have a greater need for one.

[briancvrrbs]

I taught myself the past Summer Quarter of College once I got into Mech KBs...I figured if I wanted to have a sexy keyboard I need to know how to really use it 

[Jhonan]

Way back many moons (roughly 260 of them) ago, my high school had just completed its first computer lab, and keyboarding was offered as a class.  I already had a decent sense of hunt a peck, but that really ingrained touch typing in me...

[FoxWolf1]

I don't think there was any particular time when I learned...I just kind of got faster and faster, and looked less and less. I still don't use "proper" typing form, but can keep up a decent pace and was able to stand using blank keycaps for a couple of years. My elementary school did have a "typing class" in-- I think it was 3rd grade or thereabouts-- but at that point, I'd already gotten fast enough typing my own way that I saw no reason to believe that the proper method would be better.

[SamirD]

...could be bothered to read the text on their screen to figure out what to do without very explicit instructions.

Ah yes, the illiterate, yet wealthy enough to have a smartphone, next generation.  They won't last long.  This civilization has about 1000 years left before it collapses like all the ones previous to it.

[logomachy]

I always forget that not touch typing is a thing. I learned young, and become quick circa age ten thanks to the net. Even now I can't remember the location of any individual alpha, but when I put my fingers on the keys - magic happens.