Do you touch type?

16 years ago

Hi Steve:

Please don't laugh too hard but even as a professional author/write/public-speaker I have to look at the keyboard and never learned the traditional placement with hands on the Home Row.

Now that we got the jokes out of the way, if you have time being better at something is always a good thing. What you want to weigh is if you are going to do this for a learning experience or real world use. If it is for real world results please take into account:
Price to learn
Time To Practice
Time to achieve desired results.

Would the time taken away from your own projects and research hurt in the long run or do you have the ability to allocate the time needed?

Good luck with your choice!

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Randy Bheites

16 years ago

<-- fastest 2-finger typist in the west.

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Hamida Harland 16 years ago

I do - I learnt back when I was a teenager using a Mavis Beacon cd. At the time I didn't learn for any specific reason except for the fact I liked spending time on the computer, but I'm glad now because I spend the majority of my day typing. Whether it's articles, website content, emails, forum posts, web 2.0 etc I don't know how I'd survive without touch typing - I'd probably have to outsource everything.
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Susan Hope 16 years ago

Yep I touch type - I was taught the traditional way when I was 16 at an evening class here in the UK (back in the 70's no laughing LOL).

If you want to get faster, consider a small change to the way you type, for instance, do you use your right thumb on the space bar? If not, start using it also, do you use your little fingers?, if not, start adding in using your little finger to hold down the Shift key.. if you can learn to use those and add them to the way you type now, you will get faster and then you can consider trying to type without looking. Have a bit of fun with that if you can somehow cover the keyboard (or just your hands with a piece of cloth as you type), open up a notepad document and type away in something where it doesn't matter.

You might find that would be enough and not have to pay for lessons or whatever, it would give you an idea of whether or not to pursue the idea of learning to touch type fully or not.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Sue
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mywebwork 16 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bheites

<-- fastest 2-finger typist in the west.

I'd challenge you for that title Randy (and in my book Fort Lauderdale isn't very far west).

Back in the early 1980's I repaired teletype machines, those of you with gray hair may remember what those were! Anyway one of the common repair tasks was to pull all the keytops off of the keyboard and put them into an ultrasonic bath to clean them. After that you had to replace all 101 keys, and I eventually memorized their positions.

So I know where all the keys are, yet never really learned to type. But with 2 fingers I can write an entire e-book or program a complete application.

One mistake I often make is also due to early 1980's technology. One of my favorite computers was the Apple II, I actually had 4 of them at one point. On the Apple II keyboard the + and = keys were reversed, in other words you held the shift key to produce an = character. To this day I still do that, and since I'm a software developer it does cause problems when you replace an = sign with a + sign!

I believe an old adage about teaching an old dog new tricks aplies here!

Bill
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bannor32

16 years ago

Took touch typing in high school (using an actual typewriter). Hit about 70 WPM back in the day. Faster than that on a computer now, but don't know how I'd do on a real typewriter anymore...

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oleskool

16 years ago

I learned to type in Jr. High School and worked as a clerk typist for years.

Knowing where the keys are without thinking about it saves a lot of time. Keyboards change and keys move but overall it is all the same. Another post suggested using your thumb on the space key that does help.

Practice with your middle keys and extending your fingers to reach the other keys and you will find that you are faster and know where to position your fingers to make fewer errors.

Good luck.

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JamesFrancisIM

16 years ago

Yeah I touch type. I don't think I could live without it!

It's so much faster and therefore increases productivity. If you don't touch type at the moment then consider learning right now. It may be hard at first, but in the long run the benefits of learning will outweigh that hardship 1000x over.

Although a trend in this thread seems to be that most people learnt how to touch type when they were young or in high school. Interesting

- James.

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Susan Hope

16 years ago

Originally Posted by JamesFrancisIM

Although a trend in this thread seems to be that most people learnt how to touch type when they were young or in high school. Interesting

- James.

Well that's just because we are old and that's what you did back then LOL well ok I am old, I can't really speak for the others and also I don't want to get hurt LOL (but between you and me, I think they are probably old too LOL)

**sneaking away now for my cocoa...**

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steve39

16 years ago

Originally Posted by SusanneUK

Well that's just because we are old and that's what you did back then LOL well ok I am old, I can't really speak for the others and also I don't want to get hurt LOL (but between you and me, I think they are probably old too LOL)

**sneaking away now for my cocoa...**

Well you don't look old in your pic. Unlike me, who's closer to 50 than 40. LOL

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Susan Hope 16 years ago

Originally Posted by steve39

Well you don't look old in your pic. Unlike me, who's closer to 50 than 40. LOL

Well thank you very much indeed, always nice to get a compliment..

Actually the picture I use was taken in 2004 when I was 44 and I am now in my run up to 50, next Feb to be precise, where did all the time go?

Mar, I agree with you, typing has always stood me in good stead as well

Cheers
Sue
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Steven Fullman

16 years ago

Originally Posted by steve39

Well you don't look old in your pic. Unlike me, who's closer to 50 than 40. LOL

You wanna see Sue 'touch typing' Donny Osmand's head, 'bunny ears' style.

It's very stylish...and unquestionably cool.

Even for this indie-head.

Steve

(*Aged 36 and three quarters)

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Susan Hope

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

You wanna see Sue 'touch typing' Donny Osmand's head, 'bunny ears' style.

It's very stylish...and unquestionably cool.

Even for this indie-head.

Steve

(*Aged 36 and three quarters)

Oh I like that.. always wanted to be "unquestionably cool" and Stylish, I have arrived (i was never cool at school, so only taken me what 30 odd years and a Donny Osmond but I got there in the end LOL).

Thank you Steve for that giggle, nearly spat coke (the fizzy drink) all over my screen

Sue

PS This will be on a google alert tomorrow because of the mention of Mr DCO, the last time you and I spoke on these forums about "him" I got emails from various D Fans who all said, Sue, got a Google Alert on Donny today and guess what, you were in it!!!!

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Steven Fullman

16 years ago

Originally Posted by SusanneUK

PS This will be on a google alert tomorrow because of the mention of Mr DCO, the last time you and I spoke on these forums about "him" I got emails from various D Fans who all said, Sue, got a Google Alert on Donny today and guess what, you were in it!!!!

1. Mr DCO. I take it that's his noughty's (naughty's?) code name...
2. Google Alert => Mr DCO => My Name? Good grief! (thank goodness my mates aren't web savvy...)

And hey, Sue, you ARE cool.

Steve

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Susan Hope

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

1. Mr DCO. I take it that's his noughty's (naughty's?) code name...
2. Google Alert => Mr DCO => My Name? Good grief! (thank goodness my mates aren't web savvy...)

And hey, Sue, you ARE cool.

Steve

OK ROFLing a lot here...

OK education, DCO (which is a good code name, I so have to let him know that one).. anyway, stands for Donald Clark Osmond, you and your mates wanted that education right

*Note to Self* Sue You don't need sleep, track down Steve's mates then educate them on all things web and google.

And hey, Sue, you ARE cool.

Had to make that a bit bigger you understand and I am so making my kids and grandson read that tomorrow, lots of times!! LOL

Oh and sorry once again for hijacking this thread, like I said in the last one, Steve started it, I think.

So to bring the thread back on track, how fast can you type:

"And hey, Sue, you ARE cool."??

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Steven Fullman

16 years ago

Originally Posted by SusanneUK

OK ROFLing a lot here...

OK education, DCO (which is a good code name, I so have to let him know that one).. anyway, stands for Donald Clark Osmond, you and your mates wanted that education right

*Note to Self* Sue You don't need sleep, track down Steve's mates then educate them on all things web and google.

Had to make that a bit bigger you understand and I am so making my kids and grandson read that tomorrow, lots of times!! LOL

Oh and sorry once again for hijacking this thread, like I said in the last one, Steve started it, I think.

So to bring the thread back on track, how fast can you type:

"And hey, Sue, you ARE cool."??

True. I started it.

And you are.

I typed it in approx. 6 seconds, by the way. I'm a rubbish typist, really.

Men who type fast...well, that's just weird.

[runs away from the male typing pool]

Steve

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Susan Hope

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

I typed it in approx. 6 seconds, by the way. I'm a rubbish typist, really.

Men who type fast...well, that's just weird.

[runs away from the male typing pool]

Steve

LOL LOL Watching your dust, my advise, run faster....

Now, did you include the two ?'s in

""And hey, Sue, you ARE cool."??"

I can beat your time of 6 seconds to produce that sentence, 2 seconds in fact (have you heard of copy and paste? no, ok I won't tell anyone).

OK I really need to go to bed as I have to be up again in 4.5 hours, ouch! and I am going just as soon as I finish this drink..

Nite,
Sue

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Jillian Slack

16 years ago

98 words per minute with 97% accuracy.

Knew when I was very young that I wanted to go to journalism school. Saw "All the President's Men" long ago and that got me started thinking how cool it would be to be a journalist (although, these days, I'm ashamed of the profession since so many in the field are unethical and spew their own views when they are supposed to report the facts).

I think it's DEFINITELY worth it to learn how to type, no matter your age or profession.

It could save you a LOT of time.

I've had bosses who look at the long stuff I write and their first comment is, "Gee, that must have taken a LONG time." But what they don't realize is since I type so fast and compose at the keyboard (rather than composing by hand), writing is a quick process.

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fthomas137 16 years ago

LOL, I had to laugh at some of these comments. Reminded me of the days when I learnt to type on a 'manual' typewriter in high schools. Yes, yes, I am that old, NOT!

Took me a good couple of years to learn to retype softly on an computer keyboard. But I agree with others, couldn't live without this skill. Currently typing at about 50-60 wps and 60-70 mistakes/min.

Actually a good vote would be 'what's the most used key on your keyboard?'. For me, without a shadow of a doubt, it's the backspace key!

Frank
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JohnMcCabe 16 years ago

Sort of...

When I'm transcribing something from, say a photocopied reference or my handwritten notes, I can touch type. I do find myself having to force myself to use the proper fingers, not look, etc.

When I'm composing at the keyboard, I have to look at the keyboard. Not to find the keys, but to avoid editing on the screen as I go. If I watch what's on the screen, I feel compelled to fix every niggling error I'd fix in the editing process.

Does that make sense?
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thatgirlJ

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Jillian Slack

98 words per minute with 97% accuracy.

Knew when I was very young that I wanted to go to journalism school. Saw "All the President's Men" long ago and that got me started thinking how cool it would be to be a journalist (although, these days, I'm ashamed of the profession since so many in the field are unethical and spew their own views when they are supposed to report the facts).

I think it's DEFINITELY worth it to learn how to type, no matter your age or profession.

It could save you a LOT of time.

I've had bosses who look at the long stuff I write and their first comment is, "Gee, that must have taken a LONG time." But what they don't realize is since I type so fast and compose at the keyboard (rather than composing by hand), writing is a quick process.

Wow! You're my new idol

I consider myself to be a good typist, but I'm definitely not to that level. Now that I have MacSpeech Dictate, I'm probably going to get slower because I'm out of practice

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Nahar

16 years ago

Originally Posted by JamesFrancisIM

Yeah I touch type. I don't think I could live without it!

It's so much faster and therefore increases productivity. If you don't touch type at the moment then consider learning right now. It may be hard at first, but in the long run the benefits of learning will outweigh that hardship 1000x over.

I agree with James 100%. Learning typing is totally worth it. Can you imagine living without being able to drive a car or use a cell phone? I guess it's possible, but it would be silly in 21st C. to give up those and other things that make our lives easier and us more efficient.

No matter how old you are - I am sure you can learn to type. You simply need to change a habit. Thousands of people every day quit smoking, alcohol and even drugs. Typing is much easier! (Not that I know from personal experience - I'm just saying).

I learned typing over 2 days. My colege roomates left for Thanksgiving weekend and I just bought my 1st laptop. Since I didn't even know what Thanksgiving was I told my American romates that I appreciated their invitations but I had something important to do. Then for two days I used one of this almost free software that shows you the keyboard and your fingers - each having different color, etc. Super simple stuff. Now - as most of you I am sure - I simply think what text I want to see on the screen and let my fingers do the rest.

You should definitely learn typing! Every year I celebrate this skill by killing and eatting a turkey!

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bgmacaw 16 years ago

Yes, I also learned touch typing in high school in the 70's. I've been typing reports, dissertations, computer programs and forum posts ever since.
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garyf

16 years ago

I learned to touch type in my first job as a software developer. My manager gave me a touch typing program when I arrived and I spent the first month working with it to learn. The software (whose name I don't remember, but there are plenty of them) was fun and easy to use, and definitely a great investment of time.

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Taylor French

16 years ago

I'm a touch typist, but not with the traditional method.

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Mar 16 years ago

I touch type; learned as a youngster when I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life - and it's now second nature to me. Do I make mistakes - yup. Is my typing getting slower? Probably - but then, I'm getting slower at most things, LOL

I used to resent being labelled as someone who can type - but it's a skill which has stood me in good stead over the years.

Mar
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Hackbridge

16 years ago

I learned to touch type when I was in the Royal Mail. We used to code the postcodes so we had to be fast at it. That was over 25 years go but it has stayed with me ever since.

Sometimes I scare myself that I can think of what I want to type and it just happens almost without prompting the grey cells.

I think that anyone can type if they are interested. That has to be the way to learn. If you think of it as a chore then you won't have the enthusiasm. When we were in the RM we used to play 'games' or see who could do the most work. The managers loved that of course, but it meant we had to keep our speeds up.

If anyone is in the UK, I have loads of Mavis Beacon CD Roms. They are for Windows 95 though

Brian

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Steven Fullman 16 years ago

Originally Posted by Hackbridge

If anyone is in the UK, I have loads of Mavis Beacon CD Roms. They are for Windows 95 though

Brian

Hi Brian,

I don't consider myself a touch typist...rather, a pretty fast 'conscious' typist.

I enjoyed your RM story!

I've always promised myself I'd use Mavis one day...

Cheers,
Steve
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Steven Wagenheim 16 years ago

Yes, I touch the keys when I type.
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- Steven Fullman 16 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim
  
  Yes, I touch the keys when I type.
  
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Bev Clement

16 years ago

Another one who touch types. I learnt in Swansea when I was young

My mother decided I should learn to type in case the job I took didn't work out and then I could get a proper job.

I learnt on a typewriter which had covers over all the keys so there was no point in looking at the keyboard because all you saw was red, blue, green, yellow.

Type now between 100 and 120 wpm depending on how tired I am.

And I'm older than Susanne and Steven even though Sue & I lived in the same place

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Graddis Banned 16 years ago

I'm awful at typing, thank god for auto correct on the iphone!

Dave
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Susan Hope 16 years ago

Originally Posted by Bev Clement

I learnt in Swansea when I was young My mother decided I should learn to type in case the job I took didn't work out and then I could get a proper job.

Love that, so something my Grandmother would have said.

And I'm older than Susanne and Steven even though Sue & I lived in the same place

We did, do, well ok I still do and you don't. Also, old is good! many a tune played on blah blah, etc... so very true... I like being nearly 50, wouldn't want to be a youngun (sp?) again - oh and isn't 50 the new 40?

Sue
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Bev Clement

16 years ago

The funny part was at the time I was looking to teach, so not sure how that wasn't going to be a proper job.

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charlesburke

16 years ago

Seem that touch typing is in - way in.

I too learned typing back in the dark ages of '59 in summer school. Barely passed - typing only 17 wpm - but then used it during my lifetime probably more than any other "school" skill. Maybe even more than math.

When I moved to Japan in '85, I instantly got jobs transcribing tapes and editing handwritten translations. That's where my speed finally jumped from the 15-18 wpm range up to 60-80 wpm. Using a skill every day sure makes a difference in how good you get at it.

On the other side of the question, I had a friend who could type at nearly 50 words a minute using just 3 fingers and a thumb. But of course he was a translator. If he'd been transcribing, he'd have slowed way down, having to look back and forth between source text, keyboard and screen.

A couple of earler posters mentioned how important it is to be determined going in that you'll stick with it through the slow initial phase. Back when WordStar was THE word processor, I made it a point to learn all the control commands and dot commands. That took some persistence, but it made me a lot of money because I could put things into a document more quickly and easily than other guys doing the same job (consistently beating deadlines is an endearing quality to any outsourcer you're working for).

Bottom line - yeah, learn touch typing. You can think of it as gaining one more advantage (or one less disadvantage).

Cheers from warm and smiling Thailand,
Charles

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DavidTheMavin

16 years ago

How do I move this to the off topic forum?

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Susan Hope 16 years ago

Originally Posted by DavidTheMavin

How do I move this to the off topic forum?

errr oops!!

OK so getting back on topic again..

Those of you who learnt back when the dinosaurs were roaming like me, how many took proper exams and what did you get?

I took RSA Stage 1 and passed and didn't take it any further because, well I was 16 had just left school and I had disco's to get to...

Is RSA a UK thing?
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tommygadget

16 years ago

When I worked as a developer for a major bank, I bought a copy of Mavis Beacon and used it 1 hour a day on my lunch hour for two weeks. I never looked back. I just kept on getting faster and faster. It was worth every second I spent practicing.

TomG.

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iw433

16 years ago

Lets here it for "Mavis Beacon". I learned to touch type in the army, but not very fast. When I started to use the computer I got a Mavis Beacon CD and it has really helped.

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travlinguy

16 years ago

True Confession: I learned touch-typing in the 10th grade - high school. The only reason I took the class was that it was full of babes. There was only one other guy in that class along with 32 girls. Oooo La La! Me and Dave ruled!

Since then, I couldn't hunt and peck if I wanted to. And as a writer it's a great skill to have. I can type about 45 - 50 words per minute with only a few mistakes. When I write I actually compose on the keyboard...

As for learning as an adult, I suppose it depends on your motivation. But it's not hard. I can still remember sitting in Miss Barstow's class practicing and reciting aloud:

F-F-F space, J-J-J, D-D-D space, K-K-K...

Consider yourself lucky to be starting now on an easy computer keyboard. I learned on an old clunky manual Underwood typewriter (only serious students got to practice on electric machines). It took some serious wrist muscles to hit the shift key with that dinosaur to get an upper case letter. Technology, don't you love it? I've attached a picture of my typing teacher.

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James Liberty

16 years ago

Originally Posted by steve39

Just wondering how many people here can touch type. Personally, I am all over the board and even though I can type fairly fast with only a few fingers, I think I'm wasting a lot of energy doing it my way. Do you think it's even worth it to learn after decades of doing it wrong. For those who did pick it up - has it really increased your speed and productivity?

I would say, "Yes" -- it is worth learning. I would recommend trying to find a good typing game to improve your speed. I used to play one all the time in computer class when I was in middle school... and it was FUN.

Actually, I now type 80 words per minute but I've been thinking about trying to find a good typing game in an effort to improve my speed.

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DeanJames

16 years ago

I have had a computer since I was 8 but it wasn't until I worked on an I.T helpdesk logging calls as people talked that I suddenly became a touch typist. I can't do it the Mavis Beacon way though.

@travlinguy - love that story

Dean

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Kezz

16 years ago

I touch type now and it definitely speeds up my productivity. I initially tried a tonne of different typing tutor programs and they didn't help me one little bit.

You know what program eventually broke through and taught me to touch type? MSN Chat

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LonnieSmalley

16 years ago

Well I have fat clumsy fingers and I type with two fingers will I stare at the keyboard. I would love to learn a different way but been doing it for many years now

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skydivedad

16 years ago

As someone who was given the choice between taking Home-Economics or the Typing Class during the mid 1970's I thought I'd have more fun with the Girls in Home-Ec. Missed the typing class. I'm typing this in right now using Dragon Naturally Speaking. It's well trained and I can type as fast as I talk and never look at the keyboard. I love being able to work as I walk around my office. My advice get Dragon Naturally Speaking it's a fantastic addition to any IM'ers toolkit.
Paul

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amki

Banned 16 years ago

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skydivedad

16 years ago

Originally Posted by amki

I used Dragon years ago when it first appeared, but it never got trained sufficiently for me as a medical transcriptionist (almost lost a client for the company I worked for). Since I've retired, I've not paid attention to what they are doing with the program, but I'm sure there have been many upgrades. Your post only had one minor error, so that certainly speaks well for Dragon (which I thought when I used it was even better than sliced bread).

Have you found that it trains easier than in earlier versions, or are you an expert proofreader, maybe? I actually thought that it was the 'future' of content input, but since I don't hear much about it anymore, it looks like it may have gone the way of text expanders--obscurity.

Well I've done my share of "proofing" when I wrote Ad copy for the Chicago Sun-Times for several years in the early 1980's and the practice continues as a full time IM'er.

Dragon Naturally Speaking has improved greatly over the years. I upgraded to Pro 10 but version Preferred 10 would seem to fit most. I'm not certain what the current version is but highly recommend DNS to one and all. It is a quick learner and should only take you a few weeks, if not sooner, to get it humming along nicely.
All The Best
Paul

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elle56

16 years ago

I can't type without looking at the keyboard. In fact, I only use 2 fingers when I'm typing. Really sucks. How I wish I learned the skill when I was younger. I envy you guys.

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yoshiko

16 years ago

Yes, I touch type. Learned it with a typewriter the traditional way. Nowadays I can to speed type, watch TV, listen to podcasts all at the same time. It's fun!

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Coleen

16 years ago

I taught myself to type on a little portable typewriter when I was 6 years old. Been touch typing ever since. If I look at the keyboard when I am typing I make mistakes like you wouldn't believe!!!

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Susan Hope 16 years ago

"Amki"

Sorry but I am fairly sure it's not ok to self promote with a link within your post, could be wrong and I am sure someone will correct me if that is the case and let you know one way or another. Still might be a good idea to take the link out now, just in case, if I am wrong, you can always put it back in.

Sue
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- amki Banned 16 years ago
  
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  Susan Hope 16 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by amki
  
  Thanks, Sue, for your input. I'm not too sure either, so that's why I kind of tried to excuse myself.
  
  Your welcome Amki, however, you might want to take the link out of your second post above as well.
  
  It is fine to promote affiliate products via your signature link as long as it leads to a website you own and not to an affiliated site or one made for you by an affiliated site.
  
  Cheers
  Sue
  
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dsmpublishing

16 years ago

yes i touch type all the time did computers at college but could touch type at the age of 13 just from messing about with a boring computer program that my dad had. Can do about 50 words a minute though i used to be a lot faster than that.

sam
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Diana Lane

16 years ago

My eldest son can type faster than he can speak, while holding a conversation with someone and watching TV at the same time. Funnily enough, the only time I've ever seen anything that came close was with the registrar on the day I went to register his birth - she practically had the details down before I finished telling her, and didn't look at the screen or keyboard once.

My son doesn't get it from me though. For some reason, you had to be a bit 'simple' in our school to do typing, and I evidently wasn't simple enough (late seventies - some time after Donny Osmond and horrific nylon socks with the Osmonds' faces printed up the sides!). I now type with one finger, and keep the nail on that one shorter than the rest of the talons because of it - I can usually recognise another single-digit typist anywhere

Change is on the cards, though. I made myself take a day out to learn Photoshop, which I always found baffling and un-intuitive, and it's made such a difference to what I can produce and how quickly that I'm intent on taking some time out to tackle the keyboard next. If I ever find any to spare

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tommygadget

16 years ago

Anybody who is in doubt, don't sit on the fence with this one. In the time it takes to read a few posts here and write a few replies, you could improve your productivity enormously by learning with a typing program.

TomG.

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dorothydot

16 years ago

Touch type about 60+ wpm.

And shorthand. It's great to write things that no one else can read! :p

Dot

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Susan Hope 16 years ago

Originally Posted by dorothydot

Touch type about 60+ wpm.

And shorthand. It's great to write things that no one else can read! :p

Dot

I know what you mean, I loved it when I could use my shorthand to write little notes all over the house - I took Pitman Shorthand in my mid twenties but have not now used it for so long, I am way to rusty..

Sue
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HeySal

16 years ago

Holy crap. I never thought about people not knowing how to type. I can't even IMAGINE doing this not being able to type at least 50 wpm. Not as much as I write anyhow.
Some of you people have to be seriously driven to get through it. Um.....usually schools have after school programs where you can learn that - or state employment offices have tutorials where you can learn it free. It doesn't take long and would increase your production and save time like you wouldn't believe.

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Steven Fullman

16 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

Holy crap. I never thought about people not knowing how to type. I can't even IMAGINE doing this not being able to type at least 50 wpm. Not as much as I write anyhow.
Some of you people have to be seriously driven to get through it. Um.....usually schools have after school programs where you can learn that - or state employment offices have tutorials where you can learn it free. It doesn't take long and would increase your production and save time like you wouldn't believe.

Hey Sal...,

I think it's fair to say, I must've spent my time in 'man school'.

Typing? Uh, nope.

Rugby, Fighting, Indie Music, Oscar Wilde, The Periodic Table, Boyle's Law, Egg 'n Chips and Shenanigans...yep!

Steve

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JMB Marketing Group 16 years ago

I went to a Commercial School (Business School). No one could Graduate without at least Grade 9 typing.

I completed Grade 12 typing when I was only in grade 10 (the school was semestered).

In Grade 9 I had to learn on a manual typewriter in which the WHOLE keyboard was blank. The keyboard was shown on a screen at the front of the class. Talk about FORCING you NOT to look at the keys. Hell, they were blank anyways! LOL

In Grade 10 I graduated to the electric typewriter. What a nightmare. I was literally pulling my hair out as I made sooooooo many mistakes because the keyboard was sooooooo sensitive.

I then graduated and had to learn, on yet another beast, the wordprocessor (of sorts - the Wang to be exact). By the end of my typing classes (and with all the different keyboards I was exposed to and had to learn on -- all within a 2-year period instead of the normal 4-year period), I am proud to say that I, at the end of it all, ended up having a typing speed of 80 WPM.

Within a few years of graduating high school I had a typing speed of 120 WPM.

During my working career, I would also talk on the phone and type my bosses scribbled notes at the same time (at 120 WPM accurately). Even so, my bosses would get pissed at me because they perceived it as me not working. Anyway, got fired from several jobs because they didn't think that someone could talk and work (type) at the same time). HUH! My God, I even corrected their spelling and grammar while I was talking. HUH???? I think that that is multi-tasking at its best. Don't you???

Not only that, those personal calls were to my babysitter, which I thought was important! I guess not, according to those heartless *******s (as THEIR wives were at home taking care of their children because they made enough that their wives didn't need to worry about working for a living (or even remotely being fired for talking on the phone while looking after the kiddies))!

By the way, what was mandatory about my high school is that even Jocks (the guys from the football team) from other schools (academic ones mostly) had to take Grade 9 typing in order to get their high school Diploma. Man, these guys transferred to my school with only needing one or 2 credits. So, why do a WHOLE school term when you can come to my school and only half to do a half-year. Like I said, they had to take the typing class in order to get their diploma and graduate.

I'm sure they were pissed at the time, but appreciate it now!

It's kind-a funny how life unfolds, now isn't it??

JMB
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Wakunahum

16 years ago

Of course.

I learned pretty well talking to friends on AOL back in junior high. lol

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SteveJohnson

16 years ago

Well - I TOO learned in the 10th grade. And 11th. And 12th. Office machines and typing were the classes that were full of babes. Everyone knew that you had to be dumber than a bag of rocks to fail the classes, so they were filled full of 'coaster' types and ... well ... can anyone say blonde cheerleader?

Much to my surprise, I was good at it. Typing, ten-key adding machines, even learned a little shorthand. Teacher's pet? That was me in Office Machines. I'll bet I didn't make it to class 50% of the time in my senior year and still aced it.

113wpm @ 98% - I still have the Gregg certificate. You can't read it through all the mold that has grown over it (not because it's humid where I live, but because it's a little over 30 years old), but I still have it.

###

A lot of people may think that typing fast is an advantage when writing articles. I'm here to tell you that it isn't.

Unless your brain is faster than mine, which it could very well be.

Yes, I can still type at 80+ wpm, but I only think at 10.

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nichepros

Banned 16 years ago

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Carlton Johnson 16 years ago

Originally Posted by nichepros

I can type 3 words per minute

So that is why your post was only a few words long nichepros...

I taught myself to touch type when I was about 8 years old. I was one of those annoying kids that would have to know how to do everything, that's why I also taught myself to juggle, to walk on my hands for long distances and to do a lot of other pointless things. But touch-typing has been one of those really valuable skills.
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Do you touch type?

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