Typing

[puffy]

Back in the seventies when I was in school(I graduated high school in 1960)I wanted to take a typing class only to be told that it was for girls only.Now it's fifty years later,and I'm still typing with one finger.I guess in those days (pre personal computers)folks didn't forsee todays technology.Atleast I can send an email,and post here.Just curious.. How many here are like me,and how many can really type?

 

[marmal4de]

I type between 70-100 WPM depending on several factors, my dad types with one finger :puffpipe:

 

[lagavulin92]

I chan type with 10 fingers when I don't think about it but when I do I make a lot of errors and return to 6 finger style

 

[collindow]

I too touch type, but I'm young and a typing class was REQUIRED in high school, now 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[yoru]

That was still legal in the 60's? I mean,of course it was, but damn it is still weird to hear things like that.
Anyways I personally type maybe 60 words a minute but I have a, what's the word people use these days, disability? Short version is there are minor problems with my right arm, wrist, and fingers that limit movement just enough to make typing, writing and other highly dexterous movements difficult or impossible.
Gotta admit I usually stick with a 7 finger solution vs the traditional and correct 9. I use my left fingers (occasionally the thumb to space but rarely, like everyone else) and additionally my right thumb, index and pinky (thumb for space, pinky for enter) and on rare occasion also my middle finger but not often, and usually I just switch from my index to middle when that happens.

 

[lagavulin92]

The youth of today just get it right by chatting via Internet. I can't imagine that some schools force their students to learn that. On the other hand, the workload becomes smaller.

 

[hilojohnny]

While I'm not a good typist, my experience was a bit different. Graduating from high school in 1957, I was the only boy in typing class in the 9th grade....this has held me in good stead thru the following years.... :D

 

[yoru]

Internet chatting isn't nearly as popular as it was when I was a kid. When I was 8-14 it was massively popular, then the custom chat rooms got banned due to child predators and forums became the norm and then quickly myspace and facebook and twitter took over, between that and texting comes most of the popular digital conversing these days, though you can't really knock forums or entirely instant messaging -- they aren't what they used to be, and truly social and personal forums and chat are almost extinct in favor of specialized and topical ones.

 

[greggors]

I use all fingers but I still have to look down at the keys so not sure how fast I can type since all typing tests I tried involves copying sentences which forces me to look away from the keyboard. When chatting online or posting on forums my speed increases dramatically.

 

[bubbadreier]

I can touch type if I am not thinking while typing. But usually I use about 4 fingers and a thumb!

 

[krgulick]

I usually use 2-3 fingers and my thumbs as well. Used to use a manual typewriter that way too back in the 80s.

 

[papipeguy]

Puffy, I use the Hellen Hunt Method. I hit one letter and go to hell to hunt for the next one.

 

[dawk]

I was lucky enough to take a typing class in high school, it was with all girls-I really didn't mind and neither did they!

 

[cortezattic]

Does anyone have experience with voice recognition software, like Dragon for PC?

They claim to be able to take dictation as well as control your computer. $100.00

 

[papipeguy]

Cortez, you may want to read this.
http://community.nuance.com/blogs/dragon/archive/2009/07/29/dragon-and-windows-7.aspx
Seems like Windows 7 needs the 10.1 or 10.2 version. I don't know spit about this stuff although I tried a similar program about 10 years ago and it never worked. I'm sure the technology has improved but.............

 

[unclearthur]

In 1970 when I graduated typing was a college prep course . I took it because it was mostly girls in the class. I did make some use of it in my brief and glorious year at college, where I majored in civil disobedience and drunkenness.

 

[theotherspace]

I can touch type 70-90 wpm, i never took a class but type alot so just adapted, but tend to look at this site from my iPad, which means one hand is holding and the other is typing, so that's a 3 finger affair

 

[igloo]

Well I cant type or spell , and years of taking notes on flow pads that only a doctor would be proud of makes me seem quite illiterate . But I manage to use two fingers from each hand and my thumbs to get me by . I also deplore email and conduct business over the phone almost exclusively , while I take notes on my trusty yellow legal pads .

 

[winton]

I have been typing by touch since highschool in the 80s. 10 key by touch shortly afterwards. Who knows / cares how fast. Being accurate is far more important. I type legal descriptions of homes multiple times a day. Type it in, then check every single word.

 

[stacen]

I have recently gotten to the "touch typing" level after years of simply forcing myself to use all my fingers while typing, this is in lieu of a hunt and peck style. I do remember being very proud of my self when I could finally just look at the screen and watch what I was thinking show up on the screen!!!! I still don't do it like that all the time (mostly I look at the key board while I am typing with all my fingers and my right thumb) but I am just watching the screen now, and it is awesome!!!!