Is it worth relearning how to type?

[Tornation]

Over the past week I've been trying to learn how to touch type. I've deliberately put my mic arm between my face and my keyboard and am forcing myself to use all ten fingers.

 

With a combo of 2-4 fingers i am able to type at 50-60 wpm, but I need to glance at the keyboard regularly. After 15+ hours invested into touch typing I can barely manage 20 wpm and I make so many errors it's ridiculous.

 

Trying to fight this muscle memory is painful. I'm going into uni next year, should I keep at this or just throw in the towel? 

[Shiv78]

Touch typing is a great skill to have, even if you are a bit slower it is much better in class because you can pay attention to the teacher rather than what you are writing/typing.

 

15 minutes ago, Tornation said:

After 15+ hours invested into touch typing

Takes a lot longer than that dude, took me almost a full school year of every other day, 45 mins. Around 65-70 hours when I was 13

[Damascus]

I'm going through the same process ATM, its  worthwhile.  I'm about halfway there and its tough going but it really is worthwhile

[Guest]

Why multiple choice though?

[Tornation]

12 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

 you can pay attention to the teacher rather than what you are writing/typing.

I'm also thinking that with ide's and stuff it would be nice to actively look at the smart suggestions.

10 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Why multiple choice though?

oops

[Atmos]

Honestly, you can type faster touch typing, but I'd argue that its not more accurate than simply being good at typing to begin with. 

I was taught touch typing back in middle school (god that was so long ago) and have since almost entirely forgotten it, but that foundation, compounded by the fact i spend upwards of 50 hours a week at a computer means that while I don't touch type, I still type accurately without it and without ever having to look at my keyboard.

 

So, imo, its a good skill to have, and looks good on a resume, but other than that I'd argue it doesn't have much value for people who are comfortable already with a computer. If you're having to look at your keyboard though while typing, then you should probably learn touch typing just so you can get that much better.

[BingoFishy]

If you can, I'd recommend color-coding each key to each finger.

(Use different colors if you'd like, yellow and orange are kinda similar)

If you have an RGB keyboard, use the corresponding LED for each key. Otherwise, a piece of colored tape or paper should work fine. I used the LEDs on my keyboard, and just did my best to make a conscious effort not to look at the keyboard. If I couldn't find a key, or know what finger to use, I would look at the keyboard. Don't block it, that'll just get in the way of your typing. Eventually it becomes ingrained in muscle memory. I can touch type at 80-100 wpm now.

[DocSwag]

Definitely useful. It's gonna take a while to get your brain to automatically remember where the keys are but it's worth it, once you do it well you should be able to get close to 100 WPM. I guess I'm not the best person to ask since I learned it at a young age but I still think it's a good skill to have.

[Tornation]

Just now, DocSwag said:

I guess I'm not the best person to ask since I learned it at a young age but I still think it's a good skill to have.

Yeah I wish that was the case for me . But i guess I'm justt going to have to live  with this for a while now while I'm learning.

[dizmo]

I can't believe people actually type with only two fingers.

[Tornation]

6 minutes ago, BingoFishy said:

If you have an RGB keyboard, use the corresponding LED for each key. 

obvs gonna go out and buy a rgb keyboard now

3 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I can't believe people actually type with only two fingers.

IT'S A PROBLEM

[Guest]

Just now, dizmo said:

I can't believe people actually type with only two fingers.

IKR? There is this thing called mobile phone lol

 

12 minutes ago, Tornation said:

Over the past week I've been trying to learn how to touch type. I've deliberately put my mic arm between my face and my keyboard and am forcing myself to use all ten fingers.

How many have you used before?

[Brooksie359]

tbh i just learned how to type fast by doing it alot and i don't think its necessary to use the exact way they tell you to. i mean i generally just do a sort of mixture of touch typing and what feels best for me. plus it really depends on what you are going to be doing because often times you wont have to type as much if your profession is revolved around writing. i mean if what you want to do requires alot of typing then chances are you'll figure out a way to type fast without looking at the keyboard. 

[jakkuh_t]

Try "All the right type". Thats how I learned to type as a kid. Touch typing is an awesome skill, I can type anywhere frm 80-120 WPM touch typing. It just takes practice, there isn't really any way to make it go faster.

[dizmo]

Just now, deXxterlab97 said:

IKR? There is this thing called mobile phone lol

 

How many have you used before?

Because that's totally what we're talking about here

Also, if we're being technical, those are thumbs, not fingers.

[Tornation]

Just now, jakkuh_t said:

Try "All the right type". Thats how I learned to type as a kid. Touch typing is an awesome skill, I can type anywhere frm 80-120 WPM touch typing. It just takes practice, there isn't really any way to make it go faster.

Hmm thanks for the tip. I'm probably going to try practicing on a regular basis over next few weeks. We'll see how that goes 

[Tornation]

3 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

How many have you used before?

around four (not including thumbs)

[ARikozuM]

6 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I can't believe people actually type with only two fingers.

It's a disease, not a choice. They need therapy, not punishment!

[DocSwag]

6 minutes ago, Tornation said:

Yeah I wish that was the case for me . But i guess I'm justt going to have to live  with this for a while now while I'm learning.

I honestly don't even remember learning typing lol it's just been something I've always known. It's crazy how much easier you can learn some things when younger.

[BuckGup]

I know how to type on the home row with all the proper finger reaches but it doesn't feel natural with the ring and pinky finger on the right. Also you don't need to use ; that much unless you are programming. Honesty I type way faster with a mix of five fingers. I still don't look though. Just learn the layout and you will improve

[Tornation]

OK other question did any of you have the option to take a keyboarding class in school? Because I definitely didn't.

[BuckGup]

1 minute ago, Tornation said:

OK other question did any of you have the option to take a keyboarding class in school? Because I definitely didn't.

It was mandatory in elementary school. They put paper over you hands and it was this dumb space program. We learned how to cheat though.

[Brooksie359]

1 minute ago, Tornation said:

OK other question did any of you have the option to take a keyboarding class in school? Because I definitely didn't.

i had a class in elementary school that was a typing class. it wasn't an option though. 

[Tornation]

1 minute ago, SamStrecker said:

 We learned how to cheat though.

 that's awesome we barely had computers at our shit hole of an elementary school

[yathis]

What, one finger typing doesnt work?

 

Ideally you want yo place your fingers in the middle row, which is what I was taught, but I can type pretty good without looking down at the keyboard until I fuck up a keystroke. I dont use that method, my fingers go where ever. Unsure what my WPM are, but I do ok.