| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: How many fingers do you use to type? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| I have often wondered whether life would have been easier... | Jan 12, 2011 |
... if the world had adopted the first typewriter to be made and patented instead of the notorious QWERTY keyboard.
http://www.malling-hansen.org/the-writing-ball.html
The QWERTY system was in fact designed to slow down the fastest typists. The mechanism simply could not keep up! The letters did not fall into place fast enough after striking the ribbon, and ca... See more ... if the world had adopted the first typewriter to be made and patented instead of the notorious QWERTY keyboard.
http://www.malling-hansen.org/the-writing-ball.html
The QWERTY system was in fact designed to slow down the fastest typists. The mechanism simply could not keep up! The letters did not fall into place fast enough after striking the ribbon, and caused a jam when they obstructed the next letters.
I suspect I would be just as fumble-fingered all the same, but the Malling-Hansen system was not deliberately intended to make life difficult.
Malling Hansen was a fascinating person and a linugist too, as the other links at the right of the website show for anyone with time to read them. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
| As the man with the wooden leg said... | Jan 12, 2011 |
keelin feeney wrote:
At the Proz conference in Barcelona last year, one of the speakers made a very interesting point re using our time to the maximum and said that we should be typing as fast as we translate in our mind...and if this is not the case, then we should consider a typing course or something similar. I think this was a very valid point!
You can't argue about opinions so I won't disagree with those of your speaker, simply note that is merely that, his/her personal opinion. However, I can assure you that in my own case, a typing course would most certainly be a frustrating waste of both time and money. I get by perfectly well typing with 2 or 3 fingers, thank you very much.
| | | | Evans (X)
Local time: 21:12
Spanish to English
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| We all have our own methods | Jan 12, 2011 |
I didn't mean to offend anyone and was perhaps insensitive to people who find it difficult to touch type physically. I hadn't realised it was an issue, so slap my wrists for assuming everyone can learn to do this.
I know that I'd find it hard if I had to look at the keyboard... But sadly, being able to touch type doesn't mean I can play the piano...
| | | | | Typing speed | Jan 12, 2011 |
In one study of average computer users, the average rate for transcription was 33 words per minute, and only 19 words per minute for composition. In the same study, when the group was divided into "fast", "moderate" and "slow" groups, the average speeds were 40wpm, 35wpm, and 23wpm respectively. "Hunt and Peck" typists can reach speeds of about 37wpm for memorized text, and 27wpm when copying text.
An average professional typist reaches 50 to 70wpm, while some positions can require ... See more In one study of average computer users, the average rate for transcription was 33 words per minute, and only 19 words per minute for composition. In the same study, when the group was divided into "fast", "moderate" and "slow" groups, the average speeds were 40wpm, 35wpm, and 23wpm respectively. "Hunt and Peck" typists can reach speeds of about 37wpm for memorized text, and 27wpm when copying text.
An average professional typist reaches 50 to 70wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120.
As of 2005, writer Barbara Blackburn was the fastest English language typist in the world, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. Using the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, she has maintained 150 words per minute (wpm) for 50 minutes, and 170 wpm for shorter periods. She has been clocked at a peak speed of 212 wpm. Blackburn, who failed her QWERTY typing class in high school, first encountered the Dvorak keyboard in 1938, quickly learned to achieve very high speeds, and occasionally toured giving speed-typing demonstrations during her secretarial career. She appeared on The David Letterman Show and felt she was made a spectacle of. Blackburn died in April 2008.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typing
You can test yourself on: http://speedtest.10-fast-fingers.com/ ▲ Collapse
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Martina Pokupec (X) 
Croatia
Local time: 22:12
English to Croatian
+ ...
I usually use 8 fingers to type, but since I recently gave birth, I type with one hand and hold the baby in the other .
I would like to learn how to touch type. I have noticed i do not look at the screen but at the keyboard all the time, and all this inspired me to get some tips on how to teach myself to touch type. I hope I'll reach some results...
| | | | Alice Bootman
United States
Local time: 15:12
Spanish to English
+ ...
I have been a super-fast touch typist since my teen years. I attribute this to too many hours spent chatting on-line (haha) as a teen and being an amateur pianist to boot. I can even sense an error, delete and correct it without missing a beat or looking at the keyboard!
After reading these posts, I feel more thankful for having this skill so easily - I always took it for granted.
[Edited at 2011-01-12 14:14 GMT]
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 21:12
| 10, but lazy little finger on left hand | Jan 12, 2011 |
I remember jumping up and down in 1995 when I got my first PC. My translation output more than doubled on the word processor compared to the typewriter.
Back in 1985 our translation lecturer "strongly encouraged" us to join the touch typing course for journalism students for a semester. We were allowed to stop attending the lessons once we achieved 40 words per minute. This very boring course has stood me in good stead ever since - and ever since, the quick brown fox has been jump... See more I remember jumping up and down in 1995 when I got my first PC. My translation output more than doubled on the word processor compared to the typewriter.
Back in 1985 our translation lecturer "strongly encouraged" us to join the touch typing course for journalism students for a semester. We were allowed to stop attending the lessons once we achieved 40 words per minute. This very boring course has stood me in good stead ever since - and ever since, the quick brown fox has been jumping over and over the lazy dog, in a rather non conformist fashion. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 21:12
| When I have had to type standing up | Jan 12, 2011 |
Gilla Evans wrote:
I know that I'd find it hard if I had to look at the keyboard... But sadly, being able to touch type doesn't mean I can play the piano...
in someone's else's office, for example, I was fond of saying, "I cannot play the piano standing up, but then again, I cannot play the piano!". That was one excuse for making typographical errors.
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Fabio Descalzi
Uruguay
Local time: 17:12
Member (2004)
German to Spanish
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| All 10 since I was 14 | Jan 12, 2011 |
Allison Wright wrote:
... "strongly encouraged" us to join the touch typing course for journalism students for a semester. We were allowed to stop attending the lessons once we achieved 40 words per minute. This very boring course has stood me in good stead ever since - and ever since, the quick brown fox has been jumping over and over the lazy dog, in a rather non conformist fashion.
Same here. Back in 1983 I attended one of the last courses of a now defunct commercial school, where I learned typing and Speedwriting shorthand as well. Shorthand helped me during my courses (I still use it from time to time).
And touch typing! This gave me good writing speed since I first had a home PC back in 1991, long before I ever dreamt of having Internet and e-work.
Nowadays, when I have spent all day long looking at the PC screen and my eyes are tired, I love typing with closed eyes. Impossible to do that with just two fingers!
| | | | Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:12
Member (2009)
English to French
| all 10 - touch typing | Jan 12, 2011 |
did some training for it, and it paid off - I'm more efficient in translating and can concentrate better on the translation without thinking about typing
| | | | | all 10 - touch typing | Jan 12, 2011 |
I think I type about 45 wpm, pretty accurately - maybe one typo every few lines. I never mastered typing lessons at school, but I made up for it when I got into computer games. It's amazing what a little motivation can do!
| | | | Alison Sabedoria (X)
United Kingdom
French to English
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| I've just seen my dream machine! | Jan 12, 2011 |
I use the 7-8-ish method. I can touch type if I put my mind to it, but I don't mind looking down at the keyboard on a regular basis; it's a relief from staring at the screen, though I really should give Fabio's "eyes closed" technique a go.
Even if my piano playing's not that great, the discipline means I type wrists up, fingers down, which is fluid and comfortable. It took me ages to adjust to a computer keyboard - I kept hammering the keys like I had to on my poor old mechanical... See more I use the 7-8-ish method. I can touch type if I put my mind to it, but I don't mind looking down at the keyboard on a regular basis; it's a relief from staring at the screen, though I really should give Fabio's "eyes closed" technique a go.
Even if my piano playing's not that great, the discipline means I type wrists up, fingers down, which is fluid and comfortable. It took me ages to adjust to a computer keyboard - I kept hammering the keys like I had to on my poor old mechanical typewriter. I still get carried away in percussive style occasionally.
@ Christine Anderson
Ooooh! I'd really like a Malling-Hansen ball linked to by computer instead of the normal keyboard. It looks a lot more ergonomic. Has anyone done this yet? I'll be looking into it...
Alison ▲ Collapse
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Joan Berglund
United States
Local time: 16:12
Member (2008)
French to English
When I was in junior high school, touch typing was a required class for everyone, boys and girls, business and college track. The PC did not even exist yet, and a lot of us wondered what the point was, since we weren't planning to be anyone's secretary. Who knew what a vital skill it would turn out to be. My speed and accuracy are decreasing a little with age, though, since I have some arthritis in my hands. In my 20's, I was tested at about 90 words per minute.
| | | | | learning to type raises your income | Jan 12, 2011 |
During a lull in work a few years ago I learned to type in a few hours with a free online course (there are lots). This increased my output by about 30%, and hence my income too. :.) Use of the keyboard instead of the mouse by means of the CTRL and ALT keys is another great time-saver that anyone who works all day with a keyboard should learn. The time you take to do so will save you literally weeks of time over the whole year.
| | | | | Thanks to my parents - I learnt to touch type | Jan 12, 2011 |
When I was around 13/14 my parents sent me off to night class to learn to touch type. I even sat a couple of exams at the time. It was probably one of the most useful skills I learnt while of a school attending age. I was ever so grateful when typing all my essays/dissertations at university and now as a translator it's a skill I just couldn't survive without. It's a shame it's not offered in schools....(that I know of anyway)
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