How to type faster?

[jasmineY]

@Ceoarob: After reading your post I did a little googling about the QWERTY layout history and found out some really interesting facts, here they are:

The QWERTY layout was first created to slow down the typists. They made this layout in a way to put the most commonly used letters far apart on the keyboard to reduce the chances of the letters jamming. Yeah, back then they used typewriters and the first layout used by typists was an ABCDEFG layout, and the typists soon got too fast and jammed the keys.


Now most people (including myself) still use this layout.

I touch type and am very fast but after reading those facts, I kind of feel stupid!

I am always into finding ways to type faster so I'm definitely going to change this QWERTY layout and find something faster.

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by AlmostGodess

Uh, I am fast at most of the things, except of typing. I type ok, but not fast and since I write a lot, I need to improve this

Part of my problem might be that I change languages very often. I have days when I write in 4 different languages, it is just difficult to switch from one language to another.

I really liked the idea about revising at the end, I will try this for a while.

TOTALLY off topic. I always wanted to learn to speak multiple languages. It's horrifying to skip the pond and find everyone else can speak many languages and us Brits can only speak our own. How can I learn. I've got Pimsleur French, which I aim to run through at work, but what else should I do? I would also like my daughter to learn several languages.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[SatvikBeri]

Originally Posted by jasmineY

@Ceoarob: After reading your post I did a little googling about the QWERTY layout history and found out some really interesting facts, here they are:

The QWERTY layout was first created to slow down the typists. They made this layout in a way to put the most commonly used letters far apart on the keyboard to reduce the chances of the letters jamming. Yeah, back then they used typewriters and the first layout used by typists was an ABCDEFG layout, and the typists soon got too fast and jammed the keys.


Now most people (including myself) still use this layout.

I touch type and am very fast but after reading those facts, I kind of feel stupid!

I am always into finding ways to type faster so I'm definitely going to change this QWERTY layout and find something faster.

That QWERTY was created to slow down typists is a myth, but DVORAK (the major alternative to QWERTY) is generally considered more comfortable and equivalently fast or faster. Do a few searches for DVORAK if you're interested.

I'd say it's not worth the bother though, since most keyboards are configured on QWERTY.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

I'd say it's not worth the bother though, since most keyboards are configured on QWERTY.

If you touch type that doesn't matter...

[SatvikBeri]

Originally Posted by ssandra

If you touch type that doesn't matter...

I'm thinking of configuration, not the visuals-for example, at my work or in a public library or on a cell phone, I have to use QWERTY.

[ragtag]

First things first, learn to touch type. It's not that hard. Once you've got that down, and want to improve your speed even further, the most important thing is accuracy. Errors really slow you down, and tend to be followed by more errors, as they break your rhythm. When practicing, alternate between typing fast, and typing with no errors.

I've had some fun with Type-Racer, a simple online game where you compete against others. They have a sudden death mode (you'll find it if you look in their blog), that is game over if you make one typo. This is good for practicing accuracy.

That said, I wouldn't mind some hints on becoming a faster typist myself. I average around 85wpm, using qwerty. I know I might possibly become faster with DVORAK, but two things are holding me back. I type in three languages, in addition to doing quite a bit of programing. DVORAK was designed for English, and I'm not sure it's that great with things like {[];#/} or Norwegian. That, and in my work I type on a lot of other peoples keyboards, so would have to use QWERTY a lot of the time anyway.

[Manipulator]

Originally Posted by jasmineY

@Ceoarob: After reading your post I did a little googling about the QWERTY layout history and found out some really interesting facts, here they are:

The QWERTY layout was first created to slow down the typists. They made this layout in a way to put the most commonly used letters far apart on the keyboard to reduce the chances of the letters jamming. Yeah, back then they used typewriters and the first layout used by typists was an ABCDEFG layout, and the typists soon got too fast and jammed the keys.


Now most people (including myself) still use this layout.

I touch type and am very fast but after reading those facts, I kind of feel stupid!

I am always into finding ways to type faster so I'm definitely going to change this QWERTY layout and find something faster.

The most common letters in the alphabet are R, S, T, L, N and E - four of those are adjacent to each other on a QWERTY setup.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by jasmineY

@Ceoarob: After reading your post I did a little googling about the QWERTY layout history and found out some really interesting facts, here they are:

The QWERTY layout was first created to slow down the typists. They made this layout in a way to put the most commonly used letters far apart on the keyboard to reduce the chances of the letters jamming. Yeah, back then they used typewriters and the first layout used by typists was an ABCDEFG layout, and the typists soon got too fast and jammed the keys.


Now most people (including myself) still use this layout.

I touch type and am very fast but after reading those facts, I kind of feel stupid!

I am always into finding ways to type faster so I'm definitely going to change this QWERTY layout and find something faster.

Hehehe,

I say make the switch. DVORAK is the best configuration that I was able to find. Make sure that you use Right-Handed DVORAK (even if you are left handed), it's really baller.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by faithsdaddy

TOTALLY off topic. I always wanted to learn to speak multiple languages. It's horrifying to skip the pond and find everyone else can speak many languages and us Brits can only speak our own. How can I learn. I've got Pimsleur French, which I aim to run through at work, but what else should I do? I would also like my daughter to learn several languages.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Lol, only slightly off-topic.

For Learning the Languages. Immersion courses.

French immersion - german immersion - spanish immersion - english immersion - Dialogue Intensive one-to-one language immersion courses

For remembering them:

Memory development, Brain power, Memory Loss, Memory improvement, Memory strategies, Memorization techniques, Mnemonics, Memory skills, Improve your Memory

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

That QWERTY was created to slow down typists is a myth, but DVORAK (the major alternative to QWERTY) is generally considered more comfortable and equivalently fast or faster. Do a few searches for DVORAK if you're interested.

I'd say it's not worth the bother though, since most keyboards are configured on QWERTY.

Yeah, he's right on this one. It wasn't actually made to make people slower, per se, but is WAS made in order to make typewriters not jam.

Not worth the bother? Strongly disagree. You can change the settings on any computer very easily.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by ssandra

If you touch type that doesn't matter...

Ssandra is right.

I'm just agreeing with you because I think you're hott.


....and also because you're right.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

I'm thinking of configuration, not the visuals-for example, at my work or in a public library or on a cell phone, I have to use QWERTY.

If you're using a Windows OS, you can change the setting in less then a minute. You can set it on "dual function" so that you can switch between QWERTY and DVORAK in less than a single-click.

In addition, if you don't have administrator privileges, there are certain websites that you can use to translate your QWERTY keyboard to a DVORAK layout. I can't find it right now, but I'll post once I do...

But in super addition, I can still type in QWERTY just as well. It takes a couple of minutes to get used to the format again, but I haven't "lost" my QWERTY skills.

--------

For a cell phone? Your cell phone texting abilities are stored in your thumbs, not your fingers. I thought this would be an issue, but the only thing that I ever use my thumbs for while typing is to use the spacebar.

It doesn't affect your typing ability on a cell phone.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by ragtag

First things first, learn to touch type. It's not that hard. Once you've got that down, and want to improve your speed even further, the most important thing is accuracy. Errors really slow you down, and tend to be followed by more errors, as they break your rhythm. When practicing, alternate between typing fast, and typing with no errors.

I've had some fun with Type-Racer, a simple online game where you compete against others. They have a sudden death mode (you'll find it if you look in their blog), that is game over if you make one typo. This is good for practicing accuracy.

That said, I wouldn't mind some hints on becoming a faster typist myself. I average around 85wpm, using qwerty. I know I might possibly become faster with DVORAK, but two things are holding me back. I type in three languages, in addition to doing quite a bit of programing. DVORAK was designed for English, and I'm not sure it's that great with things like {[];#/} or Norwegian. That, and in my work I type on a lot of other peoples keyboards, so would have to use QWERTY a lot of the time anyway.

I agree on the errors thing, that's the only thing that's holding me back from hitting 120 WPM.

I love TypeRacer and I've been playing that all day for the past week or so. It really helps alot. I'll check into that "Sudden Death" mode. I'm sure that would definitely help.

Ummm, check this out for the Norwegian layout of DVORAK:



Would this be helpful?

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by ceoarob

ssandra is right.

I'm just agreeing with you because i think you're hott.

[jasmineY]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

That QWERTY was created to slow down typists is a myth

It's weird you'd say that. I didn't see such a thing anywhere. Maybe I should do more googling on this one.

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

I'd say it's not worth the bother though, since most keyboards are configured on QWERTY.

Still I would rather switch to DVORAk to see what happens. Besides I can always go back if that didn't work out.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by jasmineY

It's weird you'd say that. I didn't see such a thing anywhere. Maybe I should do more googling on this one.

Done

Why QWERTY was Invented

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by Manipulator

The most common letters in the alphabet are R, S, T, L, N and E - four of those are adjacent to each other on a QWERTY setup.

Someone's been watching too much Wheel of Fortune...

Letter frequency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Lauxa]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

I found three games on Facebook which really pushed me to the edge and help me hone in my typing skills.

1) Typing Maniac
2) Typing Test
3) Fast Tyist

These increased both my speed AND my accuracy just by doing them alot during the day. I finally broke the 90 WPM threshold (which had been so elusive up to that point) and I'm finally breaking into the 100 WPM as an AVERAGE typing speed.

Thanks for the Facebook games and DVORAC advice, looks like good ROI.

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

Thanks for the Facebook games and DVORAC advice, looks like good ROI.

I've also been using another great link also:

TypeRacer - Test your typing speed and learn to type faster. Free typing game and competition. Way more fun than a typing tutor!

[jasmineY]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

Done

Why QWERTY was Invented

Thanks, you're amazing.

[Snorkledorf]

Or you could just kill zombies... In Japanese with bonus bad English voice acting!

[scotthegeek]

I don't know if you mean copying or typing what in your head. I'm self taught(software) but the one thing that I notice that fast typer do is they don't look at there work until there done, I was always checking back and forth for mistakes.

I have some learning disabilities and my spelling is not that good and I don't think my eye track very smoothly so I'm looking at one word at a time or looking at the same word a few time if I don't know the spelling or I might resort to typing one letter at a time so my typing usually dose not get above 30 wpm. I know after awhile that words seem to come out of your finger. it becomes subconscious but not totally for me. but my spelling is getting better with all the post that I make on this forum and other place on the internet.

I was reading in the book that talent is overrated and it talks about speed typer and they did an experiment where the typer was not aloud to see more that one word at a time and there typing slow to down to the 30's. I think fast typer read a sentence ahead its like there are filling up a buffer. there is a lot more to typing than just quordination.

Is there anyone on here that has learning disabilities or dyslexic and have become a fast typer. I would like a better understanding of what goes on in the brain of a fast typer.

Scott

[Manipulator]

Originally Posted by Ceoarob

Someone's been watching too much Wheel of Fortune...

Letter frequency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You do realize language has evolved since the invention of the typewriter, correct?

[Ceoarob]

Originally Posted by Manipulator

You do realize language has evolved since the invention of the typewriter, correct?

yes.

[SimpleSky]

I use typingweb.com Check it out!! It's free and the lessons are really helpful
Good luck