Learn to touch type

pstones578

I want to learn to touch type. Can anyone recommend a MSE way of doing this?

TIA!

buyitall

If you google 'free touch type program' it brings up lots of options for online tutorials/downloads. Can't vouch for any of them, maybe someone else will be able to recommend a particular one? My own pc came with a bundle of free software, a touchtyping disc was one of them, so I suppose they must be freely available.

wigglebeena

Not exactly finance related, but the QWERTY keyboard is allegedly a fast track to RSI (and based on my own experience I think it may be true). You can apparently switch a regular keyboard over to the alternative more ergonomically sound alternative through your operating system, though I think it's a bit of a palaver. The main alternative is DVORAK but apparently there are others.

QWERTY was actually designed to slow typists down as machines at the time couldn't cope!

If I had my time over I wouldn't learn on QWERTY.

pstones578

I work in I.T so would not look to get away from QWERTY as it would hinder me.

milesoneill

DVORAK is only truly useful to people who can already touch-type and want to reduce the possibility of developing RSI. If you're looking to just learn how to touch-type, QWERTY is the way to go. (Although I'm not convinced by the statement that it was designed to slow typists down. It was developed to reduce typebar clashes of frequently used letter sequences)
There are lots of free programmes out there, so hunt around and check out reviews to see which is the most popular...and free!! :rotfl:

wigglebeena

milesoneill wrote: »

It was developed to reduce typebar clashes of frequently used letter sequences)
!

well, i guess that's what i meant about the machines not being able to cope.

ABH_3

pstones578 wrote: »

I want to learn to touch type. Can anyone recommend a MSE way of doing this?

TIA!

You can go through various programs, but none will really teach you to type as such. At least they didn't me. They all rely upon repetition, the belief being that if you do it often enough you will at some point remember where the keys are (muscle memory) and so you will 'learn' to type. A quicker way for me was to memorise the keyboard layout: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Qwerty.svg concentrate on the blue keys, and commiting them to memory. Or if you prefer you could use this: http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/keyboard/ to practice on (yes, it's a portable keyboard ). Then during your 'quiet moments' picture the keyboard in your mind, and 'type out' familiar words, names etc.

You'll find it will work, I did it this way and found that the first time I took a 'Mavis Bacon Typing Tutor' test, it could just about keep up Infact, it threw a bunch of certificates at me and told me to go away

Good luck!

qwiksave

For a fun, young-at-heart free typing course, you can't go wrong with the one the BBC have on their site - for schools. It has animals with regional accents but I've found it useful - and I'm in my 40's!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Pink_fluff

Hello, I learned to touch type at school - but have never heard of QWERTY or DVORAK? What do these mean? Thanks

qwiksave

Pink_fluff wrote: »

Hello, I learned to touch type at school - but have never heard of QWERTY or DVORAK? What do these mean? Thanks

I'm not sure what DVORAK means, but QWERTY are the first 6 letters found on the top row of letters on most standard keyboards.

EDIT: The QWERTY method is usually referred to the method (used on the BBC Course mentioned above) where you keep your fingers on the middle line (the 'home keys') and go up and down from there. The standard of touch typing most people know about.

Pink_fluff

qwiksave wrote: »

I'm not sure what DVORAK means, but QWERTY are the first 6 letters found on the top row of letters on most standard keyboards.

EDIT: The QWERTY method is usually referred to the method (used on the BBC Course mentioned above) where you keep your fingers on the middle line (the 'home keys') and go up and down from there. The standard of touch typing most people know about.

Thanks. It's been so long since I learned, i suppose you almost forget how you learned to do it, much like riding a bike. I can touch type very well, but don't really remember how I was taught to do it. :rotfl: