Well, I sort of learned (as one does) in about 1986 or so, on an Atari of some sort or an IBM clone or just one of those computers that used to be around back then. Not my own.
I’ve naturally been going on that and probably typed countless lines in Usenet, IRC, web, notes, code, configs and whatever files. But it always bugged me that it’s just kind of ballistic hammering with any and all fingers that happen to be near the next key.
So, I went and got a very minimal split keyboard to see if I can learn something new. The setup and layers and all that has not really been dull, but I’ve been pecking away slowly at typing.com and trying to keep my hands on the home row like it’s 1989. I thought that might balance it out.
I just got the first unit certificate at 25 wpm. And, hey, I managed to type this post. Maybe I’ll get better with time.
Funnily enough, I was given typing tutor games as a kid, didn’t really spend much time with them, never really developed proficiency because as a 10 year old I didn’t have a reason to type in my life and Magic School Bus was more fun.
Fast forward a few years and MSN messenger was a major tool of teen social interaction. You could use it to hit on girls. Knowing what I knew from that typing tutor game, I started IMing friends. I can now touch type at 100WPM.
Look into dvorak, it will definitely increase your wpm once you learn it. Also better on the fingies with all the most used letters near each other.
Would have to get a mechanical board or some stickers though.
I too have God awful typing etiquette and I’m playing with QMK on a 60% keyboard. I’m also seriously eyeing up the cheapino keyboard. I suspect I’m just a few steps behind you on the same path. Which keyboard did you get? May I see your layers?
I went and got a very minimal split keyboard
You’ll never be dull ever again!
You could also learn an alternative layout like Dvorak while you’re at it.
For folks not willing to make the full leap away from QWERTY, there’s also Colemak that preserves the common key combos, such as Ctrl C and Ctrl V.
Also, a word of advice: all the keyboard formats which minimize finger reach compared to QWERTY (which essentially maximized finger reach to accommodate mechanical typewriters) will cause poor word prediction on Swype-style virtual keyboards on mobile phones. This is because optimized keyboard formats try to keep words as close to the home row as possible, so many words using Swype will just be sliding your finger left and right over the home row, which destroys accurate prediction. This is why I’m QWERTY on mobile but Colemak on desktop.
I second the colemak recommendation.
I third it, but it’s not that easy and you must be dedicated. It took me 6 months to write properly.
Interesting. When I switched to Dvorak it only took a week to stop feeling weird and another two or three to get up to speed. Maybe it being very different helped. Sometimes when I’m learning something that’s close to what I already know in other areas of life it can be more difficult. What I could never quite get set as far as typing goes was backspice layout on a twiddler. Never got over the hump from learning to functional.
i was a pecker but taught myself touch typing pretty easily. it’s more efficient, so learning is its own reward:
if you want some drama in your education, look into zombie typing-shooter The Typing of the Dead.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/246580/The_Typing_of_The_Dead_Overkill/
think there’s web equivalents out there too
Touch typing was by far the most valuable thing I learned in high school, definitely worth the effort!
