How to Type Faster
Touch typing and speed typing are essential skills in today’s technology-driven age. While computers are very common these days, some people are still trying to get the hang of typing fast. Some people still cannot keep up with the furious pace of keying in commands in programs and words for emails. You may be one of those computer users who still hunt and peck through the keys of a keyboard, slowing down the pace of the task you want to accomplish.
Whether it’s for work or fun, fast typing is an important skill you need to train yourself for. Here are some tips that can help transform you from a hunt-and-pecker to a speed typist in no time.
Start With A Typewriter
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with a computer keyboard is to train yourself with a typewriter. Manual typewriters use the same “QWERTY” layout used in computer keyboards. You can think of a typewriter as a way of learning through negative reinforcement; you cannot finish a task on a typewriter if you type slow.
Before computer typing tests, typists learned to touch-type by using various typing exercise that help aid muscle memory when typing:
For the first few weeks, you’re allowed to look at the keys on the keyboard when you type.
After a couple of weeks, you’re only allowed to glance at the keys of the keyboard, but only quick enough to put your hands and fingers back into position.
When you’re fully confident of your typing skills, paint the keys of the typewriter black to conceal the key legends. You should be able to key in the right letters to type the correct word.
Use Typing Exercises
Typing exercises use muscle memory and repetition for you to master touch typing. Here are some ways for you to speed up your typing skills, as well as learn new skills along the way.
“The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” is the most common mnemonic device used to teach people how to touch-type. The mnemonic is based on the layout of the keyboard; the letters and words are arranged so that you can memorize the keyboard layout easier, and all 26 letters are used.
Typing games. Many computer games like the original “Typing Tutor” and “Tux Type” can help you bush up your typing skills. The goal of these games is to type the right words as they appear on the screen. “Typing Tutor,” for example, uses a gameplay similar to “Space Invaders,” where you attempt to save a city from an invasion of complicated words and numbers.
DOS. Even a program as old and as obsolete as DOS can help you type faster, as well as brush up on your computer skills. You don’t have to limit yourself to DOS; programs that involve typing, like programming and website design, can dramatically speed up your typing skills.
Maintain the Correct Hand Positions
While some people can type fast with their hands flying and skipping wildly between keys, the fastest typists always maintain the correct hand positions for proper typing. Touch typing positions the hand in such a way that each finger types only for a set zone of keys. For you to be able to touch-type, you need to train your hands to maintain the proper positions. Don’t let your fingers fly all over the keyboard as much as possible. With correct hand position, you are less prone to making mistakes, and less susceptible to fatigue, repetitive stress injury, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Change the Keyboard
Sometimes the QWERTY layout can be confusing, and a change of keyboard layout may be needed to accommodate your special needs. The Dvorak keyboard layout is designed with speed in mind, and is a more natural keyboard for speed typing specialists. If you think that you need to type really fast, you may need to consider a Dvorak keyboard. Dvorak keyboards can be bought from computer supply stores.
Fast typing is very necessary in the fast pace of high technology. With these tips to speed up your typing pace, you can write words and input code faster than ever before.