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Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

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Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#91
1) If you can't already ten figure touch type, then learn that. (Plenty of resources already recommended in other comments.)

2) Use an ergonomic split keyboard of some sort so your posture is much more relaxed and you're not hunched up trying to type on a straight keyboard.

Those two things will get you a long way. You can worry about other productivity improvements after that, but honestly I think they will be incremental once you've done the above.

Other fast gimme. Remap the capslock key to something useful but usually more awkward to reach. I've remapped it to ctrl, but considering switching to esc as I'm a vim user. Mind you, I've also got a FS3-P USB Triple Foot Switch Pedal under the desk with one of them mapped to esc, so not so urgent there. I wouldn't go remapping too much else otherwise it'll trip you up too much whenever you're at someone else's keyboard.

I learnt to touch-type in 1986 on a mechanical typewriter in school. I knew I was going to work with computers and so knew touch typing would be a valuable skill. I was the only male in the class as everyone else perceived it as a class for women looking to go into secretarial work.

I am absolutely amazed that touch typing is no longer taught in school in this age of ubiquitous computing.

As far as split keyboards, I love my MS Natural Ergonomics 4000. If I could get one with the number pad cut off (less reach for the mouse) it would be perfect. They do tend to last and last which is good as they're getting harder to find when one finally breaks. I've tried the MS Sculpt but I find the mushy esc key a real drawback (again, vim user). Overall just not especially nice to type on. I also do use the function keys and the extra media keys on the 4000 a fair bit, so missed them on the sculpt.

One of the advantages of vim is you can do almost all the editing without having to move your hands from the keyboard. You don't event have to move to the arrow keys as you can use hjkl for movement. Once learnt, it can be very efficient.

If I hand the time and energy, I would consider learning the Colemak layout. Given vi is hardwired into my brain by now I suspect it would make Dvorak too awkward.

Funny story. Once you can touch-type, you learn to unconsciously position your hands properly by feeling for the little marks on the J and F keys. When I worked in Japan, they didn't have these marks and I was forever drifting my hands over they keyboard until getting annoyed and having to look down to put my hands on the right row. You don't realise how many times a day you rely on that.

It wasn't until one of the locals pointed out to me that the curve of the J and F keys was deeper than the other keys on their keyboard that that particular stressor was solved. I learned to feel for that instead.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#92
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ortholinear isn't necessarily better. I have a Plank collecting dust in my drawer. These designs are not anatomically better shaped than the standard staggered keyboard.

An ortholinear split keyboard is better (it's easier to rotate either half without the normal key stagger getting awkward), but I don't see any reason to buy a Plank. I have two Ergodashes [1], one for home and one for the office. It's also not going to increase typing speed. Learning to touch-type can do that, but 99% of the gain from changing the physical keyboard layout (ortholinear / split etc) or logical keyboar…

Of course, a split keyboard with offset columns is something else. The parent comment specifically mentioned Preonic and OLKB. As for the Plank, the claim is that it reduces finger movements, but in reality it is just cramped and puts your writs and fingers in an awkward position. The only thing I liked about it is the layers, but then getting used to that just threw me off when using the standard layout.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#94
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with the part about aiming for accuracy instead of speed. But I disagree with the constant rhythm thing. Maintaining a constant rhythm will slow you down, as there are always words or letter combinations which are slower to type. Thus, if you strive to maintain a constant rhythm, you have to adjust your rhythm to the slower parts, which means it will slow you down for the faster parts.

I disagree. That's exactly the point: If you practice to achieve a constant typing rate (and start slow!) there will be no hard combinations anymore. In fact it's exactly because of these "hard combinations" why your overall speed is slow, because you can't keep the high pace of the rest. So you have to master them first. It's pretty much the same if you e.g. learn guitar: If you play a scale of notes you want to pla…

But regardless of how much you practice, not all key combinations can physically be performed at the same speed, because some keys are easier to reach than others. So again, either you adjust all your typing to a constant rhythm and waste speed potential on the faster combinations, or you just accept variable speeds.

The comparison with musical instruments doesn't make that much sense because in music, the constant rhythm is required to stay in time. This requirement doesn't exist in typing.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#97
post #72
post #15

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing? Play a MUD?

I've played MUDs for decades. Spamming "k monster", "st", and "i" doesn't really make you faster at typing anything other than those letters. I'd still miss frequently on ; {} () and [], as well as capital letters. It'll train your skill writing macros more than typing.

The MU stands for multi-user. Maybe talk to the other people more?

Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#99

I got a lot better and faster at typing when I switched to a das keyboard without key labels. It forced me to learn and not rely on looking down at the keys. 10/10 would recommend.. also it stops noobs from using your box.

I did the same, but the only thing that happened was that I couldn't type symbols (quick, type a $ without looking at the keyboard). I exchanged it with one with keycaps afterwards.

I've been using a glyphless keyboard for about 2 weeks now (accidentally) and I have definitely gone up in accuracy. Now I can hit $&% in the second try

Re: Ask HN: Best way to increase typing speed?

#100
Between my old made-up typing style (left hand hit over half the board, hit x with thumb, few other weird bits), learning homerow, learning to type on ortholinear keyboards, and learning dvorak, I've found it works well to use one of those sites that has you type various letters to get used to them, then once you're comfortable, move to something like 10fastfingers to grind speed. Practice daily. It's pretty fun for me, which makes it easier. I hit 160wpm (peak not average, pulled it off only twice) at my best before learning homerow. Never quite made it back. I'm also a bit slower with dvorak now, but maybe I can get up again someday. I'm around 115-120wpm these days which is pretty passable, but I do miss the absolute joy of typing as fast as I could and really pushing my limits.
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