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Google Docs vs manual typewriter

tommorris.org

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Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#21

Post by ComputerGuru »

Jach wrote: post #17
xtho wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It turns out he is a vimmer. I fully support his argument. BTW there is even a snippet/plugin that turns VIM into a typewriter by disabling any movement keys.

That explains why he said "You keep the fingers of your left hand on the ASDF keys and the fingers of your right hand on the HJKL keys." I haven't met any touch typists who didn't know the right hand is supposed to rest on the jkl; keys.

Let me introduce myself.

I'm a touch typist, and I keep my right hand on the AOEU keys and my left on the HTNS keys.

Cheers!

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#22

Post by alanthonyc »

khafra wrote: post #11
endtime wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's how well they think, which is mostly inversely related to WPM. That's an...interesting claim. Why do you think typing ability is negatively correlated with intelligence?

I, for one, can type almost 80wpm and am dumb as a rock. I can never solve logic puzzles, and struggle with debugging when writing one-page scripts in Python.

Upvoted, for making me chuckle.

But I'm pretty sure that typing speed and programming ability are not-correlated, most definitely not inversely related.

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#23

Post by alanthonyc »

ghshephard wrote: post #13
nzmsv wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On most keyboards it is very hard to touch-type while programming. Seriously, I just can't enter a curly brace while keeping my hands on the home row. It hurts :) And once you move that hand, repositioning it takes time. The other reason I never learned to type properly is that I just get bored. I tried several times, and always gave up. It just feels like a waste typing fjfjfjfjfjfj when I could be entering code. Fi…

Just as an aside this { code }, was typed without any conscious thought. As an average touch typist (about 60 WPM), I didn't have any difficulty on my MacBook Pro entering curly paren while keeping my fingers on the home row. At least once a week I thank my teenage self for taking Grade 7 and 8 typing course (on ancient Manual typewriters - not even electric. The CBM 8032 was _just_ entering our world, and 100 Mile H…

Okay, as he says, nzmsv was half kidding. But really, this kind of attitude just touches a nerve with me. I work in corporate IT and in most places I've been, I'm seen as weird because of how fast I type.

I mean is it so unusual to actually to have facility with the tools of your trade?

Seriously, the curly brace doesn't even require you to move your hand from the home position. Anyone should be able to do that, unless you have problems with your pinky finger.

This reply is degenerating into a rant, so I apologize, but so many times I've been tagged as "the fast one", with the implication being that I'm not thorough. Guess what? Speed means more iterations, means I'm doing more in less time. And it doesn't preclude "thinking things through" either.

...back to your regularly scheduled, pre-new year's eve reading.

EDIT: Oh, and I hate the mouse.

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#24

Post by Jach »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #21
Jach wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That explains why he said "You keep the fingers of your left hand on the ASDF keys and the fingers of your right hand on the HJKL keys." I haven't met any touch typists who didn't know the right hand is supposed to rest on the jkl; keys.

Let me introduce myself. I'm a touch typist, and I keep my right hand on the AOEU keys and my left on the HTNS keys. Cheers!

Reversed Dvorak? Awesome. I greatly respect Dvorak, I just could never muster the patience of getting my speed in it up to the 80-100 I range in qwerty. Going back to 5-10 wpm isn't fun.

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#25

Post by Jach »

tommorris wrote: post #19
Jach wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That explains why he said "You keep the fingers of your left hand on the ASDF keys and the fingers of your right hand on the HJKL keys." I haven't met any touch typists who didn't know the right hand is supposed to rest on the jkl; keys.

Yes, my mistake. When in doubt, do what is correct rather than what I say. My typewriter homekey bindings have been wrecked by Vim use.

I found it an amusing mistake, and I too love vim and I wish the hjkl standard was everywhere.

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#26

Post by nzmsv »

alanthonyc wrote: post #22
khafra wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I, for one, can type almost 80wpm and am dumb as a rock. I can never solve logic puzzles, and struggle with debugging when writing one-page scripts in Python.

Upvoted, for making me chuckle. But I'm pretty sure that typing speed and programming ability are not-correlated, most definitely not inversely related.

"Correlation does not equal causation"

Also, I really should learn to type better. This though got me googling. I found some discussion on the topic:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=952745 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=510087

Also, I seem to remember someone posting a webapp typing tutor. Does anyone remember the name?

Re: Google Docs vs manual typewriter

#27

Post by ComputerGuru »

Jach wrote: post #24
ComputerGuru wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me introduce myself. I'm a touch typist, and I keep my right hand on the AOEU keys and my left on the HTNS keys. Cheers!

Reversed Dvorak? Awesome. I greatly respect Dvorak, I just could never muster the patience of getting my speed in it up to the 80-100 I range in qwerty. Going back to 5-10 wpm isn't fun.

Oh god...

No, it's Dvorak... but I don't know my left hand from my right.

Actually, it's a common joke around these parts that people originally from Jerusalem can't tell the difference between right & left. Taxis there are known for turning the opposite direction of what you ask for given just how bad it is.

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