We would all be remiss not to mention Hanx Writer, Tom Hanks' typewriter emulator application for iOS.
Tom Hanks on Typewriters
21–30 of 93 posts
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#22Going off at a bit of a tangent here, but this reminds me of something that I find quite interesting: I believe history has it that the querty keyboard layout was intentionally designed to slow down the typing speed, because the mechanical efficiency of the first gen/early typewriters (1860/70?) was fairly low, causing the moving prongs to jam if typing was done rapidly. I also believe the dvorak layout (which got in…
That QWERTY was invented to slow typists down is a popular misconception.
Read this for more info on the origins of QWERTY: http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/...
Read this great blog post for more an alternative layouts: https://viralintrospection.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/a-differ...
Also read this HN discussion of the post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11883233
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#23Going off at a bit of a tangent here, but this reminds me of something that I find quite interesting: I believe history has it that the querty keyboard layout was intentionally designed to slow down the typing speed, because the mechanical efficiency of the first gen/early typewriters (1860/70?) was fairly low, causing the moving prongs to jam if typing was done rapidly. I also believe the dvorak layout (which got in…
I learned Dvorak as a teenager and I've been using it ever since. Obviously I can't use it all the time, since it's not worth setting up on other people's computers, iPads don't support it for the onscreen keyboard, and similar, but I use it on my computers. I think it's faster, and more importantly it's more comfortable since there's less movement involved. It's sometimes inconvenient, as keyboard shortcuts which make sense for QWERTY are sometimes weird for Dvorak, but overall I'm glad I made the switch. I don't have any real trouble using QWERTY when I need to, either. It takes me a minute or so to get back up to speed, then I'm fine.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#24We would all be remiss not to mention Hanx Writer, Tom Hanks' typewriter emulator application for iOS. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hanx-writer/id868326899
Hm... reminds me of this distraction-free WiFi typewriter.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#25In 2012, a podcast host who wanted to interview Tom Hanks sent a 1934 Smith Corona to the actor as a gift when requesting the interview. Within days, Hanks responded with this letter, typed on the Corona: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/10/damn-you-all-to-hell.ht...
I like how they added the transcript - you know, just in case.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#26I'm very interested in this phenomenon where people seem to idolize certain outdated, analog technology. It seems to be some reaction against, or coping mechanism for, the increasingly digital world. I have a lot of fuzzy thoughts on it, and I'd like to read a book or an article that unpacks the idea more thoroughly.
There will continue to be lots of examples of preserving the best of analog technology in the digital world.
One example is an app that I built that lets authors sign ebooks (Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com). This idea was a result of doing more and more reading on my Kindle but missing the experience of meeting authors and having them sign my books.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#27I like the romance of the typewriter as much as the next person, but does anyone miss the terrific amount of labor that went into those things? I mean your hands really had to work hard at typing. These days, I am trying to keep even keyboard typing as low stress as possible.
You definitely consider your words and characters more carefully.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#28As a person who handles mail for a living I can assure you a typewritten letter, or should I say envelope, is a sure-fire way to have somebody open the letter.
I once used a typewriter to ask a large Ranch technological Training Company company if they had any scholarships for old-time programmers ( I was one) who were out of the game for a decade or so.
I was told my letter was passed around like a novelty and - yes I did receive the scholarship and was able to learn iOS 4. (And learn about HN)
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#29>Computer keyboards make a mousy tappy tap tappy tap like ones you hear in a Starbucks — work may be getting done but it sounds cozy and small, like knitting needles creating a pair of socks. I wonder if he's tried a mechanical keyboard? He might like it quite a bit better, even if just for the fact that you can choose your personality of keyboard with your computer, just like he does with typewriters.
While I'm a big fan and owner of 3+ mechanical keyboards, the force required to type out highly legible letters on a typewriter is not comparable with any keyboard.
It's not even in the same ballpark. Especially if your "ink tape" or whatever it's called isn't new, you really have to bang on the keys to get them to show up, not to mention the action lever to go to a new line.
Re: Tom Hanks on Typewriters
#30"Tom Hanks on Typewriters", the newest web framework (latency and scalability are still a bit of an issue with it honestly).
All web requests are routed directly to Tom Hanks, who will type up the page and mail it back to you. Expect 2-4 weeks for delivery.