is touch typing really that important?

Question

i was trying to learn how to do "touch typing" with some software (typing with out looking at the keyboard), but it's really difficult after a few minutes my wrist felt stiff and uncomfortable almost painful.

i normally type with my index fingers and looking at the keyboard but i can type pretty fast.

Should i "force" myself into learning how to touch type? is it really an essential skill? what are the cons and pros of touch typing?

and how long that it usually take to learn how to touch type around 50 wpm

Answer 1

I learned to touch type in 8th grade in my technology class that does not cover touch typing. I can do 70 WPM under 92% accuracy.

Think about All the time you will save from touch typing.

If you made a 300 word post.

Hunt and Peck typer may average: 12 WPM
This will take you at the Min: 25 Minutes

Non-touch typer may average: 28 WPM
This will take you at the Min: 11 minutes 43 Seconds

Touch typer (short after lessons) may average: 54 WPM
This will take you at the Min: 5 Minutes 30 Seconds

Touch typer (long after lessons) may average: 69 WPM
This will take you at the Min: 4 Minutes 20 Seconds

Touch typer (experienced) may average: 82 WPM
This will take you at the Min: 3 Minutes 40 Seconds

I cut my time in half of doing essays at school. I dont have to stress up a last minute night.

It saved me a lot of times. All the essays I have did and everything. Not only that, touch typer get to have in demand jobs without big experience. Usually for these jobs, all you need is a good WPM count with accuracy which will not be a problem.

Touch Typing is probably one of the most easiest, helpful, and useful things I have learned. You learn it until it becomes second nature. No stressing over the keys.

Google free typing tutorials OR buy a mavis beacon CD. Its worth your time and your money. It only took me 30 days to jump from 26 WPM to 52 WPM.

Answer 2

Typing class was the most boring thing in the world. The one class I hated more than anything else and the one class that I have actually used what I learn in my professional and personal life on an almost daily basis since I got out of high school in 1988.

My husband uses his index fingers and he is amazed at how fast I can type. Right now I am about 50-58 words a minute and if I am trying I can do around 78.

Once you master where the keys are without looking and get a proper wrist rest/support you won't even think about it you will just do it.

I didn't look at the keyboard at all typing this. Learn it can only help you.

Answer 3

If all you ever do is chat, or play on a keyboard you do not need to know how to touch type...

But if you ever work on a keyboard it is really essential to be able to touch type. Imagine if you had to look at your tongue in a mirror to speak... You cannot effectively talk about something you have to look at! Your eyes are busy.

Your typing is also much more accurate after you learn to touch type, because you can use your eyes to proof as the words roll out of your fingers. It is not so much a matter of learning to use a keyboard effectively, as a matter of fluency. Without that fluency, everything you ever do on a keyboard will take just a little longer, and be just a little less accurate, and require just a little more proofing... If you will be a heavy keyboard user, the time you take to learn touch typing will pay back in the not-very-long-run.

It is true that keyboards are lousy for your hands, but there are some ergonomic ones out there, one of which is in a sort of 'V' shape and hangs over your knee. There is no reason that you *must* learn touch typing on a straight keyboard. Personally I think the dang things should be outlawed. They take up desk space, and they *attract your eye*. They also trash your hands.

Answer 4

I have been touch typing for just over a year now and my accuracy is always been between 96 and 97 %. I am hoping to achieve 100% accuracy at 50 words per minute before I go any faster and to learn not to look at the keyboard at all. I have heard of keyboard's that you can get up to 200 words per minute on such as keyboards from this url http://www.maltron.com/ . On a standard keyboard the maximum you can type is 100 words per minute and in some cases faster but devastates your hands. If you get one of these keyboards your touch typing will be easier to learn, quicker and you will become a lot faster. However until the days where everyone uses special ergonomic keyboards is still handy to learn how to touch type on a normal keyboard.

Answer 5

I learned touch typing in Grade 6, a long time ago--so long that we didn't call it "keyboarding", we called it "typing". I learned on a manual typewriter where I had to try and apply even pressure on all keys (hard to do; your pinkie finger is pretty weak compared to your index finger).

It was one of the most useful skills I ever learned. Once you learn where the "home" keys are and which keys to hit with which finger, you can type much faster than you could ever type using your 2 index fingers. It's nice to be able to focus on what you're writing as opposed to constantly checking the keyboard. It's nice to be able to type *in the dark* when you can't see your keyboard too well, but you can see the screen.

In short, learn touch typing. It's worth it.

Answer 6

I never learned how to type properly, but I take pride in being the fastest "hunt-n-pecker" I know. I can hit up to 60 words per minute, no problem. It just looks funny to people who really do type properly.

Answer 7

well ive been out of school a long time and i learned to type in my 7th grade typing class. so if you take the time to learn your fingers will get easier to use and you'll pick up speed quickly once you know where the keys are. I think its worth it, you never forget it so.............

Answer 8

touch typing is faster because you use all the fingers
and typing without looking at keyboard
50 wpm is very fast
maybe one year or more

Answer 9

if you are young i advice you to learn touch from now , because it will be more difficult to learn when you become older.