Learning to touch type

[StanBush]

Whilst i can type quite fast i still have to look at what im doing , so was wondering how is the best way to learn to touch type ? Is it just a case of practice or would one of those crappy programs you see in the pc world bargin bin help ? Cheers

[sj33]

Well I'll say this - no-one taught me to type. Ever. Never used a single program. Never had another person to show me what to do - I knew more than them anyway. Yet I touchtype without thinking about it.

Really, you just get used to it. It's almost like walking. You reach a point where your brain doesn't really need to think about where a key is anymore. You don't really have to *try* to learn it or anything, you just become so naturally accustomed to it over time.

Of course, something like Mavis Beacon may help, but nothing work as good as just using a computer naturally.

[vertigo]

See what shakey jake said? Me too. Been using keyboards for so long that it's natural to know where stuff is, except on stupid bloody keyboards that fancy it all up by moving certain buttons around. And ergonomic keyboards which screw me up completely.
My copy typing is 70wpm, which I think is quite good considering I've never been taught. Typing from out of my head is much faster.
May I suggest something like Typing of the Dead as a fun alternative to Mavis Beacon? There is a PC version. You'll have to look at the screen and type to avoid getting dead.
Don't practice on a laptop.

[marcus]

Talk on MSN a lot, it did wonders for my touch typing.

[Resonance]

I learnt via Mavis Beacon. I spent about half an hour a day at it for about a week or two and once I had all of the letter keys down, forced myself to use my knowledge every time I sat at the computer.

It is frustrating and slow at first, but over time it just becomes second nature. I dont have to think about where they keys are, infact I could not tell you if you asked me. It is odd, almost like the words are in my head, and my fingers are possessed doing their own independant sort of dance, without my volition as the .

Go for it StanBush, it takes time and is slow to begin with, but it makes a world of difference when interacting with a computer on a regular basis. One of the most used and useful skills I have gained.

[Myth]

Well I'll say this - no-one taught me to type. Ever. Never used a single program. Never had another person to show me what to do - I knew more than them anyway. Yet I touchtype without thinking about it..

Thats how I learnt, it just comes naturally after extended use of the computer.

[StanBush]

Yeah my speed has really built up through using msn and forums etc but think ive reached my limit , might have to see if i can pick up mavis on the cheap , thanks all

[AlonzoUK]

Typing of the dead is a good alternative to the Mavis tutor.

[supersmithy]

I'm with the people who didn't learn - it just happened thanks to lots of late night CS sessions and spending a good couple of years on IRC.

Practice makes perfect.

[dataDave]

I got 3.5 secs on that type the alphabet thing.

[DaiSuki]

Same as everyone else; it just comes naturally after a while.

This might help Shows how weak my right hand is compared to my left (which is strange, me being right handed and all).

I've managed 9,655 points at level 17.

[supersmithy]

I was utterly useless at that game (level 6), yet i can touch type at a pretty decent speed.

Having to think about where the letters are just threw me off completely, very strange.

[StanBush]

Same as everyone else; it just comes naturally after a while.

This might help Shows how weak my right hand is compared to my left (which is strange, me being right handed and all).

I've managed 9,655 points at level 17.

Mate that is quality , utterly ****e at it at the mo but a great way to speed up cheers

[Purpledump]

I learnt from the years of playing Sierra parser based adventure games... GOD how I loved the days of Space Quest etc.

It wasn't until I got a copy of TYPING OF THE DEAD, that my touch typing actually improved dramatically over a week or so of playing the game. It's fun in a typical SEGA kind of way (like all trying to complete all the different tasks in Outrun or Virtua Tennis)AND you laern hwo to tuoch type!

[ascender]

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. An all-time PC classic title.