Learning to play type could mean the difference between 10 words per minute and 40+. That could also mean the difference between adding half a day to your productivity. Or, more than that, if you can type 100 words per minute like most professional typists do. That's why I sincerely believe that tactile writing along with speed reading is one of the sacred arts of the digital age.
But surprisingly both are not a product of the digital age. Wikipedia (and I cross-checked it) tells me that Frank Edward McGurrin invented tactile typing in 1878. He taught himself to type without looking at the keys...and that's how tactile typing came about. Well, if Frank can do it, then why can't you? Especially when the stiff keys of typewriters have gone the way of the dinosaurs and you have the soft touch of computer keyboards and on-screen touch pads.
Let me show you how with the top ten tools and tutorials for learning to play type.
We love simple sites that don't ask us to sign up, right? Keybr earns points on both points. It is a simple flash based writing instructor where you can start writing. He introduces you to the basics of touch writing techniques and takes you from there to a more complex method. Like any good tutor, Keybr keeps track of all your mistakes and words per minute (wpm), and provides a graphical overview of your daily performance. Of course, you have to register for that.
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10FastFingers is a simple site again that tests your typing speed in 60 seconds and compares it to an average score. You are given a percentile score and also a position among all those who took the test in the last 24 hours. If you get bragging rights, share the results on Facebook and Twitter. There are no instructions as such; just start typing and see how each day goes. 10FastFingers also offers you three typing modes or tests that also include a typing competition. You can play the script completion in the language of your choice.
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TypingWeb is better rounded compared to the previous two. You have to register to start. The interactive tutorials start with the basics where you become familiar with the keys in the home row, and then move on to more advanced lessons that deal with drills. There are also special classes where you can write chapters of literary classics and other works. So even if you have nimble fingers, you can start somewhere in the middle instead of starting all over again. One of the best smart features of the online tool is that it learns the most error-prone keys as you type the lessons. Once TypingWeb has learned which cues trip you up, a custom practice lesson can be created to work on those specific cues.
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Don't forget to look at Sense-Lang, Another excellent site to write tutorials and practice writing.
Edutainment is the name around around the time. So why not have fun at the same time when we're learning to play the guy? These represent some of the best and simple games that can really hone your finger dexterity.
The BBC Schools site may appear to be aimed at children aged 7-11, but even adults just starting out with writing can try their hand at all four levels just for fun. Each level is divided into 3 stages. Level 1 takes you through the basic moves and level 4 graduates you to lessons on how to handle the Shift keys. Song, music and dance accompany each lesson. The site is based on Flash, but there is also an option for non-Flash.
Instead of singing along with the lyrics, you have to write them down as fast as you can. Typing Karaoke is all about having fun as you practice your touch typing. And believe me, it's more challenging than you think. I'm not sure here, but the songs could also be arranged according to their "writing" difficulty. The first, "No me surrender" Jason Mraz is a slow ballad, while the latest Stray Cats single is faster..
Over 20 writing-focused flash games greet you when you land here. The site lives up to its name. From the Ninja keyboard to the Excuses Excuses where you have to type as they appear on the screen and learn some in the process for the time you don't do your homework. Most games have an advertisement at the beginning.
Rapid Typing Tutor is a free keyboard trainer. The lessons are organized in groups of letters, as is common in all trainers. The Touch Typing Trainer offers three lessons from Basic to Advanced. The virtual trainer guides you through the lessons with key prompts. The keyboard gives you language options and keyboard layout options, as you can see on the screenshot. Typing Trainer takes you through three levels of lessons and you can set a few options on how you want to view the lessons. Rapid Typing Tutor is free for personal use and is compatible with all versions of Windows. Best of all, it has a portable version that is an 11MB download.
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It is an open source advanced typing tutor and a free download. The 8 MB file is also portable and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Amphetype describes itself as layout agnostic, meaning it doesn't come with a virtual keyboard, but it does provide you with lessons you can use to practice any keyboard layout with it. The software supports the learner with speed and performance measurement features and detailed statistics. One of the important metrics is that Amphetype also measures stickiness, ie it measures the 'pauses' one takes between words. More pauses means higher viscosity. A lower stickiness rate translates to better typing performance.
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Another alternative to open source keyboard and language independent writing tutor you can try is Klavaro . It has ready to use keyboard layouts like Dvorak, QWERTZ, Colemak, AlphaGrip5 and more.
There are many options to practice your typing touch. I've usually found that using software tools like the two mentioned above and my personal favorite - TIPP10 Learn to type really fast with the smart writing tutor. TIPP10 [Cross Platform] Learn to type really fast with smart and intelligent writing tutor TIPP10 [Cross Platform] Learning to type fast is almost a survival skill in the digital Darwinian jungle. It is directly related to saving the time you dedicate to a job and improving your productivity. You just have to be methodical ... Read more , and complementing them with typing games 3 fun typing games to compete with your friends with your keyboard 3 fun typing games to compete with your friends with your keyboard Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, but much of our digital communication is still based on the keyboard. Beginning with the typewriter, which debuted in the mid-19th century,… Read More You can always go back to these tools and get your WPM (words per minute) up to an acceptable figure. Do you want more practice? Look at the following sites too -
We've covered touch tools and tutorials pretty thoroughly. Even then we are looking for the next good bit or recommended tool that can sharpen the saw. Maybe you can help. Write your comments.
