Whether you’re rushing to finish an English essay or simply emailing a friend, typing is a vital skill for us all. Nowadays, we live in a world with computers, phones and a multitude of other technology. Therefore, the ability to type with both speed and accuracy is becoming more important in today’s digital world.
What is touch typing?
Touch typing is the skill of typing based on muscle memory rather than glancing down at the keyboard. Most importantly, this skill utilizes all of the individual’s fingers unlike the “hunt and peck” method. However, this skill not only requires time, but regular practice. By doing so, our fingers become accustomed to hitting the appropriate key without needing to identify which one it is.
What are the benefits?
Not only is touch typing a crucial skill for journalists, writers, secretaries and more, but it can serve countless benefits for us all. These include:
- increased efficiency.
- less time wasted. For example, if you increase your typing speed from 30 to 60 words per minute (wpm), you will save half the time that you would normally spend completing a task.
- improved posture and health. Instead of sitting for prolonged periods of time hunched over a computer, touch typing will allow you to save time and stretch once in a while. Furthermore, by using all of your fingers, you are less likely to suffer from repetitive stress injuries.
- increased focus. Touch typing will help you stay focused on typing what is on your mind rather than taking the time to find the key between letters.
- increased productivity. By saving the time you waste finding keys, you can get work done faster. Not only that, but if you double your speed form 30 to 60, you can double the amount of work you get done in the same amount of time.
- higher chances of employment. Certain jobs, such as a transcriptionist, requires a high typing speed with little to no mistakes. However, typing is beginning to become more useful in a variety of workplaces, therefore, this skill could be a great addition to your resume!
Tips
Now that we’ve covered the importance of touch typing and its benefits, I want to share some tips on how you can get started.
- proper posture is key. Remember to sit straight with your elbows bent at 90 degrees. Additionally, make sure your screen is at, or slightly below eye level, keeping it at least 45-70 cm away from you.
- home row position. Always curve your fingers slightly and place them on the ASDF and JKL: keys. This is called the home row because you always want to start at this position and come back to it.
- designate jobs. When typing, begin on the home row and designate each finger to certain keys. When typing, each finger will have a specific role and will always start and return to the home row. The picture below provides a great color-coded finger designation.
- repeat the motion. While it may be hard to stop looking at the keyboard, always keep your fingers near the home row. Furthermore, only move the finger that is required, remembering to always stay near the home row. This will help improve typing speed and reduce fatigue. Continue doing these movements until they become muscle memory.
- be patient. This skill may take time and practice to develop, however, patience is key. Remember to keep practicing and be patient with yourself!
- practice, practice, practice! Practice this skill as often as you can and continue to reinforce good habits when doing so. There are a variety of resources out there to help you develop and practice this skill, so use them!
That’s it! I truly hope this blog helped encourage you to improve your typing speed and accuracy. While this may not come easily for many of us, the key is to keep practicing and be patient with yourself!