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In reply to the discussion: I've been watching people typing here and there. [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,070 posts)103. Perhaps you can't,
but some of two-fingered typists I know can.
I'm one of the few typists I know that can do numbers and special characters without looking back at the keyboard. And no, I don't need to move my hand over to the numbers off to my right to do so.
Most of us who learned touch-typing back in the day - and have ever worked with numbers - have that skill. It may not be common to learn it now, but it was not always uncommon.
I've been touch-typing for nearly 5 decades. I'm well aware of the theoretical advantages (and the personal advantages for me) of using all 10 fingers. But there was a time when alternate keyboards were promoted as theoretically more ergonomically efficient than the QWERTY keyboard. That didn't pan out. So theoretical advantages do not always translate into uniform practical advantages.
The point I keep trying to make is that you are imposing limitations you would experience as to two-fingered typing on proficient two-fingered typists. Just because you would have to look at the keyboard does not mean people proficient at two-fingered typing inherently have to look at the keyboard. I don't know how they can type without looking at the keyboard - but I know they do - I have watched several. I suspect they would be mystified that I can type using all 10 fingers without looking at the keybaord.
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Also, voice Rec is allowing people to do content without typing in some cases. nt
Blue_true
Feb 2017
#75
I see many posts, such as on Twitter, completely lacking punctuation. Those are challenging to read!
manicraven
Feb 2017
#17
Funny, because I think not punctuating is rude. It's like one has to do extra work in order to
manicraven
Feb 2017
#96
You beat me too it. I was going to make a similar argument about cursive writing.
Blue_true
Feb 2017
#79
Morse code will be useful again once aliens realize we are being led by Trump.
Blue_true
Feb 2017
#81
And then there were the old guards who would refuse to even compose an eamil in the office
question everything
Feb 2017
#12
It is still excellent. I play the piano so I suspect that helped with my speed
still_one
Feb 2017
#23
There aren't many professions where typing quickly AND accurately are critical.
Act_of_Reparation
Feb 2017
#98
Millenials know how to type? I thought it was all touch-screen mobile devices for the under-30 crowd
Spider Jerusalem
Feb 2017
#25
Only a keyboard for me, can't stand tiny mobile keyboards. When I travel, I have a Google
RKP5637
Feb 2017
#31
this is interesting -- i had a converstaion about something similar with my students recently
fishwax
Feb 2017
#48
When I was 12 years old I acquired a second hand manual typewriter.
PoindexterOglethorpe
Feb 2017
#51
Hey MM, you can get a job with the Trump Davidians decoding all their messages
Elwood P Dowd
Feb 2017
#64
I took typing but never really learned it. I think we should have a few people trained in
rzemanfl
Feb 2017
#80
But only the really old among us still want to reach up with the left hand at the end of a line
Maeve
Feb 2017
#86
I think the most problematic issue here is omitting the simple step of reading what we write
Dark n Stormy Knight
Feb 2017
#94
I learned to type (on manual typewriter) in the 8th grade and earned money in college
k8conant
Feb 2017
#100