Type Really Fast on a Keyboard

Do you want to learn how to type fast in the most efficient way? Follow these instructions, and you will be on your way to beating Barbara Blackburn (world record holder - 155 WPM during 55 minutes on a Dvorak keyboard).

Steps

Changing your keyboard

  1. Learn to touch type on the Dvorak keyboard layout. If you are going for speed, choosing the standard keyboard layout is out of the question. The standard keyboard layout, called Qwerty, was - to cut a long story short - designed to be inefficient. The Dvorak keyboard was designed to be fast, comfortable and easy to learn, and you should be able to achieve 20 to 25 % more speed with it, even if you switch after you've learned to type on another layout. You must remember where are the buttons on keyboard. If you are a beginner at typing try to write your name or something you are familiar with your school name or your address etc. To learn more about the layouts, go to [1]. Notice that you don't have to buy a new keyboard, just change a setting on your computer.

Improving your speed

  1. Before you type, warm up your fingers by making fists with both your hands. Open them slowly, and bend your fingers back until they can't physically go further without external help. Repeat this five times and you'll be typing faster than you did before.
  2. Try not to look at the keyboard when typing. Challenge yourself at all times until you can type without looking at all, and get the typing accurate.
  3. Use websites that allow you to practice touch typing. For example "typingtest.com". Practice at the various levels until you are using the fastest typing levels.
    • Use timed typing tests that require you to beat the clock to finish a paragraph.
  4. Find a touch typing tutor (preferably with the Dvorak layout) and learn to type. There are tons of free alternatives that should fit most people fine. Don't look at the keyboard, and if you have decided to go for the Dvorak layout, don't move the keys around. This will only slow down your learning. To speed up your learning, try to practice with text that makes sense, and not the usual repetitive sequences of characters - these do not really work.
  5. When you are ready to take a shot at beating the world record, go to [2] and choose a test, preferably with a three minute duration to get a more accurate result. To motivate yourself, make notes of your results before, during and after your training to see the increase in speed. Choose different tests, so that you don't end up memorizing a text (which gives inaccurate results).

Video

Tips

  • Play on-line games that let you have fun while typing. Avoid games like "type the alphabet", because these only teach you one phrase that sinks into your brain and has no real effect on your typing speed.
  • Don't give up after your first try. You will get better as you go on, so keep trying.
  • Practice to write a page of any book or an article in Microsoft Word
  • Avoid typing too much. This will hurt and cramp your fingers.

Warnings

  • Don't spend too much time on the computer, as it may damage your health.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Keyboard

Related Articles

  • Learn to Type (for Kids)
Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Type_Really_Fast_on_a_Keyboard&oldid=348470"