4 ms·

What makes remapping capslock wrong? Does proper typing training make it easy to reach the escape key?

rsecora 6y ago
I don't say there is a silver bullet. But there is tendency on people not trained in typewriting to have RSI. And the capslock remapping is a clue of people not being trained. Maybe the training forces to have the right siting position or to remove bad positions, or the memory muscle needed to achieve more than 100 words/min, or the hand not overusing 2/3 fingers. Or the hand position... Or maybe its everything. For me it's like heavy lifting, they way you push/pull the weights, minimize the injuries.
- daveFNbuck 6y ago
  How does capslock remapping have anything to do with proper training? I remapped capslock because it had been years since I pressed it intentionally, but I use escape all the time. Does remapping capslock mean I worked too hard to type this comment?
  - rsecora 6y ago
    No, you don't need caps lock for this text, because there aren't two continuous uppercase keys. My comment was about my memory muscle. I developed it in a training a long ago. I feel my typing unnatural when I don't have capslock. I have notice that this also happens to people that have learn typewriting in the school. In the training you learn: there are two shift keys, use caps lock, use both hands, only press with fingers, never use two fingers of the same hand, sit correctly, align the forearm and the hand, mistakes are costly. Online keyboard typing usage focus on finger, but in the 80s, the first training day was also on proper position. if your current workflow don't need caps lock go for it. I'm not advocating for remapping or not. I have only notice the way the caps lock (or the two shifts) are used, usually implies the operator has perform a typewriting training back in the days.
    - daveFNbuck 6y ago
      As another anecdote for your collection, I was taught to type on a typewriter in a course in middle school in the 90's. Having to type multiple capital letters in a row is rare enough that I never developed a habit of using the capslock key. I get by using shift on the rare occasions that I need to type multiple capital characters in a row. It's rarely more than one word.
      - rsecora 6y ago
        Right, typing multiple caps in a row was mostly a way to place emphasis at the time of mechanical typewriters. When there was only a font, no italics, and two colors (if you where lucky). Anyway, it's obsolete for modern usage https://www.wired.com/2006/08/death-to-caps-lock/ https://www.wired.com/2006/08/death-to-caps-lock/
        daveFNbuck 6y ago
        I'm having trouble squaring the things you've said at this point. You commented earlier with > The writer says "CapsLock is useless... remap". I have seen that statement a lot of times, and I deeply feel it wrong. That means the author hasn't been properly trained at typing. If the capslock key is obselete, why is it wrong to remap it? Why would remapping an obselete key indicate improper training? Perhaps the author was trained properly on a different system, or had the same training as you but has since adapted. I get that it's part of your muscle memory and you'd prefer to keep using an obselete key, but why say it's wrong for others to not use the capslock key?
        rsecora 6y ago
        Lets write again. I'm not advocating in anyway for using caps or for the opposite. I'm used to caps, so my typing flow needs it. When I have used keyboards without caps, I feel them wrong. (same happens when I use a non querty keyboard). It's a personal feeling, so I will not remap it. If others want to remap, and they feel more productive, its ok. But not for me, because I know i'm more productive with it. The point on my comment was about RSI and training. using the keys properly reduces injuries. Proper forearm/hand alignment, balance of shift/ctrl key, balance of the space-key.... Example: Uppercase "A": What keys do you use? 1) Left pinky in left-shift / Ring or middle finger in "a"? 2) Left pinky in "a" / Right pinky in right shift? Using 1) stress the hand/wrist/forearm, using 2) is quicker, and more natural and avoids stress. This has nothing to do with caps-lock. Trained typewriter use 2. I usually recognize if a trained one in the 70s/80s by the "obsolete" usage of capslock. Then are are people like you, that were also trained and do not use it. My phrasing was too strong and rude. Sorry for that. I haven't realize this was a hot topic. My comment was not to advocate for caps-lock, but trying to advice on typing training, maybe it can help someone. That was the original intention, list actions to alleviate a common injury. Training was not only repetition of keys, but also use the right position and key combinations.

I don't say there is a silver bullet. But there is tendency on people not trained in typewriting to have RSI. And the capslock remapping is a clue of people not being trained. Maybe the training forces to have the right siting position or to remove bad positions, or the memory muscle needed to achieve more than 100 words/min, or the hand not overusing 2/3 fingers. Or the hand position... Or maybe its everything. For me it's like heavy lifting, they way you push/pull the weights, minimize the injuries.

daveFNbuck 6y ago
How does capslock remapping have anything to do with proper training? I remapped capslock because it had been years since I pressed it intentionally, but I use escape all the time. Does remapping capslock mean I worked too hard to type this comment?
- rsecora 6y ago
  No, you don't need caps lock for this text, because there aren't two continuous uppercase keys. My comment was about my memory muscle. I developed it in a training a long ago. I feel my typing unnatural when I don't have capslock. I have notice that this also happens to people that have learn typewriting in the school. In the training you learn: there are two shift keys, use caps lock, use both hands, only press with fingers, never use two fingers of the same hand, sit correctly, align the forearm and the hand, mistakes are costly. Online keyboard typing usage focus on finger, but in the 80s, the first training day was also on proper position. if your current workflow don't need caps lock go for it. I'm not advocating for remapping or not. I have only notice the way the caps lock (or the two shifts) are used, usually implies the operator has perform a typewriting training back in the days.
  - daveFNbuck 6y ago
    As another anecdote for your collection, I was taught to type on a typewriter in a course in middle school in the 90's. Having to type multiple capital letters in a row is rare enough that I never developed a habit of using the capslock key. I get by using shift on the rare occasions that I need to type multiple capital characters in a row. It's rarely more than one word.
    - rsecora 6y ago
      Right, typing multiple caps in a row was mostly a way to place emphasis at the time of mechanical typewriters. When there was only a font, no italics, and two colors (if you where lucky). Anyway, it's obsolete for modern usage https://www.wired.com/2006/08/death-to-caps-lock/ https://www.wired.com/2006/08/death-to-caps-lock/
      - daveFNbuck 6y ago
        I'm having trouble squaring the things you've said at this point. You commented earlier with > The writer says "CapsLock is useless... remap". I have seen that statement a lot of times, and I deeply feel it wrong. That means the author hasn't been properly trained at typing. If the capslock key is obselete, why is it wrong to remap it? Why would remapping an obselete key indicate improper training? Perhaps the author was trained properly on a different system, or had the same training as you but has since adapted. I get that it's part of your muscle memory and you'd prefer to keep using an obselete key, but why say it's wrong for others to not use the capslock key?
        rsecora 6y ago
        Lets write again. I'm not advocating in anyway for using caps or for the opposite. I'm used to caps, so my typing flow needs it. When I have used keyboards without caps, I feel them wrong. (same happens when I use a non querty keyboard). It's a personal feeling, so I will not remap it. If others want to remap, and they feel more productive, its ok. But not for me, because I know i'm more productive with it. The point on my comment was about RSI and training. using the keys properly reduces injuries. Proper forearm/hand alignment, balance of shift/ctrl key, balance of the space-key.... Example: Uppercase "A": What keys do you use? 1) Left pinky in left-shift / Ring or middle finger in "a"? 2) Left pinky in "a" / Right pinky in right shift? Using 1) stress the hand/wrist/forearm, using 2) is quicker, and more natural and avoids stress. This has nothing to do with caps-lock. Trained typewriter use 2. I usually recognize if a trained one in the 70s/80s by the "obsolete" usage of capslock. Then are are people like you, that were also trained and do not use it. My phrasing was too strong and rude. Sorry for that. I haven't realize this was a hot topic. My comment was not to advocate for caps-lock, but trying to advice on typing training, maybe it can help someone. That was the original intention, list actions to alleviate a common injury. Training was not only repetition of keys, but also use the right position and key combinations.