3 ms·

I took my typing class in 1983 junior high. There were two IBM Selectrics in the back of the room, and everything else was manual. There was a schedule for the

by chasil 6y ago

I took my typing class in 1983 junior high. There were two IBM Selectrics in the back of the room, and everything else was manual. There was a schedule for the lucky two. I think we had more than one Apple ][ for after-school signup at that point, but I'm not sure.

wyclif 6y ago
I'll avoid dating myself, but let's just say I took typing class around the same time you did. Classroom had 20 IBM Selectrics. I was the only male in the class and probably the only student who wasn't in the Business/Accounting track (I was in College Prep and they couldn't figure out why I would take the class since professionals at the time had a secretary type all their correspondence). I foresaw that it was going to be a valuable skill because I was also in my school's first computer science class. None of the guys, and they were all guys, in my comp sci class could type, they were all hunt-and-peck. So I learned the traditional way with an egg timer and a spiral-bound exercise book on a stand. Curled fingers. I still type this way, and I can still do about 170+ wpm depending on how many cups of coffee I've had. Later, this really helped me when I got an IBM Model F keyboard or Sun UNIX keyboard and when I would fly around Vi like a keyboard assassin it would amaze my colleagues. My current keyboard is a mechanical Ducky with Cherry MX Brown switches: https://www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-One-Golden-grey-TKL https://www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-One-Golden-grey-TKL
- mycall 6y ago
  170 is insane. I have similar history and top out at 88wpm @ https://play.typeracer.com https://play.typeracer.com
  - wyclif 6y ago
    Practice helps, but you can probably increase your speed by learning not to bottom out the keys with every keystroke. Cherry Browns help because they have a tactile 'bump.'

3 ms·

I took my typing class in 1983 junior high. There were two IBM Selectrics in the back of the room, and everything else was manual. There was a schedule for the

by chasil 6y ago

wyclif 6y ago
I'll avoid dating myself, but let's just say I took typing class around the same time you did. Classroom had 20 IBM Selectrics. I was the only male in the class and probably the only student who wasn't in the Business/Accounting track (I was in College Prep and they couldn't figure out why I would take the class since professionals at the time had a secretary type all their correspondence). I foresaw that it was going to be a valuable skill because I was also in my school's first computer science class. None of the guys, and they were all guys, in my comp sci class could type, they were all hunt-and-peck. So I learned the traditional way with an egg timer and a spiral-bound exercise book on a stand. Curled fingers. I still type this way, and I can still do about 170+ wpm depending on how many cups of coffee I've had. Later, this really helped me when I got an IBM Model F keyboard or Sun UNIX keyboard and when I would fly around Vi like a keyboard assassin it would amaze my colleagues. My current keyboard is a mechanical Ducky with Cherry MX Brown switches: https://www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-One-Golden-grey-TKL https://www.duckychannel.com.tw/en/Ducky-One-Golden-grey-TKL
- mycall 6y ago
  170 is insane. I have similar history and top out at 88wpm @ https://play.typeracer.com https://play.typeracer.com
  - wyclif 6y ago
    Practice helps, but you can probably increase your speed by learning not to bottom out the keys with every keystroke. Cherry Browns help because they have a tactile 'bump.'