4 ms·

I'm fairly obsessed with alternative HIDs. I bought the Tap Strap 2 but never broke past the initial learning curve. I'm going to buy a CharaChorder now. I'm a

by 58x14 5y ago

I'm fairly obsessed with alternative HIDs. I bought the Tap Strap 2 but never broke past the initial learning curve. I'm going to buy a CharaChorder now. I'm also a musician, so I'm really interested to see what types of functionality I could map, given the additional interface dimensions. However, I'll need to test the input lag, typically anything > 20ms is rather noticeable for live music; if they have esports as a target market, hopefully they've already accounted for that. I type ~80WPM with 90%+ accuracy, but I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought. Maybe typing at ludicrous speeds will channel some deep stream of consciousness?

Shank 5y ago
> I type ~80WPM with 90%+ accuracy, but I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought. Maybe typing at ludicrous speeds will channel some deep stream of consciousness? I agree with this, at least to some extent. If I'm rote copying something from a text (e.g., from a typing test website), I can achieve 130-140wpm easily. If I'm creating original thought or trying to actually compose a reply to someone, I think much slower than I can type. It takes a lot more effort to compose logical sentences that make sense on paper than it does to type them, in my experience. What really makes me want to try these alternate input systems is the allure of being able to type while walking outside at speed, which is something I can't do on a smartphone. CharaChorder seems like it's nice on a desk, but the same could be said for a plain stenography keyboard/machine.
- 58x14 5y ago
  > type while walking outside at speed Yes, exactly this. I didn't expect the Tap Strap would be refined enough to serve this purpose (too much ambient motion) but I like to keep looking for something novel.
- NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
  >If I'm rote copying something from a text (e.g., from a typing test website), I can achieve 130-140wpm easily. Weird. I have the opposite problem. I'm usually in the ~80-90 range typing something I'm reading. I find it way slower to read the text, the repeat it. But if I'm typing from my brain I'm way faster because I can skip the reading step.
throw10920 5y ago
> I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought. In my case (which probably shares at least a few similarities to yours), I (a) have some tasks where I really do need to type fast (usually either when I'm transcribing my voice notes to text, or when I've already formed an idea into a sentence in my head and just need to get it out) and (b) have highly irregular rates of thought, where sometimes I'll have things I want to write at 300 WPM, and other times I don't have any ideas for minutes on end. In the former case, faster is always better. In the latter case, while you might not be directly blocked on typing speed, it does allow you to get the typing out of the way faster, so that you can then move on to more thinking, or another non-typing action.
300bps 5y ago
I type ~80WPM with 90%+ accuracy, but I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought I’m on typeracer.com with an average typing speed of 154 WPM with 99% accuracy. I don’t find my thoughts to be limiting for typing purposes.
- tombert 5y ago
  You're making me feel a little inadequate about my current record of 97WPM with 99% accuracy.
  - vehemenz 5y ago
    On the other hand, it's making me feel pretty good about my thinking speed. ;)
- bradlys 5y ago
  I don't really know how people get past 120-130wpm with sustained accuracy. I find that I trail off around 100-110wpm. It really depends on the text too. Some text with a lot of difficult double repeated letters, fancy punctuation, etc. in a row or hard to read words - not so great. I just did the practice twice. Once at 100wpm (keyboard twister kind of text). Once at 130wpm (easy sentences). So much variation just from the practice text alone. This is also on a macbook pro keyboard literally on my lap - which I fucking hate and find horrible to type on and mess up on all the time. (I think it is also dysfunctional/semi-broken) I don't think I could ever hit 150wpm. I just don't see how it's possible with a normal keyboard - at least for me. Never seen anyone do it sustained either. Must be some <1% skill - as I'm the fastest typer of just about anyone I've met and I don't feel fast. Speed of thought is mostly the issue for me too though even at 130wpm. If I am saying things faster than that - whatever I am saying is probably not worth reading outside of a chat conversation.
  - 300bps 5y ago
    My ex-wife used to say that she could not randomly mash the keys on a keyboard as fast as I can accurately type. I've had people ask me if I'm human based on the speed of my typing. But honestly if you watch YouTube videos of typing competitions - there are lots of people that are 160+. I first learned to type in 1982 and that really accelerated when I got online in 1985. I did not touch type at that point - I just used 3 fingers on each hand. The first year I learned to touch type my typing instructor typed 60 WPM and I typed 75. Then it just went up from there after 4 years of formal typing instruction. For what it's worth, I use a Das Keyboard mechanical keyboard.
tombert 5y ago
Feel like when I am speaking somewhat conversationally (e.g. IM or even HN), I can think much faster than I can when doing something like Typeracer. It could be a result of me growing up with AIM and MSN Messenger, or maybe just a result of the fact that I tend to talk really fast regardless, but I almost can view typing as an extension of my brain, and as a result I do actually feel like my inability to type faster is a limiting factor.
- vehemenz 5y ago
  Actually, I think that is completely normal. When writing with pen and paper, it's so slow that you can't help but think ahead. You're thinking in parallel because you have time before you write the next clause or sentence. You might scratch out a word or sentence or two, but overall your thoughts will probably be more coherent and well-considered. Even typing at 150 WPM (actually fast) is about the same speed as dictation. Anyone who's done extensive dictation knows how slow that actually is.
- BenjiWiebe 5y ago
  This is my experience exactly. I speak fast, and typing for communication just feels really slow, since I'm thinking at my normal speed. Typing commands or programming isn't so annoying though, because my speed of thought is slower then... Except for the occasional long commands such as 'sudo systemctl restart asterisk' or something.

by 58x14 5y ago

Shank 5y ago

> I type ~80WPM with 90%+ accuracy, but I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought. Maybe typing at ludicrous speeds will channel some deep stream of consciousness? I agree with this, at least to some extent. If I'm rote copying something from a text (e.g., from a typing test website), I can achieve 130-140wpm easily. If I'm creating original thought or trying to actually compose a reply to someone, I think much slower than I can type. It takes a lot more effort to compose logical sentences that make sense on paper than it does to type them, in my experience. What really makes me want to try these alternate input systems is the allure of being able to type while walking outside at speed, which is something I can't do on a smartphone. CharaChorder seems like it's nice on a desk, but the same could be said for a plain stenography keyboard/machine.

58x14 5y ago
> type while walking outside at speed Yes, exactly this. I didn't expect the Tap Strap would be refined enough to serve this purpose (too much ambient motion) but I like to keep looking for something novel.
NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
>If I'm rote copying something from a text (e.g., from a typing test website), I can achieve 130-140wpm easily. Weird. I have the opposite problem. I'm usually in the ~80-90 range typing something I'm reading. I find it way slower to read the text, the repeat it. But if I'm typing from my brain I'm way faster because I can skip the reading step.

throw10920 5y ago

> I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought. In my case (which probably shares at least a few similarities to yours), I (a) have some tasks where I really do need to type fast (usually either when I'm transcribing my voice notes to text, or when I've already formed an idea into a sentence in my head and just need to get it out) and (b) have highly irregular rates of thought, where sometimes I'll have things I want to write at 300 WPM, and other times I don't have any ideas for minutes on end. In the former case, faster is always better. In the latter case, while you might not be directly blocked on typing speed, it does allow you to get the typing out of the way faster, so that you can then move on to more thinking, or another non-typing action.

300bps 5y ago

I type ~80WPM with 90%+ accuracy, but I don't find that typing speed is my blocker, rather the speed of a coherent thought I’m on typeracer.com with an average typing speed of 154 WPM with 99% accuracy. I don’t find my thoughts to be limiting for typing purposes.

tombert 5y ago
You're making me feel a little inadequate about my current record of 97WPM with 99% accuracy.
- vehemenz 5y ago
  On the other hand, it's making me feel pretty good about my thinking speed. ;)
bradlys 5y ago
I don't really know how people get past 120-130wpm with sustained accuracy. I find that I trail off around 100-110wpm. It really depends on the text too. Some text with a lot of difficult double repeated letters, fancy punctuation, etc. in a row or hard to read words - not so great. I just did the practice twice. Once at 100wpm (keyboard twister kind of text). Once at 130wpm (easy sentences). So much variation just from the practice text alone. This is also on a macbook pro keyboard literally on my lap - which I fucking hate and find horrible to type on and mess up on all the time. (I think it is also dysfunctional/semi-broken) I don't think I could ever hit 150wpm. I just don't see how it's possible with a normal keyboard - at least for me. Never seen anyone do it sustained either. Must be some <1% skill - as I'm the fastest typer of just about anyone I've met and I don't feel fast. Speed of thought is mostly the issue for me too though even at 130wpm. If I am saying things faster than that - whatever I am saying is probably not worth reading outside of a chat conversation.
- 300bps 5y ago
  My ex-wife used to say that she could not randomly mash the keys on a keyboard as fast as I can accurately type. I've had people ask me if I'm human based on the speed of my typing. But honestly if you watch YouTube videos of typing competitions - there are lots of people that are 160+. I first learned to type in 1982 and that really accelerated when I got online in 1985. I did not touch type at that point - I just used 3 fingers on each hand. The first year I learned to touch type my typing instructor typed 60 WPM and I typed 75. Then it just went up from there after 4 years of formal typing instruction. For what it's worth, I use a Das Keyboard mechanical keyboard.

tombert 5y ago

Feel like when I am speaking somewhat conversationally (e.g. IM or even HN), I can think much faster than I can when doing something like Typeracer. It could be a result of me growing up with AIM and MSN Messenger, or maybe just a result of the fact that I tend to talk really fast regardless, but I almost can view typing as an extension of my brain, and as a result I do actually feel like my inability to type faster is a limiting factor.

vehemenz 5y ago
Actually, I think that is completely normal. When writing with pen and paper, it's so slow that you can't help but think ahead. You're thinking in parallel because you have time before you write the next clause or sentence. You might scratch out a word or sentence or two, but overall your thoughts will probably be more coherent and well-considered. Even typing at 150 WPM (actually fast) is about the same speed as dictation. Anyone who's done extensive dictation knows how slow that actually is.
BenjiWiebe 5y ago
This is my experience exactly. I speak fast, and typing for communication just feels really slow, since I'm thinking at my normal speed. Typing commands or programming isn't so annoying though, because my speed of thought is slower then... Except for the occasional long commands such as 'sudo systemctl restart asterisk' or something.