Weak Typing — the Lost Art of the Keyboard 362
mikejuk writes "How do you type? Hunt and peck? Two thumbs? Touch type? Two thumbs touch type? For the first time since the computer was invented, the standard QWERTY keyboard is challenged by new ways of inputing text. And yet even the iPad virtual keyboard has two useless dimples on the F and J keys. Perhaps it isn't time to give up on the home keys just yet."
WARNING: BULLSHIT AHEAD (Score:0, Insightful)
There is a change in the way we interact with computers and it is mostly due to the use of touch screens. You simply cannot touch type on a mobile phone's virtual keyboard. When presented with such a thing your only option is to use one or at most two fingers. Given the way that the unit is held you also can't use the full keyboard style for a two finger peck. It seems that the best you can do is use two thumbs. This is perhaps the biggest change to typing since the introduction of touch typing. There are even apps and websites that will teach you how to two-thumb touch type. This is a big change because before the touch screen smartphone we only had one major text input device - the full size keyboard - now we also have the virtual keyboard to deal with.
They basically argue that we should teach kids how to thumb type faster than how to touch type. I guess they are supposed to start texting their research papers to their teachers in school to? Oh, and it still somehow manages to avoid a conclusion.
typing class in school (Score:5, Insightful)
When I was in high school I learned to type on big manual Underwood typewriters in typing class. I also learned some other skills in that class that seem to be going the way of a lost art, such as how to properly fold a letter to fit into an envelope.
In my opinion, typing class was the most useful class that I took in high school. I learned skills that I use literally every day.
Re:Whole lot of nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
> Is it just me, or is there nothing to the posted article?
How can you say that. This is a concise and insightful analysis /. for selecting this article as one being worthy for the attention of
of the history of
the art and practice of the grandest of all
skills from its birth to its current sad state. It is also a great example of another greatly admired skill of using many words to
hide lack of content. The author lays bare
is deepest feeling and
the innermost workings of his brain (image used without permission from the
makers of Hannibal). We should
applaud the author for his efforts and the powers that be at
not just a few of us but everyone.