According to Wikipedia, Christopher Latham Sholes, a newspaper editor and printer, invented my beloved QWERTY keyboard. His basic 1878 design still graces the majority of keyboards and touch-pads today. That’s pretty amazing if you think about it! He sequenced the letters on the keys so the typist must alternate hands when typing words. This speeds up the typist as well as prevents jams in the original typewriters when two letters next to each were pressed too quickly.
I can remember play “typing” on my dad’s old type writer and jamming the metal arms when I rapidly pressed the keys as I pretended to be a writer. In high school I took a typing class and actually learned how to type without causing a pile-up on the type writer. Not to age myself too much, but I learned on an “electronic” type writer that actually had correction fluid built-in. I have to say for all practical purposes and real life uses, this was one of the best classes I ever took. I use my typing skills everyday of my life. I did a quick typing test and came out at 46 words per minute. Not too shabby.
I didn’t move to a computer until my first year in college. Computers and word processing programs made my life as a budding typist and writer even better as now I didn’t have to start over because I wasn’t paying attention and typed off the edge of the page or made a mistake. Cut and Paste and the Backspace key are my heroes.
I now do all my writing on a little netbook. The keyboard fits my hands and fingers perfectly. While I do use my smart phone for quick emails, I’m nowhere near as fast touch-typing. I’m awed watching kids quickly type out texts and Facebook statuses with their thumbs or index fingers. I’ve heard some schools have even stopped teaching keyboard. That makes me so sad. I’ve thought about moving to a tablet, but I know I couldn’t live without my QWERTY keyboard.
What about you? Do “hunt and peck” or do your fingers know where to find the letters on the keyboard seemingly on auto-pilot?
Undaunted 
I learned on a non-electric typewriter. I wouldn’t be able to press those keys today. My second year of typing was on an electric (a whole new process of typing). Needless to say, I made a lot of errors at first. I typed 82 words a minute on an electric typewriter and with my shorthand skills acquired some good jobs over the years.
I love computers, and my typing advanced to 100 plus wpm. I’ve advanced over the years with every form of typewriter, word processers, or computers. I love technology.
Have a great day!
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Wow! You are really fast! I love technology too!
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I’m a QWERTY from way back. I love typewriters so much I collect them. The ancient kind. I don’t do the text thing, and hope I never have to, but taking this skill out of school. Horrific, than again all things change, maybe I’m about to go by way of the dinosaur . . .
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That’s so cool you collect typewriters. I wish I knew what happened to my dad’s old manual one.
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I spend just as much time correcting my mistakes as I do typing the words in the first place. I like to think I’m better than a hunt and peck typist but there is no evidence to support my claim.
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LOL – I have to go back over my stuff too. Sometimes my thoughts are faster than my hands and I get sloppy.
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I learned typing in high school as well, also on an electric typewriter. We must be around the same age 😉 It actually took me quite a while to get the hang of it, but then suddenly one day in typing class I had it. And I haven’t ever lost it.
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Me too. I remember during a test I kept ripping the paper out of the type writer and starting over. I had 4 or 5 crumpled balls of paper at my feet and the teacher looked me in the eye and told me to settle down. After that, I was OK
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I learned to type on a typewriter in high school as well. I am thankful that I took that course now. I know where my fingers go and I know my home row! I wonder if I still know how to centre something manually on typewriter.
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I know there is no way I could!
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I’m on automatic pilot, except for numbers. For numbers I have to look. Fun post.
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Me too!
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