I've had a look at some of the free programs available and recommend Kiran Reddy's Typing Tutor. You can download it (4.6 Mb) here. Simply unzip and instal. All free!
A word of warning: It's b-o-r-i-n-g at first. If you've ever learned scales on a piano then you know what I'm talking about. The two exercises are similar. You're teaching your fingers where they should go.
But after a while you begin to amaze yourself. You learn to trust each finger; it will have learned the keys that are "its own". You can put your brain on auto-pilot and your fingers will find the right keys. Magic!
Don't be impatient. You'll think at first: "Why am I bothering with this? I can type faster with two fingers." That's likely true. But very soon your touch-typing speed will have increased. You'll wonder why you didn't start it sooner.
You can even type in the dark! How cool is that? :0)
What touch-typing gives you A word of warning: It's b-o-r-i-n-g at first. If you've ever learned scales on a piano then you know what I'm talking about. The two exercises are similar. You're teaching your fingers where they should go.
But after a while you begin to amaze yourself. You learn to trust each finger; it will have learned the keys that are "its own". You can put your brain on auto-pilot and your fingers will find the right keys. Magic!
Don't be impatient. You'll think at first: "Why am I bothering with this? I can type faster with two fingers." That's likely true. But very soon your touch-typing speed will have increased. You'll wonder why you didn't start it sooner.
You can even type in the dark! How cool is that? :0)
Increased Efficiency
Touch-typing is more effective because you look at the output on the screen, not the keyboard.
Less Mental Fatigue
Touch-typing is less demanding on the brain because the brain doesn't have to cope with two issues: locating the keys and focusing on the output.
Less Physical Fatigue
Touch-typing is also less tiring because it distributes the total effort over all your fingers. Touch-typing, because of its natural and fluid finger movements, results in less stress.
Less Wear and Tear
Touch-typing reduces wear and tear on the fingers you're actually using. The work is spread over ten fingers, which reduces the risk of Cumulative Trauma Disorder.
Kiran's Typing Tutor teaches basic touch-typing. You'll learn all the keys, including number keys and commonly used symbols.
But that's not all. As I said last week, touch-typing forges a direct link between your mind and your screen. You no longer have to "hunt and peck" for the right key. Your fingers take care of that.
So you'll be able to concentrate fully on creating. Or playing your keyboard—the way a professional pianist plays.
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