Straighten Up And Type Right!


December 29, 2012

Just as the position of your chair and the height of your desk determine how you sit at your keyboard, the position of your monitor directly influences your posture when you’re sitting. Ergonomically speaking, what is most important about your monitor and its position is that you are able to look straight at it. You should not have to tilt your head up or down to see it.

The screen image should be at eye level or slightly below your eye level. This helps you keep your head erect while typing, which lessens the risk of neck pain. If you have to tilt your eyes upward, even just a little, your eye muscles will inevitably tire and strain. If you have to look up at the screen, you’ll probably tilt your head and neck backward, and cause these muscles to be strained and fatigued, too.

Likewise, your monitor should not be too close to your eyes, or too far away. In either case, having the monitor at the wrong distance can trigger eye strain, fatigue, and headaches. When the monitor is too far away, you may have to squint or lean forward to see it. When the monitor is too close, your eyes can have difficulty focusing. This may cause you to push back from the screen. But then you’ll likely have to stretch to reach the keyboard.

Ideally, your monitor should be positioned on your work surface at least 20 inches away from your face, but not farther than 40 inches away. You should not position your monitor off to the side, even if it is at eye level. When your monitor is off-center, you use your neck muscles unevenly, which can cause fatigue and pain. As a general rule, always aim to have your head, neck, and torso face forward.

If repositioning your monitor is difficult or not possible, try raising or lowering your chair to change your eye level. Adjust chair height if you think it’s necessary, and then see if the difference in chair height keeps you from tilting your head. If you have a corner desk, placing your monitor in the corner will provide more depth and enable you to properly position your monitor.

Note: If you experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort now, or while completing the Typesy Course, you may need to seek professional help. Only someone with the proper training can accurately diagnosis the source of your pain or discomfort and recommend a treatment plan that may or may not include ergonomics.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Multi-task and Multiply Your Typing Times


December 28, 2012

There’s a lot you can do in the course of your daily routine to keep practicing your touch typing skills, and the tips and techniques you learn from courses like Typesy – and of course this typing blog!

You can practice typing without looking at the keyboard by first selecting any document at hand, whether that’s a newspaper, a printout of a report, an e-mail from a friend you have up on the screen in a separate window, or even the inspirational quote on your desk calendar. Next, call up a word processing blank document (remember to turn “auto-correct” off for this exercise!) and just start typing. If you’ve got a clock with a second hand in view, you can try to time yourself, but accuracy is more important as a goal when you’re doing this sort of practice. That’s why you should have the “auto-correct” feature off, so that your word processing program doesn’t correct your mistakes. It might be depressing at first, but you need to see your mistakes so that you know what aspects of typing you need to focus on and improve.

Once your accuracy is good, you’ll be ready to start practicing your typing during day-to-day tasks. When you type emails, social media posts, or documents, do your best to use the correct fingers and NOT look at the keyboard. Before you know it you’ll be an expert typist, and your typing speed will only continue to increase.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Punctuation is Important, Period.


December 27, 2012

If you thought that learning to touch type only involved learning where the letter keys are and which fingers you used to type those letters, it’s time to turn your attention to the punctuation keys so that you can use those letters to form words, and use punctuation to form those words into proper English phrases. All of the punctuation keys you need to construct grammatically-correct sentences are available on a QWERTY keyboard. If you have questions about the proper usage of the various punctuation marks, you’ll find plenty of explanation in grammar books and on the Internet – it’s much too big a topic for a single typing-related post.

Punctuation marks are an important part of sentence construction. Their use tells the reader when to stop, pause, and feel excitement. They join separate but related thoughts. They help the reader understand when someone else is speaking or is being quoted. They do all of this and so much more. So always be sure to include them!

Before you start typing, take some time to learn where the different punctuation keys are located and which fingers you should use to access them. Here’s a hint: Almost all of them will be accessed with the fingers on your right hand.

The comma is located on the bottom row, to the right of the letter M. The period is to the right of the comma and the question mark is to the right of the period.

The colon is on the same key as the semicolon. And that means you’ll need to press the [Shift] key to type a colon.

Both the single quote and the double quotation marks are on the key to the right of the semicolon/colon key.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

The Advantages of Group Learning and Goal Setting


December 26, 2012

Imagine that you’re setting off alone on a marathon run. You can’t see the finish line, and you don’t have any way of guessing how far you’ve run because there are no useful signposts along the way. In addition, there aren’t any people running with you, so you have no way of figuring out how fast you’re going. And there’s no cheering crowd lining the raceway to give you encouragement. In this situation, would you find yourself motivated to get to the finish line – or even to start the race? Probably not. That’s why it’s important to have progress markers in anything you’re working on, and why it’s helpful to have other people around you, whether they’re working on the same project or just providing support.

Typesy will help you keep your eyes on the final goal as well as provide you with the daily, weekly, and monthly results of your typing improvement. You can see how you’re getting better in terms of both speed and accuracy. The Advanced Progress Tracking module gives a visual display of the work you’ve done while using the program. A quick glance is all it takes to see how much your touch typing skills have improved. While you complete the workshops, play games, take the built-in typing speed and accuracy tests, and utilize all of the practice opportunities available to you, Typesy is busy measuring, calculating and tracking your progress. The software then displays this information visually in easy-to-understand graphs.

One of the unique features of Typesy is that it can be easily used by more than one person. That means each user can personalize their own practice texts, set their own goals, and track their own individual progress meters. There’s no limitation on the number of people allowed to use it on a single computer, and Typesy separately tracks all settings and progress for each user. When you share Typesy with family and friends, you can cheer each other on as each typing goal is met – or you can compete against each other to get the best scores in the typing games!

When you have a goal that you can see, and markers along the way to track your progress, plus helpful people around you to keep you motivated, you have everything you need to succeed and get the touch typing skills you want.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

3 Easy Exercises to Increase Productivity and Reduce Stress


December 25, 2012

The end of the year and the holiday season can be very stressful at the office as well as at home. If you sit and type all day and never take a break, your muscles will become stiff and fatigued. That’s why it is so important to get up and move around, hourly if possible. Obviously we’re not suggesting you take long 10 – 15 minute breaks every hour, because your supervisor might not appreciate that. But it is a very good idea to get up from your chair and walk away from your desk for a few minutes each hour. This will keep your blood circulating and help your muscles relax. Giving all of your muscles a good brief stretch every hour or so is also beneficial, and doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are three easy ways to keep your body in good shape so that your typing speed and productivity stay high all day long – and so your spirits remain high as well!

Exercise #1 – Stretch Your Feet. To stretch your feet, simply lift them off the ground, then point your toes and hold that position for a few seconds. Then flex your feet up and hold. Repeat. You can also move your feet around in a circular direction with toes pointed, and then reverse direction.

Exercise #2 – Stretch Your Hands. Finger stretches are easy to do. Simply spread apart the fingers in each hand as far as you can without causing pain and hold for a few seconds. You can even move each of your fingers around as you do this. You can also extend your hands as far out to the sides as you can and then up over your head. Hand and wrist massages will help circulation and alleviate stiffness.

Exercise #3 – Just Breathe.
Taking several slow, deep breaths throughout the day is another effective way to alleviate muscle tension and stress. As an added benefit, it sends oxygen to your brain to keep you mentally sharp and focused. If you do this deep breathing while doing any simple stretching exercises, you’ll increase the blood and oxygen flow and help relax your muscles all over.

Keep doing these stretches throughout the day so you can avoid muscle cramps, fatigue and stiffness.

Note: It is a good idea to consult with your doctor before doing any stretching exercises, especially if you have existing health issues or experience discomfort or pain.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Too Hot, Too Cold – Keep Your Typing Just Right


December 24, 2012

Right now in New York and Norway, typists are wrapped in thick sweaters and turning up the heat at home and at the office. When you’re too cold, your hands and fingers will be stiff, and that will slow down your typing speed. Getting chilled means your shoulders and neck will tighten up, and that may lead to muscle strain. Cold weather also contributes to poor circulation of the blood, so it’s important to keep warm and keep moving. If you’re in the middle of a northern winter, try these tips:

1) Wear a warm scarf or a light sweater to keep your upper body from getting too cold.

2) Buy a set of fingerless gloves to keep the joints and muscles in your hand warm and flexible.

3) Use a small portable heater beneath your desk to encourage blood flow in your legs and feet.

4) Drink hot caffeine-free liquids throughout the day, and get up frequently to move around.

On the other hand, people typing in Sydney and South Africa right now are probably opening up their windows as wide as possible, trying to get a cool breeze into their office rooms. In the middle of summer, too much heat usually won’t affect your typing speed – other than contributing to your general discomfort and distraction – but it will definitely affect the computer you’re typing on. When the air around a computer is too hot, the computer itself may overheat. To make sure you and your computer don’t lose your cool, follow these suggestions:

1) Use a portable fan to cool off your workspace. Don’t turn the thermostat down too low, or you’ll start to get too cold, and that will have a negative impact on your typing speed (see above).

2) Make sure your computer has good airspace around it, especially near the exhaust fan.

3) Keep your computer clean; a dusty computer overheats more quickly than a dust-free one.

4) If you use a laptop, use supports to raise it off the desk surface, or buy a laptop stand.

Once you’ve found the happy medium for your typing environment, your workspace setup will be just right.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Are You Able to Keep Up? Why Technology Matters in Communication


December 23, 2012

The Internet has turned ours into a society in which written communication reigns. Before the Internet age, most communication took place verbally. Back then people actually talked to one another, usually either face-to-face or over the telephone. Today, such communication is becoming rarer and rarer. For better or for worse, verbal communication has been largely replaced by the written word. We type our email. We type out our thoughts, beliefs and emotions on blogs. We “chat” online, but most often our chats are not driven by our vocal cords. Instead, we rely on our fingers to convey our words.

When we have good or bad experiences at restaurants, shops, concerts, or other retail or entertainment venues, we access the various social media sites where we share our experiences with others using our keyboards instead of our mouths.

There are many different ways the Internet is changing the way we communicate, but today’s abundance of written communication all share one thing in common – the majority of it is typed. Think about how the Internet has changed the way YOU communicate with others. Here are a few questions to ponder:

How often do you choose to send an email message rather than contacting another person by telephone?

On average, what percentage of each day do you spend posting and/or replying to messages on social media sites?

When you chat with your friends, are you more inclined to chat on the phone, chat in person, or chat online?

How often do you pick up a pen or pencil to make notes or complete assignments or write letters? How often do you instead turn to your keyboard when handling these tasks?

You may be surprised to realize how big a role the Internet plays in your daily life – this realization surprises a lot of people. With the Internet playing an ever-increasing role in our daily communication, the ability to touch type is more important than ever.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

A Clean Desk is the Sign of a Good Typist


December 22, 2012

Everything about your workspace affects how well you’re able to type, and that includes the top of your desk – and what’s on it, or not. Ideally, your work surface should be uncluttered. There’s a reason for this that goes beyond neatness. If your work surface is cluttered, you may not have enough space to position your monitor and other components in the most ergonomically desirable positions. This can lead to awkward posture, which, besides leading to back pain, can trigger muscle soreness, constricted blood vessels, and other health issues.

Something else that’s important about your work surface is its height from the floor. For the typical computer user, the ideal height from the floor to the top of the work surface ranges between 26 and 29 inches. Before you start searching for a ruler, here’s one way to tell if your work surface is at an adequate height: it should be a bit higher than the height of your elbows.

If you don’t think your work surface is at an ideal height, consider getting a different desk. You can usually find good deals at stores that sell used office furniture, or if you’re looking for a new desk at work, the HR department may be able to help you find one from another area. If you’d rather not get a different desk, desk accessories like a wrist rest or keyboard shelf might be all you need to achieve a comfortable surface height that reduces the risk of developing forearm and wrist strain.

When your work surface is at the right height, your legs will also have adequate clearance. Without adequate under-desk clearance, whether because of height problems or clutter, shoulder, neck, and back pain can develop. Also, if there’s not enough space for your legs to move around, you may develop problems with blood circulation, you may feel fatigued, and you may develop contact stress.

Note: If you experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort now, or while completing the Typesy Course, you may need to seek professional help. Only someone with the proper training can accurately diagnosis the source of your pain or discomfort and recommend a treatment plan that may or may not include ergonomics.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

How to Use the Numeric Keypad for Quick Arithmetic


December 21, 2012

Anyone can learn how to touch type on the numeric keypad, even “left-handed” individuals. The placement of the keys and math symbols allows you to key in formulas and do data entry quickly, and even do arithmetic. This is useful in spreadsheets and other accounting functions.

On a standard keyboard, the keypad is over on the far right side. Most laptops don’t include a separate numeric keypad, so if you need to use one often, you’ll probably benefit from buying a stand-alone keypad that you can plug into your laptop. Looking at a numeric keypad, you’ll notice that there are three rows of digits with three digits in each row, plus a bottom row where the zero key resides. Surrounding the rows of digits are keys for performing various mathematical functions including addition, division, and others.

On the numeric keypad you will also find a [Num Lock] key. Always toggle this key “on” when you want to type digits only. When the [Num Loc] key is in the “off” position, these keys are often used as arrow keys and other keys for controlling cursor movement around a document.

While the location of the non-numeric keys may differ from one numeric keypad to the next, the row location of the digits zero through nine will always be the same.

Like the letter keys, the numeric keypad has a “home row.” This is where three of the fingers on your right hand will rest. These fingers include your right-hand index finger, which should be placed on the number 4, your right-hand second finger, which should rest on the number five, and your right-hand ring finger, which should rest on the number 6 key. Your right-hand index finger also strikes the 7 and 1 keys. The right-hand second finger moves between the 2, 5, and 8 keys. Your right-hand ring finger strikes the 9 and the 3 keys as well as the 6.

The math keys on the numeric keypad surround the digits and enable you to perform mathematical functions including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. When you want to add a sequence of typed digits, you will use the key that displays the plus sign. When you want to subtract a sequence of typed digits you will use the key that displays the dash or hyphen. When you want to multiply a sequence of typed digits you will use the key with the asterisk. When you want to divide a sequence of typed digits you will use the key that displays the forward slash. The numeric keypad also includes an [Enter] key for convenience.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

A is For Accuracy: An Important Touch Typing Skill


December 20, 2012

Nowadays when we communicate in writing, it seems we pay less attention to things like spelling and punctuation. But in many types of correspondence, especially professional correspondence, proper spelling and grammar matter. That’s why the ability to touch type accurately is so important. Of course, there are times when the environment is more casual, such as in e-mails or on-line chat rooms, but even then, it’s better to avoid typos, because that will help you avoid misunderstandings too. And if you’re chatting with people you’d like to have (or keep) as friends, your good typing skills will also help you give a good impression of your competence and intelligence.

You can easily use any material to practice your typing accuracy using a basic word processing program, but if you do, make sure to turn any “auto-correct” features off before you begin. It’s also helpful to try to avoid using the [Backspace] key when you’re testing yourself on accuracy. While it’s perfectly all right to delete mistakes in typing, you’ll get a better sense of your true overall typing accuracy without it.

Just remember that to increase touch typing accuracy, you may need to decrease speed. And that’s okay. Speed will improve with practice, and so will accuracy. The computer generated activities you’ll find in Typesy’s Accuracy Building Course will help you achieve your goal of making fewer touch typing mistakes. All you need to do is follow the instructions on screen as they are presented. You can repeat the accuracy building course as many time as you like. Each time you repeat it your accuracy will improve.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

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