Typing faster
TL;DR
Use a optimized keyboard layout like workman. And/Or practice typing on keybr.com.
QWERTY LAYOUT
Did you ever ask yourself, why we have a QWERTY Layout? Maybe let’s start with.. how old is the QWERTY Layout?
The answer is: it was developed in the 1870s. So about 150+ years old. The patent application was even issued 1867, but it took the inventor 5 years to go into market.
Well.. that was in the time of typewriters, way before computers and modern texts.
What was the idea behind it, back then?
It was created to write with the hands alternately, but also to use fewer consecutive hand changes, as typewriters tended to stutter at increased speeds. Thousands of English words can be written with only the left hand, this is helpful for left-handers but disadvantageous for right-handers.
Today there are a few optimized keyboard layouts
I guess you might have at least heared of the Dvorak keyboard. There are also Colemak, Norman, and more.
So in my quest to optimize my typing, I found the most advantageous keyboard layout to be the
Workman Keyboard Layout
Visit the website for more statistics on
- same hand distribution,
- finger distance and
- comparison with other layouts
- tested on different texts
Advantages
- comfortable, ergonomic, and efficient
- reduced lateral movement of the fingers and writ
- very low overall finger travel
- balanced left and right hand usage
- high same hand utilization
Disadvantages
- different from QWERTY
- copy & paste shortcuts are slightly moved
How to get started
I adapted it on my Windows 10 through a keyboard-language from the workman site. If I’m stuck, I can just click in the traybar to the default qwerty keyboard.
On Linux you can select it as keyboard natively
Should everyone use another keyboard layout?
I don’t think so. If you don’t type much (as a programmer or writer or document creator).
You could benefit more from doing only typing exercises.
Practice typing
There is this great website, which can help you type faster. They offer: QWERTY, Dovrak, Colemak, Workman
If you want to type faster, you need to practice.