Can you type without looking at the keyboard?

gurramok · 24-01-2010 12:03AM #1

Well can you?

I can't after donkeys years on PC's, I still have to look at the keyboard to type something but I do it fast!
On the other hand, my other half can type without looking at the keyboard, well are you one of those amazing species?

stripysocks85 · 24-01-2010 12:04AM

Yes, I am one of those 'amazing species' that you speak of!

What's more, I can type amazingly quickly without looking! I should work in an office!

brummytom · 24-01-2010 12:05AM

Yep. Probably because I've been using a computer since I learned to read, it's just become second nature to type without looking now

Lots of people can't though. In science we had the laptops out. I ripped up some of the keys from the keyboard and swapped them around. Fuck knows why, for the lulz probably. But the poor sod who had in the next lesson didn't know what he was typing, he had to keep guessing. Whereas I don't look at the keys, I know the position of the letters

del88 · 24-01-2010 12:07AM

im npt to sire

gurramok · 24-01-2010 12:08AM

Who else is drunk?

Damn, I just hate having to look at the keyb, it makes me inferior to the secretary types :P

stripysocks85 · 24-01-2010 12:08AM

brummytom wrote: »

Yep. Probably because I've been using a computer since I learned to read, it's just become second nature to type without looking now

Lots of people can't though. In science we had the laptops out. I ripped up some of the keys from the keyboard and swapped them around. Fuck knows why, for the lulz probably. But the poor sod who had in the next lesson didn't know what he was typing, he had to keep guessing. Whereas I don't look at the keys, I know the position of the letters

If you swapped the letters around, how can you expect anyone to know their position??

stripysocks85 · 24-01-2010 12:09AM

In fact, I would like a poll option of "Yes, i'm amazing" FULL STOP.

Hank_Jones · 24-01-2010 12:10AM

I can do it without looking at the keyboard for letters, I do have to have the odd glance though to see where my fingers are positioned.

Not so handy on numbers or punctuation though as I wouldn't be using them as much so my hands aren't exactly sure where they are.

Mitch Connor · 24-01-2010 12:10AM

apparently yes, by looking at this post. some days are better than others. I do work in computers though and spend 8 hours a day typing so i would expect to be able to do so at this point.

I can also have a conversation with people while typing, which some people in the office find a bit odd - they think i am pretending.

brummytom · 24-01-2010 12:10AM

stripysocks85 wrote: »

If you swapped the letters around, how can you expect anyone to know their position??

Well.. say I swapped the A and the M key around. Just the key, the plastic covering bit. So where the A key would be, it now says M and vice-versa. The A key (which says M) will still come out on the computer as an A, and the M key will still come out as the M. I only switched the covers, didn't fiddle with the wiring or anything

TPD · 24-01-2010 12:13AM

I can, but I type faster if I'm looking at the keyboard. Also my keyboard lights up so it's fun to look at......

4zn76tysfajdxp · 24-01-2010 12:14AM

brummytom wrote: »

Well.. say I swapped the A and the M key around. Just the key, the plastic covering bit. So where the A key would be, it now says M and vice-versa. The A key (which says M) will still come out on the computer as an A, and the M key will still come out as the M. I only switched the covers, didn't fiddle with the wiring or anything

Ay god, thmt's mamzing!

Latchy · 24-01-2010 12:14AM

It's 50/50 with me . I tend to look at screen / look at keyboard while typing .

If I'm on the lap top I tend to type quicker because I 'm sittting in a more relaxed position , on the main pc slightly slower .

Atavan-Halen · 24-01-2010 12:15AM

I can't type w/o looking at the screen. I can't type properly either, but I am fast enough at typing with an average of 42wpm. Result: A scandalous amount of typos and having to re-read everything before clicking submit reply.

gurramok · 24-01-2010 12:16AM

I had to look down at the keyb to find where those letters A & M are!!

jester77 · 24-01-2010 12:16AM

I usually look at the keyboard, nothing worse though than typing out a long sentence and looking up to see that your window didn't have focus and you've to start again!

4zn76tysfajdxp · 24-01-2010 12:18AM

gurramok wrote: »

I had to look down at the keyb to find where those letters A & M are!!

It's especially a pain in the ass before midday.

robinph · 24-01-2010 12:21AM

brummytom wrote: »

Well.. say I swapped the A and the M key around. Just the key, the plastic covering bit. So where the A key would be, it now says M and vice-versa. The A key (which says M) will still come out on the computer as an A, and the M key will still come out as the M. I only switched the covers, didn't fiddle with the wiring or anything

Someone in a previous job had gone and switched the M and N keys around on my keyboard for a laugh, was weeks before I even noticed though so I guess I don't pay that much attention to the keyboard even though I may be looking at it sometimes when typing.

Mars Bar · 24-01-2010 12:21AM

I can type without looking at the keyboard and fairly fast. It was the first thing one of my lecturers noticed when I started in college. I wish I could have done my leaving cert on a computer. I'd have a mini novel done for my english essay and no sore hand!

Then when I was on bebo, I used to do those "how fast can you type?" quizzes. I had 58wpm.

ScumLord · 24-01-2010 12:21AM

I have to look at the keyboard starting off, my keyboard isn't in an absolute spot .

stovelid · 24-01-2010 12:25AM

Yeah, pretty much. But I'm still stuck with a rapid single-finger typing technique though.

Kiera · 24-01-2010 12:25AM

I'm a very fast typer and looking down only puts me off. So yes, i can type without looking at the keyboard.

DOC09UNAM · 24-01-2010 12:26AM

Been using pcs for about a year maybe two and i can type rather quickly without looking...

have to look to find the first letter and get my bearings but when i start i dont have to stop until im finished!!

Red Hand · 24-01-2010 12:26AM

I watch the keyboard more than I do the screen.

gurramok · 24-01-2010 12:27AM

Zackary Millions Dollhouse wrote: »

It's especially a pain in the ass before midday.

And after midnight!!

Its not fair, I have been on a PC maybe 15yrs and still have to look down at the keyboard after all this time.

Maybe its a case of people with very good memories to know where the keys are?

ejmaztec · 24-01-2010 12:32AM

http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/03/das-keyboard-ii-with-blank-keys-reviewed/

I can, I've been using a keyboard so long, but I wouldn't use one of these "nerd" devices.:eek:

shinny · 24-01-2010 12:35AM

mars bar wrote: »

I can type without looking at the keyboard and fairly fast. It was the first thing one of my lecturers noticed when I started in college. I wish I could have done my leaving cert on a computer. I'd have a mini novel done for my english essay and no sore hand!

Then when I was on bebo, I used to do those "how fast can you type?" quizzes. I had 58wpm.

Like this

GLaDOS · 24-01-2010 12:39AM

I can to a certain extent, but it tends to be riddled with errors, as anyone I've talked to on msn and needed to type quickly to would know

DOC09UNAM · 24-01-2010 12:39AM

shinny wrote: »

Like this

Clicked the Attachment and got this.

Boards.ie Reply Message wrote:

Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

shinny · 24-01-2010 12:41AM

DOC09UNAM wrote: »

Clicked the Attachment and got this.

Strange, it's opening for me.

DOC09UNAM · 24-01-2010 12:43AM

shinny wrote: »

Strange, it's opening for me.

Oh right you changed it from bmp to jpg. :rolleyes:

lucky-colm · 24-01-2010 12:47AM

i dghjont havrte two lookg aty thei keyf boarf atakll

OutlawPete · 24-01-2010 12:50AM

A bit of both for me.

I can type without looking but not for long.

A few sentences and then letters start getting missed for the adjacent ones.

unreggd · 24-01-2010 12:54AM

It depends really

I think you need to purposely practice typin without lookin at the screen

I can do it alright but most of the time I just look at the keyboard

Mars Bar · 24-01-2010 12:57AM

shinny wrote: »

Like this

That's the one!

shinny · 24-01-2010 12:57AM

DOC09UNAM wrote: »

Oh right you changed it from bmp to jpg. :rolleyes:

Oh yeh, but that was a good few minutes before you posted your reply so didn't think that was the problem.

dambarude · 24-01-2010 01:04AM

Yup, thanks to this woman.

jaffa20 · 24-01-2010 01:05AM

yeah, i can type without looking but still make quite a lot of mistakes so it slows me down a bit. It's kind of weird that your subconscious mind can do it while thinking about what you're typing but if i was asked where a certain letter was i'd have to look down.

Dudess · 24-01-2010 01:19AM

Yeah, because I did a typing course years ago.

Marvinthefish · 24-01-2010 01:35AM

Shouldn't the question be, "Can you type?"?

"Can you type without looking at the keyboard?" is equivalent to asking "Can you play the guitar without looking at the frets?" If your answer is, "no", you can't type/play guitar.

brianthebard · 24-01-2010 02:20AM

mars bar wrote: »

Then when I was on bebo, I used to do those "how fast can you type?" quizzes. I had 58wpm.

I got 84 recently.

BaconZombie · 24-01-2010 03:24AM

DAS Keyboard FTW

I remember years ago, looking down at my keyboard because I was having a brain-freeze and could not find a key....

Then thought to myself "WTF F, is not meant to be there"....
Turn out I was using a keyboard {for the last 8 months} that a friend had re-ranged the keys.... in the middle it said "****You", "****", "Prick", "boods",etc....

The_Kew_Tour · 24-01-2010 03:30AM

eye kan typ witouttttt ceybord

liah · 24-01-2010 05:40AM

Yeah, I'm one of those weird ones who can type perfectly drunk or sober without needing to check the keyboard.

I find anyone who actually looks at the keyboard takes absolute donkey's years to type anything out, and they tend to make more mistakes than your average person who can type without looking. Same with two-finger typers.. they spend so long looking at the damn keyboard and carefully planning out every keystroke, and still manage to mess up. I'm completely baloobas at the moment and I've only had to backspace twice.

I don't get it!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 24-01-2010 07:20AM

I can type and watch TV

Beat that... :cool:

ootbitb · 24-01-2010 08:17AM

I can't type. The most annoying thing is I DON'T LOOK AT THE SCREEN EITHER UNTIL i have finished a long sentence.

yoshytoshy · 24-01-2010 09:54AM

After 22 years of using keyboards ,I don't see the keyboard anymore:eek:

Naikon · 24-01-2010 10:02AM

Yes, I am not super fast though. Wish I could type 100+ wpm. I do make mistakes sometimes depending on the keyboard.
If you want to learn how to type properly without looking at the keys, get yourself one of these.

suitseir · 24-01-2010 10:11AM

Yes, learned to type on a TYPEWRITER? Remember those? 45wpm!

Reindeer · 24-01-2010 10:11AM

gurramok wrote: »

Well can you?

I can't after donkeys years on PC's, I still have to look at the keyboard to type something but I do it fast!
On the other hand, my other half can type without looking at the keyboard, well are you one of those amazing species?

No, but due to this virus I've emailed you in a message disguised as porn, I can now see everything YOU type on your keyboard. Lay as low to the floor as you can, the government will be sending men over directly.

Naikon · 24-01-2010 10:15AM

BaconZombie wrote: »

DAS Keyboard FTW

I remember years ago, looking down at my keyboard because I was having a brain-freeze and could not find a key....

Then thought to myself "WTF F, is not meant to be there"....
Turn out I was using a keyboard {for the last 8 months} that a friend had re-ranged the keys.... in the middle it said "****You", "****", "Prick", "boods",etc....

IBM model M > DAS keyboard:P

The DAS keys don't click the same as the monstrous M. The glossy finish is a pain in the ass to clean unlike the M with it's 90's matt finish.
Hard to believe the keyboard I am typing on is two years older than I am:o They just don't build em like they used to sadly.

Can you type without looking at the keyboard?

Can you type without looking at the keyoboard?! 260 votes

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