How can I improve my typing speed?

Question

What software do you use to improve your typing speed ?

Are there other thing (like finger exercises, theory book, whatever) I should have a look at to improve my speed and/or accuracy ?

Answer 1

keybr.com is an online tool that helps you increase your typing speed.

Answer 2

I've found that I got some good results (I've gone from ~80wpm to ~100wpm in the last few months) by having occasional goes at TypeRacer. I only do it for a few minutes per day.

Answer 3

[Obligatory reference to everyone's most hated touch-typing tutor, Mavis Beacon]

Answer 4

I use ktouch. I guess any program will do as long as you practice regularly.

Answer 5

When I was in Highschool, we had to take a typing course. They covered our hands with boxes, and forced us to learn to identify the homerow based upon feeling the F and J keys. Look closely, and you'll see that they have a slight raised-line on them. Cover your hands with a paper, or a cardboard box, and keep a print-out of the keyboard near your monitor

I played games that required you to spell out words, and sentences before meteors crashed into a city. These added a bit more excitement to the learning-process.

Answer 6

Play a lot of Typing of the Dead.

Answer 7

I suggest using a blank keyboard. I have used a Das Keyboard for over a year now and it has greatly improved my speed and accuracy.

Answer 8

If you want something kinda game-like, you can try Typer Shark from Popcap. It's free online (limited, flash version) or pay to download. (download version might not be available anymore.)

Answer 9

Same answer to a similar question (even has no marked answer here as well):

I know this is an older question (with no marked answer tsk tsk), but I'm surprised no one has said this:

Das Keyboard

No marked buttons. Print out a layout and put it within eyesight... Forces you to NOT look at the keys. Once you get a little more practiced, remove the printout.

Answer 10

Practice.

I have never used the fancy touch typing applications or taken any lessons or done anything special apart from lots of plain old typing.

Practice makes perfect

Answer 11

I took a typing class during High School, the only I really learned from that is where the keys are. So I got very proficient with what I like to call "Advanced Hunt and Peck". I knew where the keys were, but I would still mainly use my index fingers to do all of my typing.

The only thing that worked for me was to force myself to not look at the keys, and to use the correct fingers to do all of my typing. At first I was significantly slower doing it the right was, than doing my "Advanced Hunt and peck", but after a while I was able to type at least as fast by doing it the right way.

I would say that I still make mistakes while typing, but at least I don't have to take my eyes away from what I'm doing to look at my keyboard.

Answer 12

Typing of the dead?

I find the best way to increase my speed is to STOP QUESTIONING YOURSELF. Over time, you make less errors.

Answer 13

I don't use any particular software to improve my typing speed, per se, I find that general computer usage does that - I update my blog and write the occasional article too, and I find that these more substantial typed documents increase my typing speed more than using any particular software.

Answer 14

Here are a few sites that help improve your typing speed.

Online

• http://www.typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html
• http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/courses/
• http://www.goodtyping.com/
• http://klava.org/#eng_basic
• http://www.powertyping.com/
• http://hi-games.net/typing-test/ (a game)
• http://www.typingtest.com/ (my preferred test)

Software

• http://www.tipp10.com/en/ - Linux, Mac and Windows. Characters that are mistyped are repeated more frequently.
• http://www.rapidtyping.com/typing-tutor.html