Alissa, I beg to differ about "smart" computers when it comes to proper writing and layout. I find that the folks who designed programs didn't really know how to do it. Ask anyone who began using word processing (over a typewriter) whether they preferred "Microsoft Word" or "WordPerfect." 9 out of 10 "secretaries" would probably have said "WordPerfect." I still layout all my work as if it were done on a typewriter because I feel it looks, and reads, better. I didn't indent on this comment because that's what it is. It's not a letter or the beginning of a paragraph which would have required a "5 space" indent. I still, also, use 2 spaces after a period. I'm annoyed, too, that the default font (typeface) which has also been recently changed, is sans serif. I do EVERYTHING in New York Times... I need my serifs!
I'll be honest I haven't used Word in years. I do my novel writing in Scrivener, and just use a now outdated version of Open Office when I need a quick word processor. So this probably horrifies editors and other publishing professionals who love Word. There have actually been studies that show that serif fonts are much easier to read than sans serifs, so I'm really surprised that Word would make their default font a sans serif. Though I've also horrified many a graphic designer and other font nerd by saying that my preferred font for drafting is the dreaded Courier New. I came of age at a time when this was the requested font for magazine and other submissions. I guess when we get used to something it's hard to change and embrace the new, or the Courier New, as the case may be. Ha ha!
I took typing in 1960 hoping to meet some new girls. Bad idea. After couple of classes the keys were covered. To pass I had to reach 40 words a minute. Really didn't use it until in college where all papers were typed. Fortunately, by 1968 computers had arrived (IBM maintained them on campus). So keyboards were the rule. In graduate school I reverted to the old method. Then it was another ten years before computers up graded secretaries who were renamed as excutive assistants and I was back to typing on a keyboard. Time flies and I am considering using Dragon Speak so typing may be a thing of the past. Rich
A few years back, I decided I could be more productive while walking the dog if I used my phone to "write" by recording voice memos, and then later had the phone transcribe them. It wasn't a resounding success for me, but I think part of the problem was the words didn't flow so well when I was talking as opposed to typing. Transcription software is far from perfect, but it is very impressive!
I still use my typing skills, as well! Over the years I have been amazed at the number of people I've met who DID learn how to type in high school, but somehow soon forgot the skill and now just plunk away with two fingers (or some other funky non traditional typing style!) Shout out to Mrs. Frank...pretty sure it was 4th period. 😄
I taught myself to type, using my mother's Gregg typing book. It showed you the finger positions and gave simple exercises. I tapped away on our old manual typewriter ... and I do appreciate the ease of current keyboards, compared with the force required to push down those old manual keys! I'm also glad we no longer have to change ribbons or dig ink out from the "a" and "e" and "o" keys.
I can type fast enough that I far prefer to use my desktop computer, with its full keyboard, than to use my thumbs to poke at the texting keyboard on a phone. Texting is so freaking slow I don't know how people can stand it. (I guess some use voice-to-text, but correcting the errors would drive me batty.)
Word wrap (the automatic creation of a new line when you run out of room at the end of a line) is also miraculous--remember the dinging bell and the carriage return on typewriters? But one bizarre thing I found in the early computer days: a co-worker had used a hard line break, or "enter," at the end of every line, not realizing the word processing program would break the lines automatically! And since I had to edit that file, boy was it a pain deleting all those hard line breaks.
And my heavy use of the keyboard rubs off letters too--the E, R and S are usually the first to go, and my space bar has a shiny polished spot where my right thumb always hits it--but I don't think I've ever worn the black coating completely off! *tips hat to you*
I also took keyboarding, but was too uncoordinated to succeed. I've completed three college degrees, written a ton of short stories and 13 novels all using one finger. I also use a regular keyboard attached via USB port to my laptop, again because I'm too clumsy to write much on the laptop one.
That's seriously impressive, John! I honestly don't think I could have produced as much writing as I have (not anywhere near as much as you!) without my typing skills. It definitely would have taken me a LOT longer.
Alissa, I beg to differ about "smart" computers when it comes to proper writing and layout. I find that the folks who designed programs didn't really know how to do it. Ask anyone who began using word processing (over a typewriter) whether they preferred "Microsoft Word" or "WordPerfect." 9 out of 10 "secretaries" would probably have said "WordPerfect." I still layout all my work as if it were done on a typewriter because I feel it looks, and reads, better. I didn't indent on this comment because that's what it is. It's not a letter or the beginning of a paragraph which would have required a "5 space" indent. I still, also, use 2 spaces after a period. I'm annoyed, too, that the default font (typeface) which has also been recently changed, is sans serif. I do EVERYTHING in New York Times... I need my serifs!
I'll be honest I haven't used Word in years. I do my novel writing in Scrivener, and just use a now outdated version of Open Office when I need a quick word processor. So this probably horrifies editors and other publishing professionals who love Word. There have actually been studies that show that serif fonts are much easier to read than sans serifs, so I'm really surprised that Word would make their default font a sans serif. Though I've also horrified many a graphic designer and other font nerd by saying that my preferred font for drafting is the dreaded Courier New. I came of age at a time when this was the requested font for magazine and other submissions. I guess when we get used to something it's hard to change and embrace the new, or the Courier New, as the case may be. Ha ha!
I took typing in 1960 hoping to meet some new girls. Bad idea. After couple of classes the keys were covered. To pass I had to reach 40 words a minute. Really didn't use it until in college where all papers were typed. Fortunately, by 1968 computers had arrived (IBM maintained them on campus). So keyboards were the rule. In graduate school I reverted to the old method. Then it was another ten years before computers up graded secretaries who were renamed as excutive assistants and I was back to typing on a keyboard. Time flies and I am considering using Dragon Speak so typing may be a thing of the past. Rich
A few years back, I decided I could be more productive while walking the dog if I used my phone to "write" by recording voice memos, and then later had the phone transcribe them. It wasn't a resounding success for me, but I think part of the problem was the words didn't flow so well when I was talking as opposed to typing. Transcription software is far from perfect, but it is very impressive!
I took a similar class! And I too have worn the letters off several of my keys. Glad I am not alone in this!
I still use my typing skills, as well! Over the years I have been amazed at the number of people I've met who DID learn how to type in high school, but somehow soon forgot the skill and now just plunk away with two fingers (or some other funky non traditional typing style!) Shout out to Mrs. Frank...pretty sure it was 4th period. 😄
I taught myself to type, using my mother's Gregg typing book. It showed you the finger positions and gave simple exercises. I tapped away on our old manual typewriter ... and I do appreciate the ease of current keyboards, compared with the force required to push down those old manual keys! I'm also glad we no longer have to change ribbons or dig ink out from the "a" and "e" and "o" keys.
I can type fast enough that I far prefer to use my desktop computer, with its full keyboard, than to use my thumbs to poke at the texting keyboard on a phone. Texting is so freaking slow I don't know how people can stand it. (I guess some use voice-to-text, but correcting the errors would drive me batty.)
Word wrap (the automatic creation of a new line when you run out of room at the end of a line) is also miraculous--remember the dinging bell and the carriage return on typewriters? But one bizarre thing I found in the early computer days: a co-worker had used a hard line break, or "enter," at the end of every line, not realizing the word processing program would break the lines automatically! And since I had to edit that file, boy was it a pain deleting all those hard line breaks.
And my heavy use of the keyboard rubs off letters too--the E, R and S are usually the first to go, and my space bar has a shiny polished spot where my right thumb always hits it--but I don't think I've ever worn the black coating completely off! *tips hat to you*
Oh, I'm with you on texting or any phone typing. It takes me forever and it's so full of errors.
I also took keyboarding, but was too uncoordinated to succeed. I've completed three college degrees, written a ton of short stories and 13 novels all using one finger. I also use a regular keyboard attached via USB port to my laptop, again because I'm too clumsy to write much on the laptop one.
That's seriously impressive, John! I honestly don't think I could have produced as much writing as I have (not anywhere near as much as you!) without my typing skills. It definitely would have taken me a LOT longer.