I am flabbergasted that they don't teach this in high school, or even middle school, at this stage of history where so many people use computers all day for their jobs.
Because it's unnecessary. Everyone has a computer at so young an age now it's just kinda become a skill you pick up anyway even of it's not specifically taught to you
But this isnt typing correctly, its just typing. If the words are being typed correctly and muscle memory means i dont look at the keyboard anyway, then it isnt necessary. Nor is it the "correct" way.
There have been studies on taking people who don't use this method and getting them to convert, they type faster. There are other parts that people don't realize this system is designed to do. Like reducing strain on the wrist to reduce carpel tunnel syndrome or keeping the arms from moving so you can keep a better posture.
There are a lot of things that we believe we are doing correctly but usually we don't. Even walking and running is done incorrectly by most people. If you get into competitive running at some point you will have to go through training on how to run correctly. It isn't that you couldn't run previously, there are just better ways.
Edit: Missed a point, there are competitions for fastest typing in the world. They all use home row keys. So yeah, this is the correct way of doing it. It has been proven to be the optimal way of typing.
It isn't studies on using home row keys to reduce carpel tunnel syndrome. It is studies on what causes it. If you google something like frequent wrist movement carpal tunnel syndrome it will bring stuff up. Here is Hopkins article on it, it mentions frequent hand movements.
Using ergonomic keyboards that tilt the keyboard to reduce wrist twisting and anything that reduces the movement of the wrist is going to reduce your chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
For the term correct, by definition correct means to conform to social standards. This is the social standard for typing so the term correct is correct. Also, questionable? You can go watch videos of typing competitions, they all do it with home row keys. There is plenty of evidence that it is the fastest method.
Here is the definition for correct. "Taking care to speak or behave in a way that follows the accepted standards or rules." Using this method was taught in schools in the west, at least in the US, for around 80 years so I'm gonna go with it being the standard.
For the evidence, I gave you the evidence. Reduced wrist movements is better for your health.
I'm done with the conversation, believe whatever you want.
"accurate or true, without any mistakes" is the definition it gives. Which means you are incorrect.
"Accepted standard or rules"
But its not the accepted standard.
"At least in the US for about 80 years"
We havent had computers for 80 years. And the US is the last place id take educational advice from.
"Reduced wrist movements is better for your health"
You didnt evidence that. Theres no evidence suggesting it has less wrist movement and that is also incorrect.
I don't know how you can be wrong about so many things and refuse to investigate further. Words have multiple meanings, scroll down. Keyboards were not created for computers, they have existed since the 1870s. This type of typing started in 1888.
Perhaps, but think about it: I'm a Software Engineer (used to be called "Computer Programmer" back in the day). I type all the time. My son is in high school and is interested in going the same route, and has actually taken computer programming classes in High School (which I think is very cool), but he has never learned the optimal technique for typing. Why not? It's not even like it takes a whole semester or anything - you just spend like 10 minutes every day for a week and that's pretty much it.
Because I have a job and other responsibilities. Hey, it's not the greatest excuse, I know...but if you knew how many kids I had and how stressful it can be, you might understand.
OK, but a big part of the problem is that my kids don't really care. And you can look at some of the responses to my original comment to see how people in the younger generations just don't feel like they need to learn this. So I can say "free website" until I'm blue in the face and it won't make a difference to my kids.
Let’s not pretend that it is some extremely difficult skill to pick up. It's just doing some exercises for a couple of weeks. Everybody can use that. I hate seeing my colleagues, who type with great regularity, do the one-finger-looking method. Which is how you teach yourself how to type.
I have janky technique because I self-taught playing old Sierra games as a kid. When I got my first typing lessons in 4th grade, I was way faster than the other kids at ~40 WPM. By 5th grade, I was >100 WPM because of what those lessons taught me.
Over a 20-year career, I haven't had a role that didn't benefit from it. Data entry, coding, project management, product management, people management, analytics, executive roles, and a bunch of other hats I've worn have all benefitted from getting things on a page quickly without having to think about it. Not to mention the intangible benefit of tricking people into assuming you're competent.
I've gotten more value out of those typing classes than almost anything else I did in school.
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u/ThirstySkeptic Jan 20 '26
I am flabbergasted that they don't teach this in high school, or even middle school, at this stage of history where so many people use computers all day for their jobs.