I started typing in HS - did not complete the semester because it was difficult to hit the keys with enough force, especially when there was a carbon ;-) That’s when I switched to a drafting class (because it was open at that time) and loved it so much that it became my profession, eventually. Do any of you remember keys that had to rise and strike though the ribbon?
Speaking of shorthand, my mother went to a secretarial school and learned shorthand, which she uses to this day. I think it is so cool because no one knows what she’s writing, but it is also annoying because there are things that she has written that would be good to read!
Yes vldazzle, I do. That was the norm in typing class. Even tho the IBM selectrics (with those funny print balls) were being introduced, we had to learn on the standard Royal first.
And carbon paper was messy and a real drag if you made a boo-boo.
Never took a typing class, even though I’ve spent much of my working life at a keyboard (starting with earning my Journalism degree at Mizzou)… I had a boss once who stood at my office while I prepared that afternoon’s newscasts. I asked him if he needed anything, and he replied, “No, I just enjoy watching you type!” I may not be the fastest two-finger typist around, but to quote “Dizzy’ Dean, “I’m amongst ‘em!” ;-)
My father went to a secretarial school back in the mid-30s (back when secretaries were all men) and learned handwriting, shorthand, and typing among other things. I don’t know about the shorthand but he had beautiful handwriting all his life. And I remember visiting his office when I was in high school and seeing him on a manual typewriter blazing along at most have been about 60 WPM.
I took typing while I was in high school and I never got any faster than about 10-15 WPM. Still not much faster today.
I learned to type in 1958 on a mechanical Royal typewriter in HS (Sophomore year). Managed to make about 50 WPM, but what a pain to hit those mechanical keys.
Switching to an IBM Selectric was like an order of magnitude improvement.
Same issue when initially keypunching computer programs on an IBM 026 keypunch. Each stroke punched holes in a column - if you made a mistake, you had to redo the entire card.
When the IBM 029 came out, productivity improved dramatically, because it stored the card image and you could review and change it if necessary before actually punching the card. Improved confidence = higher quality.
Another order of magnitude improvement when key-to-disk devices replaced the cards and the keypunch machines. Not only could you review and edit the code on-line, but you could cut and paste sections of code within and between programs.
Guess that’s more info than you really wanted to hear, though - right?
I type Biblically - and in school, I never managed better than about 10 wpm with all ten fingers. I did a few punch cards in college, as well - and knowing the whole card would need to be redone if I made a booboo, I slowed down dramatically. Once the school switched to direct keyboard entry, life improved dramatically.
Rotts, my first job out of HS was refurbishing 024’s, 026’s, and 029’s. Had to test everyone with ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01234567890. I’m nowhere near as fast today.
@jaeldid66; GRRR there is no female gene for typing. altho there does seem to be a male gene for associating typing with inferiority.
i had a nice little portable typewriter that i got along with quite well - not electric, but just my size.
after i had been using computer keyboards for a while, for some reason i had to type something that i couldn’t use the computer for, so i tried to use my typewriter. to my astonishment and shock, i no longer had enough strength in my fingers to push the keys down. i had never imagined that fingers had muscles! i had to pound the keys down one at a time, sort of like using a pile-driver.
but then i remembered the sheer physical pleasure in feeling my fingers swoop over the computer keyboard, using minimal force. there’s a lot of past to think about, in the (relatively) short history of computers.
And hectographs were even worse with the purple ink.
I also was a Keypunch Operator for my first job out of high school – but I was translating Russian into English so I had to learn the codes for the 7 extra letters in the Russian alphabet.
Funny so few comments of outrage when John starts to bellow at his assistant.
woodwork over 14 years ago
that’s why I learned to type wen I was about twelve…I couldn’t read my writing, and neither could anyone else
lewisbower over 14 years ago
I had a Shakespeare prof for two semesters who urged us to bring our Smith Coronas on test days.
Ursula A Kehoe Premium Member over 14 years ago
Taking typing in highschool was probably the most practical course I ever took, because of my doctor/dentist like scrawl.
Donna White over 14 years ago
I used to work with a bunch of doctors who complained about MY illegible handwriting!
DolphinGirl78 over 14 years ago
I’ve become a master at deciphering illegible scrawl… Although when the originator uses their own version of short-hand, then I’m screwed!
vldazzle over 14 years ago
I started typing in HS - did not complete the semester because it was difficult to hit the keys with enough force, especially when there was a carbon ;-) That’s when I switched to a drafting class (because it was open at that time) and loved it so much that it became my profession, eventually. Do any of you remember keys that had to rise and strike though the ribbon?
gobblingup Premium Member over 14 years ago
Speaking of shorthand, my mother went to a secretarial school and learned shorthand, which she uses to this day. I think it is so cool because no one knows what she’s writing, but it is also annoying because there are things that she has written that would be good to read!
Nelly55 over 14 years ago
Yes vldazzle, I do. That was the norm in typing class. Even tho the IBM selectrics (with those funny print balls) were being introduced, we had to learn on the standard Royal first. And carbon paper was messy and a real drag if you made a boo-boo.
The_Ol_Goaler over 14 years ago
Never took a typing class, even though I’ve spent much of my working life at a keyboard (starting with earning my Journalism degree at Mizzou)… I had a boss once who stood at my office while I prepared that afternoon’s newscasts. I asked him if he needed anything, and he replied, “No, I just enjoy watching you type!” I may not be the fastest two-finger typist around, but to quote “Dizzy’ Dean, “I’m amongst ‘em!” ;-)
TexTech over 14 years ago
My father went to a secretarial school back in the mid-30s (back when secretaries were all men) and learned handwriting, shorthand, and typing among other things. I don’t know about the shorthand but he had beautiful handwriting all his life. And I remember visiting his office when I was in high school and seeing him on a manual typewriter blazing along at most have been about 60 WPM.
I took typing while I was in high school and I never got any faster than about 10-15 WPM. Still not much faster today.
rotts over 14 years ago
I learned to type in 1958 on a mechanical Royal typewriter in HS (Sophomore year). Managed to make about 50 WPM, but what a pain to hit those mechanical keys.
Switching to an IBM Selectric was like an order of magnitude improvement.
Same issue when initially keypunching computer programs on an IBM 026 keypunch. Each stroke punched holes in a column - if you made a mistake, you had to redo the entire card.
When the IBM 029 came out, productivity improved dramatically, because it stored the card image and you could review and change it if necessary before actually punching the card. Improved confidence = higher quality.
Another order of magnitude improvement when key-to-disk devices replaced the cards and the keypunch machines. Not only could you review and edit the code on-line, but you could cut and paste sections of code within and between programs.
Guess that’s more info than you really wanted to hear, though - right?
RadioTom over 14 years ago
I type Biblically - and in school, I never managed better than about 10 wpm with all ten fingers. I did a few punch cards in college, as well - and knowing the whole card would need to be redone if I made a booboo, I slowed down dramatically. Once the school switched to direct keyboard entry, life improved dramatically.
dsom8 over 14 years ago
Rotts, my first job out of HS was refurbishing 024’s, 026’s, and 029’s. Had to test everyone with ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01234567890. I’m nowhere near as fast today.
jaeldid66 over 14 years ago
How, I love you, man, but you need to get a woman or something.
RinaFarina over 14 years ago
@jaeldid66; GRRR there is no female gene for typing. altho there does seem to be a male gene for associating typing with inferiority.
i had a nice little portable typewriter that i got along with quite well - not electric, but just my size.
after i had been using computer keyboards for a while, for some reason i had to type something that i couldn’t use the computer for, so i tried to use my typewriter. to my astonishment and shock, i no longer had enough strength in my fingers to push the keys down. i had never imagined that fingers had muscles! i had to pound the keys down one at a time, sort of like using a pile-driver.
but then i remembered the sheer physical pleasure in feeling my fingers swoop over the computer keyboard, using minimal force. there’s a lot of past to think about, in the (relatively) short history of computers.
jaeldid66 over 14 years ago
What? What did I say about typing? And I’m female.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 14 years ago
And hectographs were even worse with the purple ink.
I also was a Keypunch Operator for my first job out of high school – but I was translating Russian into English so I had to learn the codes for the 7 extra letters in the Russian alphabet.
Funny so few comments of outrage when John starts to bellow at his assistant.