Touch typing is a technique for typing quicker and more accurately with all ten fingers - without ever

having to look at the keyboard.

Home row is the base from which all other keys can be reached where fingers rest on the middle row of
the keyboard.

Can you feel small bumps on the F and J keys? They are there to help you find the home row keys
without looking at your hands.

Each key is pressed by the finger on the home row that is closest. After reaching a key away from the
home row, the finger needs to return to its home row key.

Example: How to type letter U

1. Make sure that your fingers are on their hone row keys
2. Move your right index finger from J upwards to U. Your hand may move slightly to make it easier
to reach U.
3. Press U with a quick and light touch keeping your hand relaxed.
4. Move the index finger back to its home key J.

The Space Bar

Most people use their right thumb for the space bar. Left handed people may find it easier to use
their left thumb. Which ever thumb you decide to use, stick with it. Never use both thumbs.

Keep your eyes on the monitor

You will learn the key positions faster if you don’t peek at the keyboard when training. If you cant
remember where a key is located, check the keyboard picture on the screen to find it.

Keep Wrists Up

Keep your wrists up and straight when typing. Resting your wrist on the wrist rest or the desk
will create an uncomfortable angle making it more difficult to move your fingers. This causes errors and
slows you down. Holding your wrists too high has the same effect increasing the tension in the
shoulders.
Focus on Accuracy

We believe that good accuracy is the building block of fluent typing. This is why you’ll have an
accuracy target throughout the course. Your speed will develop over time as you continue to train and
start using your typing skills on a daily basis.

Relaxed Posture

Sit up straight, elbows close to the body. Try to keep shoulders, arms and hands relaxed to avoid
tension and discomfort.

Taking Breaks

Taking breaks between exercises to relieve tension and regain your concentration. Don’t overdo training.
We recommend doing only a maximum of two lessons a day.

Pausing an Exercise

To pause an exercise, click the pause button. Time will start running again once you resume
typing.

Typing Result

Typing Master automatically calculates and stores your typing results. For each exercise, you will
get the following scores of your typing skills:

Gross typing seed

Accuracy percentage
Net typing speed
Difficult keys graph

Typing speed is usually measured in Words per Minute, WPM. Words per Minute is calculated using
Standard Word Length where five keystrokes, including spaces and punctuation, make one word.

The five keystroke standard word is used in all typing tutors and typing tests to give comparable results.
Typing speed can also be measured in Keystrokes per Minute, KPM (also called Characters per Minute,
CPM). Data entry speed is often measured in Keystroke per Hour, KPH.

Gross Speed and Net Speed

Gross speed is the number of the keys typed converted into words per minute. It is a simple score
showing how fast you were typing the keys. This is how fast you would type if you didn’t make any
mistakes.

Net speed is more interesting and useful as it gives your typing speed with errors calculated in the result.
Net speed can also be called Adjusted Typing Speed. Usually, if a job opening has a typing speed
requirement, it is for net typing speed, even if this is not specifically stated. Your typing speed after
errors is what counts.

Accuracy percentage

Accuracy is a score that represents the number of errors made. Accuracy percentage is the ratio
of keys typed correctly to all keys typed. The higher the percentage, the fewer errors you have made.
100% accuracy means that you did not make any mistakes.

Accuracy is calculated using the standard word length. For each word with an error you get a five
key stroke penalty, regardless of the number of errors in the word. Accuracy percentage is always
rounded down, for example 96.99 is rounded to 96% not 97%. To develop fluent typing, you should try to
reach atleast 90% accuracy at the end of the lesson. Accuracy goals used in Typing Master are 90%
(easy), 94% (intermediary) and 98% (advanced).

Difficult Keys

Typing Master also tracks the keys you have trouble typing and recommends reviewing those ones that
keep coming up or have a high index. After an exercise, the result screen shows difficult keys in that
exercise—from the most difficult to the easiest. You’ll also find the difficult keys on the “Review” screen.
This graph shows the accumulated data from all exercises in the course.
Quiz Questions:
1. What is touch typing?
a) Typing with only one finger
b) Typing quickly and accurately with all ten fingers
c) Typing without using the space bar
d) Typing while looking at the keyboard

2. What is the purpose of the small bumps on the F and J keys?

a) To help you find the home row keys without looking at your hands
b) To indicate the space bar
c) To make typing more difficult
d) To provide a comfortable resting place for your fingers

3. What should you do after reaching a key away from the home row?
a) Keep your finger on that key
b) Move your finger back to its home row key
c) Move your finger to the space bar
d) Look at the keyboard to find the next key

4. Which finger is typically used for the space bar?

a) Right thumb
b) Left thumb
c) Right pinky finger
d) Left pinky finger

5. Why is it important to keep your eyes on the monitor when typing?

a) It helps to improve your accuracy
b) It allows you to type faster
c) It prevents you from making mistakes
d) It helps you find the space bar

6. What should you do to avoid discomfort while typing?

a) Rest your wrists on the wrist rest or the desk
b) Hold your wrists too high
c) Keep your wrists up and straight
d) Type with your elbows away from your body

7. According to the text, what is the building block of fluent typing?

a) Speed
b) Accuracy
c) Wrist posture
d) Typing technique

8. How many lessons does the text recommend doing in a day?

a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
9. How can you pause an exercise?
a) Click the pause button
b) Press the space bar
c) Close the program
d) Turn off the computer

10. How is typing speed usually measured?

a) WPM
b) KPM
c) KPH
d) All of the above

11. What is gross speed?

a) Typing speed without errors
b) Typing speed with errors
c) Number of keys typed per minute
d) Number of words typed per minute

12. What is net speed?

a) Typing speed without errors
b) Typing speed with errors
c) Number of keys typed per minute
d) Number of words typed per minute

13. What does accuracy percentage measure?

a) Number of errors made
b) Number of keys typed correctly
c) Ratio of keys typed correctly to all keys typed
d) Both a and c

14. How is accuracy percentage calculated?

a) By rounding up the percentage
b) By rounding down the percentage
c) By adding a penalty for each word with errors
d) By calculating the total number of keystrokes

15. What is the purpose of the "Difficult Keys" feature in Typing Master?
a) To track the keys you have trouble typing
b) To recommend reviewing difficult keys
c) To provide a graph showing accumulated data from all exercises
d) All of the above

Answer Key:
1. b) Typing quickly and accurately with all ten fingers
2. a) To help you find the home row keys without looking at your hands
3. b) Move your finger back to its home row key
4. a) Right thumb
5. a) It helps to improve your accuracy
6. c) Keep your wrists up and straight
7. b) Accuracy
8. b) Two
9. a) Click the pause button
10. d) All of the above
11. a) Typing speed without errors
12. b) Typing speed with errors
13. d) Both a and c
14. c) By adding a penalty for each word with errors
15. d) All of the above