[IBM Selectric Typewriter & its digital to analogue converter] (Viewer #627,669)
I remember the first time I used one of these, I could not for the life of me figure out how the ball moved so fast. I’m still not sure I understand, but it at least seems slightly less “invisible elves” to me now.
I could type 20 wpm using just my index fingers.
(I’ll resist the urge to ask if any of the words are legible!) Because:
My dad, a news reporter whose living centered on typing, was a lifelong hunt-and-picker and got along quite well with his index fingers.
Touch typing is one of the best skills to learn.
My boss has an annoying habit of standing behind me, reaching past me, and typing directly into my documents (usually when he is making a ridiculous change that he knows will make me balk). I am a touch typist, and my keyboard always has a lot of blank keys where the paint has worn off. Doesn’t bother me, because I just reach for the keys by touch; I never look at them. Drives him crazy, because he is a hunt-and-peck typist. I have scored two new keyboards this way.
I’d assume this is a high-speed-text-output kind of place;, otherwise, why the need to hover over you? I’d develop Jimmy arms, as they say on Seinfeld.
I remember working at an office supply store just after high school. People would come in saying they need a typewriter ribbon. I would ask them what brand and model typewriter they had and they would give me a deer in the headlights look. Then I would show them the wall of ribbons. Fond memories.
I remember the first time I saw the Selectric. I grew up with an old inexpensive home typewriter that was far too easy to jam the keys. The selectric was a slick high tech machine.
and I never did get better than 25wpm touch typing (don’t ask about accuracy)