Improving typing speed

[Fastlane]

I realize that my typing speed is rather slow, so I'm trying to work on it to improve and type faster.
I'm currently working with a typing course on my computer to utilize all ten fingers and get the basics down.
Do any of you guys have any tips on how to improve typing speed? I suppose it's mostly about having the touch method down and put in a bunch of time and practice. But do any of you have any good techniques, or tips that you use, or have used to improve your typing speed?
Also, what would you consider to be a good writing speed in terms of words per minute, and how fast do you type?

Cheers

[Randy Ray]

Consider switching to Dvorak? I don't use it myself, but some people swear by it.

You can scroll to the bottom of Michael Bluejay's page to get the heads-up on his experiences with it: Michael Bluejay's favorite books

[MewsicLovr]

It's mostly going to be practice. Once you get good at it, typing comes naturally. I learned very young and got a refresher course in high school.

I just tested my typing speed because I was curious and scored 83 wpm with two errors.

Randy - I'd never actually heard of that keyboard, and sounds interesting. I'll have to take a look at that sometime.

[RayUK]

Once you have the touch typing 8 fingers + 1 thumb method down OK, even if slow, you can use this flash game to practise if you like it:

QWERTY Warriors 2

[Fastlane]

I'm sure that Dvorak is great once you get the hang of it, but I think I have to stick to qwerty for now.

I guess I'm just going to get the touch typing method down and keep practicing. Will will check out that game Ray.

Thanks for the replies!

[Greg]

Anyone ever tried using Dragonspeak or any of the voice to text programs? I downloaded one for my phone just so i could text while I was driving lol. It's a little tricky to use but super convenient once you get the handle on it. I read about a guy who writes like 20k words a day for the New York Times who swears by it. Writes while he's jogging etc. Crazy stuff.

[Hazo]

Anyone ever tried using Dragonspeak or any of the voice to text programs? I downloaded one for my phone just so i could text while I was driving lol. It's a little tricky to use but super convenient once you get the handle on it. I read about a guy who writes like 20k words a day for the New York Times who swears by it. Writes while he's jogging etc. Crazy stuff.

I downloaded it and had a quick play. I didn't get around to making it work properly for my voice etc. I kinda found it hard because I'm used to typing what I want and not speaking it.

I guess it would be good speech practice to use it as well.

[Fastlane]

Anyone ever tried using Dragonspeak or any of the voice to text programs? I downloaded one for my phone just so i could text while I was driving lol. It's a little tricky to use but super convenient once you get the handle on it. I read about a guy who writes like 20k words a day for the New York Times who swears by it. Writes while he's jogging etc. Crazy stuff.

I actually tried dragon speaking a few years back, but never really got the hang of it. English is not my native language, so I don't think the program really understood what I was saying

I'm sure these voice to text programs have improved a lot since then.

[Randy Ray]

How many words per minute does the average person speak? I'd think typing would still be faster than speaking, but I don't know.

[CorryC]

How many words per minute does the average person speak? I'd think typing would still be faster than speaking, but I don't know.

-Especially considering that the program would have to catch up with what you are saying. By the time you say it, and the program reads it back as text - it seems that it would be slower. Definitely if you were a decent typer. Plus the inevitable errors that would come out of it and need to be fixed.

Then again, if someone from the New York Times is writing 20K words per day, then what do I know?