It used to be called typewriting, but today it is more likely to refer to the keyboard of a computer.
What they have in common is that mastering the 10-finger system greatly simplifies the creation of texts and saves time.
Although many people have become accustomed to writing with two or more fingers, this incorrect habit usually does not allow them to write texts without having to look at the keyboard.
It is not particularly difficult to learn the 10-finger system. The most important principle is NOT to look at the keyboard.
The system is based on repeating the exercises for each letter until the brain is trained to such an extent that the hands find the keys automatically. Once you have practised this over a period of several weeks, you will soon realise that you will soon be able to write small texts.
Start of exercise
First familiarise yourself with the keyboard. The letters "F" and "J" each have two highlighted areas that mark them as reference keys. Place your index finger on each key, rest the other fingers on the adjacent letters and place your thumbs underneath on the large space bar.
The exercises are selected according to the scheme from simple to complex, i.e. individual letters are trained first, starting with the "A" and typing several rows in succession. Now add the corresponding letter of the little finger of the right hand and type only this letter for several rows, then alternate between the two, always over several rows.
Proceed in this way with all the letters in the first row, the main row, until you have also included the "G" and the "H", these two also alone at first, then alternating with "F" and "D".
Each new letter is always typed alone first, then you make letter combinations.
It is extremely helpful to say the letters out loud when typing if you are learning on your own. Otherwise, this should be done by a teacher who announces the letter sequences. The brain also perceives the auditory stimulus and links it to the action of the finger and the position of the key.
Once you have introduced all the letters in the first row, add the top row. Again, start with the letters on the left and right and introduce them one after the other by typing several practice rows, first alone, then alternately combining the letters of the same finger.
You will find that it is necessary to lift your hand slightly for the little finger, and then it must be returned to its place after each letter has been typed.
Each finger practises alternating with its partner letter, but combinations with finger and row changes can also be added after a while.
After the top row, the bottom row is added, then the space bar, the further out input, capital letter and tabulator keys.
Finally, you also tackle the numbers and special characters at the top, always introduced according to the scheme described above: first the new key alone, then alternating with the start key of the main row and later in random order with the other letters.
Using the top row of numbers is not very easy and requires a little more practice. However, you should only start practising sentences and texts once you have integrated this row securely, otherwise you may not learn to use it blindly and automatically guide your fingers to the right place.
However, as you don't use numbers and special characters as often as letters, you tend to look at the keyboard to reach them anyway. This is not really tragic, but it does hinder the typing flow.
Before you increase your typing speed, you should be able to use the keyboard confidently, as this is the only way to avoid slipping off keys and bad habits such as releasing the ball of the thumb from the keyboard and typing "floating". The ball of the thumb must always rest on the keyboard and may only be lifted very briefly to type hard-to-reach keys.
Patience guarantees success, but discipline also plays a role here, as it is often tempting to look at the keyboard.
