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    The correct way to use the Shift key?

    • Started by Solaris
    • 7 Replies:
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    • Registered: 20-Feb-2012
    • Posts: 3

    Back in my Qwerty days, I had a habit of pressing the shift key with the same hand I would use to type the capitalized letter. When I learned Colemak, I forcibly erased this habit, thinking that pressing shift with my other hand would be less awkward and hence faster.

    Although using both hands does reduce stretching, I'm starting to doubt this method a little. When typing at fast speeds (120+ wpm), more cross-hand coordination is required, which can easily lead to more errors in timing (such as releasing the shift key too early or pressing it too late), whereas if you used only one hand to capitalize, the muscle coordination in that hand would help you with the order in which you need to press the buttons. Ironically, I like colemak because it has less hand alternation, which helps with muscle coordination.

    So I'm a little split on the issue. Is it a matter of personal preference, or is there a correct technique?

    Last edited by Solaris (20-Feb-2012 15:28:43)
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    The correct technique is the one you feel comfortable with. It is only correct for you and no one else.

    Sean Wrona uses Capslock, not Shift to type UPPERCASE.

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    • Registered: 21-Apr-2010
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    @solaris, try out sticky keys.  It seems to make my typing feel more comfortable - though I'm not as dextrous as you by any means.

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    • From: Sofia, Bulgaria
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    Sticky keys are good but somewhat limited. I used to do the "classic" shift-ing but for the past two months I've been using the same hand in some occasions. Very context specific, like if I start a sentence with a capital letter from the left side of the keyboard and the second letter is small "o". It's much harder to go from right shift to "o" then it is to type most of the left-hand-side keys with the left shift.

    That's just how I use it. At the end of the day it's whatever you like. Try out different styles, give each one a fair shot, to see properly the pros and cons for YOU and then pick the one that's satisfies your goals.

    PS: Just one clarification. When I'm using left shift + left-side key, I'm using the most comfortable finger for the situation, not the one that usually hits the key. For example I'd hit F with my index finger.

    Also for left shift → o, there could be used alternative fingering (hit the O with the ring finger) but that requires more twisting of the wrist and also I don't like the following motion to reposition my hand, especially if the next key is hit by the same hand.

    Last edited by pafkata90 (20-Feb-2012 20:24:35)
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    • From: Viken, Norway
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    I'm really wondering about one thing: Would a FOOT Shift pedal be good for a fast typist, or is the foot-hand coordination even more of a problem and enough to topple the benefits?

    The Shift key reaches, especially on the right hand, feel uncomfortable to me.

    *** Learn Colemak in 2–5 steps with Tarmak! ***
    *** Check out my Big Bag of Keyboard Tricks for Win/Linux/TMK... ***

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    • From: Sofia, Bulgaria
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    I can't imagine using a foot switch when typing fast. I even thought it was a joke when someone first brought this up. I could be wrong, I just haven't seen any in real and I can't imagine the foot-finger coordination to be as good.

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    From just throwing a keyboard under the desk, and suing my foot to hit the space bar for spacing - it feels workable.  Maybe not for those hi-speeds.

    @pafkata90, why do you think sticky keys are limited?

    With sticky keys I find I can approach the keyboard with a gentler touch, and this is more comfortable and for me it's also leads to faster overall typing.   I find I use less hand and wrist contortions.  OSX (at least in Tiger,) let's you have visual notifications for sticky keys, and they help.  Where sticky keys can get annoying is when you are going about your usual desktop shortcuts.  If you hit say CTRL twice,  this will result in the system behaving in a similar matter as you keeping the CTRL key depressed.  To escape the behaviour - you need to hit the key again.  You can ape the caps lock by hitting the Shift key twice (though the behavour differs slightly to using Capslock.) 

    It can be a little frustrating at first trying to get used to Sticky keys (especially with other desktop tasks,) but it certainly is useful for text input.  And might also be more useful for one hand typists - and those new to the computer keyboard.

    Last edited by pinkyache (24-Jun-2012 13:31:37)

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    Physicians deafen our ears with the Honorificabilitudinitatibus of their heavenly Panacaea, their sovereign Guiacum.

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    • Registered: 25-Jun-2012
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    pafkata90 said:

    Sticky keys are good but somewhat limited. I used to do the "classic" shift-ing but for the past two months I've been using the same hand in some occasions. Very context specific, like if I start a sentence with a capital letter from the left side of the keyboard and the second letter is small "o". It's much harder to go from right shift to "o" then it is to type most of the left-hand-side keys with the left shift.

    That's just how I use it. At the end of the day it's whatever you like. Try out different styles, give each one a fair shot, to see properly the pros and cons for YOU and then pick the one that's satisfies your goals.

    PS: Just one clarification. When I'm using left shift + left-side key, I'm using the most comfortable finger for the situation, not the one that usually hits the key. For example I'd hit F with my index finger.

    Also for left shift → o, there could be used alternative fingering (hit the O with the ring finger) but that requires more twisting of the wrist and also I don't like the following motion to reposition my hand, especially if the next key is hit by the same hand.

    This seems interesting. Are there any implementations of this for GNU/Linux?

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