# Das Keyboard — Full Content Index > Das Keyboard makes high-performance mechanical keyboards for professional typists, programmers, and enthusiasts. Austin, Texas. Known for Cherry MX switch quality, aluminum construction, Linux and Mac compatibility, and programmable Q Software. Founded 2005. Generated from https://www.daskeyboard.com for LLM retrieval. --- ## Products ### Das Keyboard 6 Professional URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-6-professional/ Built to last a lifetime with Cherry MX switches and a sleek aluminum top panel. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Brown / Blue - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - USB Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A passthrough - Top Panel: Aluminum - Media Controls: Dedicated media controls + volume knob --- ### Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-ultimate/ Blank keycaps for the ultimate typing experience. Cherry MX mechanical switches. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Blue / Brown - Keycaps: Blank (no labels) - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - USB Ports: 2-port USB 3.0 hub - Media Controls: Dedicated media controls + volume knob --- ### Das Keyboard 4 Professional URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional/ Premium mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches and aluminum top panel. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Blue / Brown - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - USB Ports: 2-port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed hub - Top Panel: Aluminum - Media Controls: Dedicated media controls + volume knob --- ### Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4-professional-for-mac/ The ultimate mechanical keyboard for Mac users. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Blue / Brown - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - USB Ports: 2-port USB 3.0 hub - Top Panel: Aluminum - Compatibility: macOS optimized --- ### Das Keyboard 4C TKL URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-4C-tkl/ Compact tenkeyless design with Cherry MX mechanical switches. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Brown - Layout: Tenkeyless (87 keys) - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - Top Panel: Aluminum --- ### Das Keyboard 5QS URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/5qs-smart-rgb-mechanical-keyboard/ Smart RGB mechanical keyboard with Q software for programmable notifications. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX RGB Brown - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - Backlighting: Per-key RGB - Smart Features: Q Software compatible - USB Ports: 2-port USB 2.0 hub --- ### Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/5qs-mark-ii/ Next-gen smart RGB keyboard with Cherry MX2A switches and Q software. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX2A RGB - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - Backlighting: Per-key RGB - Smart Features: Q Software compatible --- ### Das Keyboard 4Q Smart RGB Mechanical Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/4q-smart-rgb-mechanical-keyboard/ Smart RGB Cherry MX keyboard with Q software for programmable key notifications. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX RGB Brown / Blue - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - Backlighting: Per-key RGB - Smart Features: Q Software compatible - USB Ports: 2-port USB 2.0 hub --- ### Das Keyboard Model S Professional URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/model-s-professional/ The classic mechanical keyboard that started it all. Cherry MX switches. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Blue / Brown - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - Media Controls: Dedicated --- ### DeltaForce 65 URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/deltaforce-65/ Compact 65% mechanical keyboard for gamers and typists. Specifications: - Layout: 65% (68 keys) - Switches: Mechanical --- ### Das Keyboard Prime 13 URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/prime13-mechanical-keyboard/ White LED backlit mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches and anodized aluminum top panel. Specifications: - Switches: Cherry MX Brown - Backlighting: White LED - Key Rollover: Full NKRO - USB Ports: USB passthrough - Top Panel: Anodized Aluminum --- ### Das Keyboard Space Pen URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/daskeyboard-space-pen/ A superior ballpoint pen with a lifetime warranty. Write upside down and underwater. Specifications: - Type: Ballpoint - Warranty: Lifetime - Special Features: Writes upside down, underwater, in zero gravity --- ### Holosonic T1W Wireless Headphones URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/holosonic-t1w/ Wireless headphones with premium audio quality. Specifications: - Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 + 3.5mm - Battery Life: 30+ hours - Noise Cancellation: Active --- ### Holosonic T1 Headphones URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/holosonic-t1/ Wired headphones with premium audio quality. Specifications: - Connectivity: 3.5mm + USB - Driver Size: 50mm --- ## Typing and Keyboard Guides ### Typing Races: The Surprisingly Great Team-Building Activity URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-races-team-building/ Published: 2026-05-08 10:00:00 Author: Daniel - Founder @ Das Keyboard There’s a quiet problem with most team-building activities: they take a whole afternoon, require a planning committee, and the only thing anyone remembers a week later is the awkward icebreaker. The good ones are rare. The cheap ones feel cheap. And for remote teams, “team building” usually means a Zoom call where eight people stare at each other waiting for someone to unmute. So here’s a pitch for something different. Something that takes five minutes, costs nothing, works perfectly across time zones, and leaves people genuinely wanting to play again: a private typing race. Why typing races actually work A good team activity has three things going for it. It’s quick. It’s competitive without being cruel. And it gives people something real to talk about afterwards. Typing races check all three. A race lasts about a minute. Everyone gets a score, but nobody gets humiliated — the slowest typist on the team is still typing, still finishing, still part of the result. And there’s always a story: the comeback in the last sentence, the typo that cost someone first place, the colleague who turns out to type 110 WPM and nobody knew. It’s also one of the only competitive activities where people improve by playing. Every race you run is a few minutes of practice on a skill you use every single working day. You don’t get that from trust falls. Make a team. Race privately. Have fun. On TyprX.com any group can spin up its own team in a couple of clicks and run private races that only members can join. That’s the part that makes this work for real organizations: Companies can set up a team for the whole engineering org, or per-squad, and run a five-minute race at the start of standup once a week. Friday afternoon races are a thing too. Schools and classes can use private races as a typing-practice exercise that students actually want to do — the leaderboard does most of the motivating for you. Clubs, gaming groups, Discord communities, study groups — anywhere a few people share a chat already, a private race fits in the same flow. Your team gets its own leaderboard, its own race history, and its own small ongoing rivalry. That last part matters more than people expect. Especially good for remote workers Remote work is great at most things and terrible at one specific thing: the small, low-stakes interactions that turn coworkers into people you actually know. There’s no kitchen, no walking-to-the-meeting chat, no “how was your weekend” by the printer. Private typing races slot neatly into that gap. They’re short enough to not feel like an obligation, social enough that people show up, and competitive enough that someone always wants a rematch. Two minutes before a meeting, a quick race. Slow Friday afternoon, a quick race. Someone shipped something big, a quick race. It’s a tiny ritual. Tiny rituals are what remote teams are missing. And yes — you’ll get faster The side effect of all this is that everyone on the team gets measurably better at typing. Not because they’re grinding drills, but because they’re racing their friends a couple of times a week. WPM goes up. Accuracy goes up. The amount of time people spend fighting their keyboard during the workday goes down. For anyone who genuinely wants to improve their typing speed, racing other humans is the most effective form of practice there is. Drills are boring. Lessons feel like homework. A race is just a race — and you can run dozens of them in the time a “typing course” would have you do warm-ups. A note on the platform TyprX.com is the same platform that ran the Ultimate Typing Championship, which I organized — so the racing engine, the scoring, and the anti-cheat have all been stress-tested by serious typists going hard for real prize money. The same engine that handled the championship is what your team will be racing on. It works. How to start Go to TyprX.com and create an account. Create a team. Invite your coworkers, classmates, or friends. Start a private race. Share the link in your team chat. Race. Talk trash. Run it back. Five minutes from now, your team can be in its first race. Try it once this week — at the start of a meeting, or instead of an icebreaker, or just because it’s Friday. See what happens. The best team-building activity is the one people actually want to do again. This one tends to be that. --- ### WASD keycaps for Das Keyboard — what fits, what doesn’t URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/wasd-keycaps-for-das-keyboard/ Published: 2026-04-26 10:00:00 Author: Das Keyboard One of the underrated features of a mechanical keyboard is that the keycaps come off. Every Das Keyboard with standard Cherry MX switches uses the same keycap stem, which means you can pull the caps and replace them with any compatible set — different colors, different printing, different materials, or completely blank.Through our partnership with WASD Keyboards, the canonical keycap maker for the mechanical keyboard community, we offer custom and replacement keycap sets that fit Das Keyboards out of the box. Browse the full collection on the Das Keyboard shop.What fitsWASD-style Cherry MX keycaps fit any Das Keyboard with standard Cherry MX switches (the cross-shaped + stem). That covers our most popular boards:Das Keyboard 4 Professional — Cherry MX Brown / Blue, ANSI 104 US or ISO 105 UK/DE/NO. Full WASD compatibility.Das Keyboard 6 Professional — Cherry MX2A Brown / Blue, same standard stem. Full WASD compatibility.Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate — same as the 4 Pro but with blank keycaps from the factory. WASD-compatible if you want labeled keys (or different blank materials).Das Keyboard 4C Tenkeyless (TKL) — 87-key layout, Cherry MX. WASD makes a TKL kit that maps cleanly.Das Keyboard Model S Professional / Ultimate — original Cherry MX. WASD-compatible, though we recommend confirming the exact set covers the F-row and arrow cluster you want.Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II / 4Q / 5QS — Cherry MX RGB or MX2A. WASD-compatible, but note that opaque keycaps will block the per-key RGB lighting; if you bought the 5QS for the lights, look for shine-through sets specifically.What does not fitThree Das Keyboards use non-standard switches and will not accept WASD or other standard Cherry MX keycaps:Das Keyboard MacTigr — uses Cherry MX Low Profile Red. The stem is the same shape but the keycap height is different; standard MX caps will sit too high and feel wrong even if they install.Das Keyboard Holosonic T1 / T1W — different switch architecture. Custom keycaps are not currently supported.Das Keyboard DeltaForce 65 — Cherry MX standard, but the 65% layout uses non-standard sizes for several keys (right shift, bottom row), so most off-the-shelf sets will leave you with empty slots. Check the WASD product description carefully.Layouts and key countsWASD ships keycap kits for the following layouts that match Das Keyboard SKUs:104-key ANSI US (full-size with numpad — most Das Keyboards)105-key ISO UK / DE / NO (the European variants)87-key TKL (Das Keyboard 4C TKL)If you are typing on a layout that is not one of those, the kit will likely have a few wrong-sized keys at the bottom row or around Enter — do a side-by-side comparison with your existing layout before ordering.How to swap keycapsIt takes about ten minutes for a full set. You will need a keycap puller (we recommend the WASD wire puller — included with most of their full-key sets). The wire slides under each keycap, pulls straight up, and the cap pops off the switch stem with a satisfying click. Reverse the process to install the new caps. Two cautions:Do not pull the spacebar, Enter, Backspace, or Shift keys on the Das Keyboard 4 line without watching our keycap-replacement video first. These have a stabilizer bar with two small white plastic clips that are easy to break.Lay the keycaps out on a printout of the layout so you remember where each one goes. The Ultimate is especially tricky here because the caps are blank.Why custom keycaps?Three reasons people swap keycaps on a Das Keyboard:Aesthetics. A custom-printed set turns a workhorse keyboard into a personal one. Grayscale, neon, terminal-green, novelty — WASD makes them all.Material upgrade. Stock Das Keyboard caps are laser-etched ABS. WASD also offers PBT — denser plastic, slightly different sound, longer-lasting print legibility.Function. Some users replace specific keys (Caps Lock, Escape) with high-contrast colors so they stand out under low light. Some replace WASD with a different color for gaming visibility (yes, the gaming keys really are called “WASD” — and yes, the company name is the same letters).Get the right set for your Das KeyboardThe fastest way to find a compatible set: visit the Das Keyboard × WASD keycap collection, filter by your keyboard layout, and order. They ship from Das Keyboard’s own shop, so it lands at your door alongside your keyboard order if you bundle it.For full keyboard guides, see our mechanical keyboard guide or check the individual product pages: DK4 Pro, DK6 Pro, DK4 Ultimate, DK4C TKL. --- ### A Glimpse into CES 2024's Game-Changing Innovations URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/ces-2024-game-changing-innovations/ Published: 2024-01-12 13:29:13 Author: david As the sun set over Las Vegas on January 12, 2024, the curtains closed on another exhilarating CES, leaving us awestruck with a glimpse into the future. Transforming Sin City into a dazzling hub of innovation, CES 2024 unveiled gadgets and technologies that promise to revolutionize our daily lives. From aiding those with disabilities to reshaping our entertainment experiences, this year's expo wasn't just about the next big thing; it was about making meaningful changes in the world. Join us as we delve into the highlights of CES 2024, where technology met humanity, and the future became today. If you found something innovative that didn't make the list, tag or tweet us on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram and we may reshare your find! 1. .lumen Glasses for the Blind Romanian startup .lumen (dotlumen) introduced its glasses with assistive technology to support people with blindness, a product that performs the work of guide dogs. Rather than a dog that pulls the hand to guide a person, .lumen Glasses rely on self-driving technology to create a sensation on the user’s head in the direction where the person should move. The glasses can interpret the location of obstacles above or below ground, directing users away from hazards and maintaining safety. Relying on haptics, the technology receives information regarding barriers, interpreting the world around the user and directing the person through sensations, including vibration, touch, and force. This interpretation of the surrounding environment in 3D translates into path planning through algorithms that understand mapping, visual odometry, and surfaces. The product is expected to be released to the public during the second half of 2024. Learn more about .lumen 2. Augmental MouthPad Billed as the “world’s first available hands-free touchpad,” Augmental’s MouthPad is a retainer-shaped, tongue-driven interface used to control devices through Bluetooth. Users control the MouthPad using their tongues to facilitate cursor control, clicks, and swipes. Marketed toward consumers who have experienced spinal injuries, which make hand control of a traditional computer mouse impossible, the MouthPad features out-of-the-box connectivity for most desktop and mobile operating systems. It requires no additional software and repowers in its charging case when not in use. MouthPad is made from dental resin. The device relies on a battery that can run for more than five hours. It is currently under development. Learn more about the Augmental Mouthpad 3. LG Signature OLED T At the LG Electronics booth, the brand's home entertainment company introduced a transparent, wireless television named the OLED T. The company is marketing the television as the first wireless transparent OLED TV, which allows consumers to design their spaces without the boundaries of a television that obstructs the area of a room where it is located. The 77-inch screen features a transparent display to align with any home environment and affords a feeling of open space beyond the confines of a traditional screen. Boasting a new Alpha 11 AI processor and Zero Connect Box are cutting edge and allow users to enjoy the television anywhere in a room with a cable-free setup. The Always-On-Display (AOD) feature allows content, such as artwork or photos, to be displayed through the transparent screen, which seems to create a free-floating appearance. Users can also choose the T-Bar feature to remain informed regarding news alerts, weather updates, or song information as music plays. Learn more about the LG SIGNATURE OLED T 4. Mercedes-Benz MBUX Mercedes-AMG and Will.i.am unveiled their partnership on the immersive MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience, technology that leads music to react to the driving style of the car’s driver. The technology relies on software that aligns “motion and melody,” according to Mercedes-AMG. This effect is produced through blending sensors and software that connect with the car’s hardware to express music according to driving characteristics such as recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking. As a Mercedes-AMG partner, Will.i.am applied his music history as a performer and record producer to develop the music experience. Forward-looking potential for the project includes applying MBUX SOUND DRIVE to create an open music platform. This would allow global artists to create music in any genre through the MBUX SOUND DRIVE studio software. Learn more about the MBUX Sound Drive 5. Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 Acer was one brand that pulled out all the stops for CES 2024 by introducing new products and unveiling refreshed designs on beloved devices. The big news from the Acer booth centered on the new Predator Helios Neo 18 gaming laptop. The Predator features Microsoft Copilot in Windows 11. A dedicated Copilot key affords fast access to AI task assistance. The device relies on an Intel Core i9 processor 14900HX paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPUs and a maximum graphics power of 140 W in Turbo mode. It features 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan technology to maintain safe temperatures through cooling and Acer’s PurifiedVoice 2.0 AI noise-reduction technology to cancel out background noise. DTS:X Ultra-powered speakers provide an immersive audio experience during play, communication, or streaming. Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 18 includes one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes hundreds of PC games. Acer also took steps to ensure an alluring design for the machine by featuring laser-etched encrypted codes on its deep black anodized cover. Gamers can decipher hidden messages within the codes for an adventure in Acer’s Predator Verse. It will be available in the United States this March. Find out more about the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 6. MSI Claw Laptop maker MSI introduced the Claw, which the brand says is the first handheld gaming device powered by an Intel Core Ultra Processor. The device features ARC graphics with up to eight Xe cores and advanced XeSS technology for play across AAA titles. It is manufactured using a HyperFlow cooling system, boasts a 53-Wh battery for two hours of life working at full capacity, and also features Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. The Claw features MSI Center M UI for easy access to the device’s key features and settings, such as a quick game launcher and instant platform access. It supports the MSI APP Player, which affords access to Windows and Android mobile games. The Claw was developed for gamers, affording a fresh option with a comfortable handheld design. It features a 7-in. full HD touchscreen display with a 120-Hz refresh rate. Find out more about the MSI Claw 7. Displace Flex Home entertainment device manufacturer Displace has expanded its offerings with the launch of its Flex 55” 4K television, which the company released as a solution for rooms where screens cannot be attached to a wall. The wireless product requires ports and it is lightweight. It charges wirelessly with the portable magnetic Displace Stand, which is sold separately. This innovative device is ideal for office spaces and children’s rooms. A user controls the device primarily through hand gestures. The device relies on a proprietary active-loop vacuum technology, allowing it to secure any surface. New safety features have been added, such as advanced wall-sensing algorithms, four quick adhesives for stability, and a proprietary self-lowering landing-gear system. The Displace Flex is made in multiple colors and can be placed with other Displace Flex sets to form a screen of any size. Advanced thermal cameras and NFC Payment readers afford shopping options. The battery can hold a month-long charge, according to six hours of daily viewing time. Find out more about the Displace Flex Reflecting on CES 2024's Technological Marvels As we reflect on the remarkable innovations unveiled at CES 2024, it's clear that technology continues to leap boundaries, bringing us solutions that were once in the realm of science fiction. Each product we've explored today isn't just a gadget; it's a testament to human ingenuity and a bridge to a more connected, efficient, and accessible world. As these technologies make their way into our lives, they promise to reshape how we interact with our environment and with each other. Stay tuned to the evolving tech landscape, for what we've seen at CES 2024 is just the beginning of a thrilling journey into the future. --- ### The Best Free Online Typing Games URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/best-free-online-typing-games/ Published: 2022-05-27 13:51:47 Author: david Free online typing games are fun ways to improve touch typing speed and accuracy. Studies have shown that typing games are just as effective as drill-based software for increasing words-per-minute (WPM). The difference is that gamified typing is far more entertaining than the rote typing exercises that are taught in many typing classes. This guide details why online typing games are effective and list ten of the best free online typing games available today. Benefits of Playing Online Typing Games Free online typing games offer the following benefits: 1. Gamified Learning Repetitive, rote typing exercises are boring, but online typing games are fun and interactive. Typists must respond to in-game prompts, which could help them learn non-adjacent key combinations faster than simply typing the same letters and symbols in order. 2. No-Look Touch Typing Skills Gamers want to win and get good at typing games, they need to master using all ten fingers and typing without looking at the keyboard (touch typing) to maximize speed and responsiveness. These attributes foster hand-eye coordination and enhanced accuracy.  3. Reactive Typing Similarly, gamers must react to gameplay conditions. Rather than copying a string of letters, numbers, and symbols or tapping out a sentence, they need to respond in real-time to ever-changing stimuli. That, in turn, can help typists increase rapidity and speed. 4. Healthy Competition Games are competitive by nature, and competition continually motivates typists to improve their scores. People who play online typing games are driven not only by achieving personal high scores but by beating others in healthy competitions. 5. Rewarding Experience Improving typing speed and accuracy is rewarding, and it can be incredibly thrilling when gamers level up, earn virtual prizes, or win a race. In short, typing games are fun. 10 Free Online Typing Games Both kids and adults can play any (and all) of the following online typing games for free. 1. TyprX TyprX Typing Game In an exhilarating, fast-paced typing race game, TyprX pits players against one another to see who can drive their car across the finish line first. The faster that players (accurately) type, the quicker their vehicles go. The game updates words per minute in real-time, and gamers can register to save their scores, customize their cars and create private races between friends and colleagues. TyprX also offers team-based races and a Hall of Fame that displays the most accurate, fastest typists of all time. 2. Touch Type Touch Type Game Touch Type invokes memories of Tetris, the puzzle game where players must align blocks to eliminate rows before they stack to the top. Instead of stacked blocks, however, Touch Type drops words from the top of the screen and players must accurately type them before they reach the bottom. Some words alter gameplay; for example, typing the word "speed" will cause words to fall faster while typing "slow" makes them fall slower. 3. Desert Typing Racer Desert Typing Racer Game Race through the desert, but don't hit the car in front of you! In this free online typing game, players must type words or a random string of letters to make the front cars change lanes and get out of their way. If they can't type in time, a spacebar jump can save them at the last second. The game caters to all skill levels because players can choose their degree of difficulty and select lessons that focus on the home row, numbers and letters or emphasize the right or left hand. 4. Keyboard Climber 2 Keyboard Climber 2 Typing Game An excellent game for beginners, Keyboard Climber 2 challenges players to type the corresponding letter or number and make a monkey jump from platform to platform, collecting bananas along the way. Watch out, because a typo causes a coconut to fall on the monkey's head and sends him back to the beginning of the level. Unlike some free typing games, Keyboard Climber 2 progressively teaches players to incorporate the caps lock and number keys as they go. 5. Tommy Q: Zombie Defender Zombie Typing Game There are a lot of zombie typing games out there. In most of them, players type words to stave off (or shoot) an oncoming wave of zombies. Tommy Q: Zombie Defender adds a challenging twist by forcing players to use their arrow keys to position their character up, down, left, and right before eviscerating the zombie horde. 6. Keyman Aquamaze Keyman Aquamaze Typing Game In this underwater typing game, players must type letters to change their scuba-diving character's direction as they traverse a Pacman-inspired maze. The goal is to collect all the keys scattered throughout the maze. Speed is the name of the game, as one wrong turn can doom players to the jaws of pursuing piranhas. 7. Monologue Monologue Typing Game Player 1 is the hero in most games. Not Monologue. In this Wild West typing game, players adopt the role of a villain who has tied their arch-nemesis to a train track. They then must accurately type a nefarious monologue to speed up an oncoming train and eliminate their rival before they escape. This fast-paced game isn't for beginners, as even the most experienced typists will likely find it difficult to complete the challenging monologue in time. 8. Keyboard Ninja Keyboard Ninja Typing Game Oft-cited as one of the most popular free typing games online, Keyboard Ninja is based on the heralded Fruit Ninja mobile game in which players swipe their screens to slash flying fruit. This version replaces swiping with typing, assigning each fruit a letter that players must type to slice it in two. Keyboard Ninja allows players to select their difficulty level and key rows for focused practice: home row, top row, bottom row, number pad, and all letters. 9. ZType ZType Typing Game Anyone who remembers the classic Atari game Asteroids will appreciate ZType, a futuristic space-themed shooting game where players type words to blast oncoming projectiles to the stars. The fast-paced game features simple yet futuristic graphics with cool explosions to keep the action visually exciting. It even allows players to load their own custom words or choose text from classics such as "The Cat in the Hat," "Alice In Wonderland" and "Moby Dick," in addition to random Wikipedia articles. 10. Keymash Keymash Typing Game Keymash is ideal for those who seek straightforward, one-on-one typing competitions. The game pits players against one another in a speed match to see who can accurately type a random passage the fastest. Registered users can enter online typing tournaments, save their scores to leaderboards and set up challenges between friends and family members. They can also exchange coins earned in-game for virtual prizes. The concept is simple, but matches are intense! Free online typing games are fun and even a bit addictive, as players hone their speed and accuracy to earn bragging rights. Most importantly, they offer gamified learning that teaches touch typing through an enjoyable, rewarding experience that helps kids and adults become better, faster, precision keyboarders. Many games are customizable, allowing users to set difficulty levels, focus areas, and even unique text. Play the free online typing games listed here to become a better typist today. --- ### How to Type Faster and Increase Your WPM URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-type-faster-and-increase-your-wpm/ Published: 2022-05-16 15:48:54 Author: david Learning how to type faster offers substantial benefits, from saving time and boosting productivity to improving focus and unlocking career opportunities. The better you understand how different factors influence typing speed, the easier it is to improve your WPM (words per minute) speed. This guide offers tips on how to type faster and increase your WPM. How to Type Faster: Quick Tips Typing speed is dictated by a combination of technique, muscle memory, and equipment. Use these quick tips to improve your words per minute now, or scroll down for more detailed recommendations and resources. Take a speed test to establish a baseline and set WPM goalsLearn and use proper hand placementPractice ergonomicsFamiliarize yourself with the keyboardTrain to touch typeFocus on accuracy first; speed will followScan ahead to the next word while typingLearn keyboard shortcutsInvest in a mechanical keyboardPractice, measure, and repeat Benefits of Learning How to Type Faster Faster typing speeds offer considerable advantages for professionals and casual keyboarders alike. Here are five benefits of learning how to type faster. 1. Save Time and Boost Productivity Increasing typing speed from 40 wpm to 80 wpm cuts work time in half. A 40-wpm typist takes around 25 minutes to type ten 100-word emails. An 80-wpm typist spends only 12.5 minutes on the same task. Saving just 12.5 minutes per day equates to more than 54 hours over a 260-day work year.  For someone who types 2,500 words per day, the annual time savings increases to 135 hours, or nearly 3.5 weeks. In other words, learning how to type faster can shave almost a month out of your work year (or produce a month's worth of extra work over that span). 2. Unlock Career Opportunities Many jobs require fast typing speeds, so candidates who can type fast are more attractive to employers in those sectors. Secretaries, transcriptionists, programmers, data entry specialists, journalists, writers, and legal assistants can access more career opportunities by learning how to type faster. 3. Accelerate Learning and Skill Acquisition Faster typists can learn new aptitudes quicker because they're able to focus on their studies without the distraction of hunting and pecking keys. For example, it's easier for coders to learn a new programming language when they're adept at navigating the keyboard. These benefits aren't limited to learning career skills: gamers can master new games faster when they can type quickly. 4. Improve Focus Slow typing is disruptive, forcing typists to abandon their train of thought in favor of finding the next key. Improved keyboarding speed allows users to focus on their ideas, not what to type next. Fast typists are fluid; muscle memory takes over and words flow from their fingertips as easily as they roll off the tongue. When fast typing becomes second nature, users can focus on composing the perfect letter or fragging enemies into the shadow realm. 5. Reduce Fatigue and Injury Risk Faster typing reduces fatigue and injury risk in two ways. First, speed typing requires using proper form to lessen the strain on the fingers, hands, wrist joints, muscles, and tendons. Second, fast typists spend less time typing, so they don't get tired, and they decrease the risk of developing overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. A Good Typing Speed Is 60+ Words Per Minute The average typing speed is 40 wpm. Anything over 60 wpm is considered a good typing speed, though some professions demand 100 wpm or more. Members of the competitive typing community can eclipse 200 wpm, and Ultimate Typing Champion Anthony "Chark" Ermolin has recorded speeds up to 233 wpm. That said, a "good" typing speed is relative. If you currently type 25 words per minute, 40 words per minute represents a significant improvement. If you already type 80 words per minute, then 100 wpm might be a logical next step. How to Type Faster: 10 Proven Tips Learn how to type faster and increase your WPM with these proven tips. 1. Establish a Baseline and Set Goals The first step toward improving typing speed is establishing how fast you currently type. There are many free typing speed tests online, but they don't all work the same way. Some tests force you to correct mistakes before advancing; others simply count them against your WPM.  In addition, some tests use logical sentences ("the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy fox"), some use random words ("valley, coffee, mask, stenography"), and others use nonsensical character strings ("les, est, ense, tes"). The style of the test can affect your words per minute. Find a list of typing speed tests in the Resources section below. Once you've established your current typing speed or baseline, set goals for improvement. It's good to focus on incremental goals versus a final goal. For example, if you currently type 40 words per minute and set a goal of 100 wpm, start by working toward 50 wpm. Many find motivation in planning small rewards for reaching incremental milestones. Take multiple typing speed tests to establish a baselineSet incremental goals (5 to 10 wpm)Reward WPM milestones 2. Use Proper Hand Placement Proper hand placement increases typing speed by minimizing the distance fingers must travel with each keypress. Position fingers on the home row of a traditional QWERTY keyboard, as such: F: Left indexD: Left middleS: Left ringA: Left pinkyJ: Right indexK: Right middleL: Right ringSemi-colon: Right pinky Move fingers up and down from the home row to access other keys, use pinky fingers for the shift keys and thumbs for the spacebar. This hand position might seem foreign to those accustomed to two-finger pecking, but it enables significantly faster typing once mastered. Note that some typists prefer alternative keyboard layouts such as Colemak and Dvorak, which are optimized for speed. However, these layouts might not be practical for those who are already used to QWERTY. Learn more about the differences between QWERTY, Dvorak, and Colemak keyboard layouts. 3. Practice Proper Ergonomics Proper desk ergonomics can enhance typing speed by increasing accuracy, emphasizing the use of the strongest muscles, and reducing fatigue. Ergonomics also decreases the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive use injuries. Tips for good desk ergonomics include: Sit or stand straight with arms at a 90-degree angleKeep feet flat on the ground or a footstool, thighs parallel to the groundPlace the monitor at least 20 inches away, just below eye levelSet the keyboard slightly below the elbow to keep wrists straight when typingAvoid using wrist rests while typing Learn more about desk ergonomics for improved posture and typing speed. 4. Get Familiar with the Keyboard Keyboard familiarity is critical to fast typing, so learn where each key resides in relation to the home row and proper finger placement. Some people find it helpful to enable the on-screen keyboard so they can learn key positions without looking down at their keyboard. How to enable the on-screen keyboard: Windows PC Browse to Start > Settings > AccessibilitySelect "Keyboard"Toggle on "On-Screen Keyboard" Mac Computer Browse to System Preferences > AccessibilitySelect "Keyboard"Click "Viewer"Click "Enable Accessibility Keyboard" 5. Train to Touch Type Touch typing is the practice of knowing how to type without seeing the keyboard, and it's one of the most effective ways to type faster. Touch typists can let their thoughts flow, unconstrained by the need to pause and hunt for the next key. Learning to touch type can increase your typing speed by as much as 300%. Keyboard familiarity is the first step to touch typing; then, it comes down to muscle memory gained through repetition. Some people find it helpful to say the characters aloud as they type. Others place a towel over their hands so they can't see the keyboard, and still, others install blank keycaps that force them to learn to touch type. Either way, it's best to practice quick, light keystrokes that allow your fingertips to deftly flutter from one key to the next.  Touch typing can increase speed by 300%Practice typing without looking at the keyboardInstall blank keycaps to improve touch typing accuracy 6. Focus on Accuracy First Focus on accuracy and speed will follow. Accuracy comes with repetition, which builds the muscle memory required to type at 100+ words per minute. It's far better to type 50 words per minute with only one or two errors (96 to 98% accuracy) than to type 100 words per minute with 20 errors (80% accuracy). Words per minute is calculated by subtracting mistakes from the total number of words typed. For example, if you type 80 words but have 10 errors, your WPM is 70. That underscores the need to focus on accuracy first: it's impossible to significantly increase typing speed without it. Improve accuracy through repetitionBuild muscle memory that improves speedMinimize mistakes to increase WPM 7. Scan Ahead While Typing Practice scanning ahead to the next word while typing, a technique employed by the world's fastest typists. Many can scan several words ahead and rely on muscle memory to type words they've already read. In addition, competitive typists are skilled at rollovers: rapid firing on a sequence of keys in a fraction of a second. Rollovers are ideal for suffixes and other common key combinations, including "ing," "tion," "ness," and "ment." The technique takes practice but rewards the effort with substantial improvements in typing speed. Scan a word (or two) ahead while typingPractice rollovers for common key sequencesRefine muscle memory for effortless speed 8. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts shave precious seconds and increase typing speed. They can also help bolster WPM speeds during typing tests.  For example, many people repeatedly hit the backspace key when they make a mistake during a typing test. However, it's usually quicker to delete an entire word (CTRL + Backspace) instead of identifying where the error occurred and backspacing letter by letter. Keyboard shortcuts that improve typing speed include: Delete last word: CTRL + BackspaceDelete next word: CTRL + DeleteMove cursor by word: CTRL + Arrow Key 9. Invest in a Mechanical Keyboard Competitive typists rely on mechanical keyboards to achieve astonishing speeds of over 200 words per minute. That's because mechanical keyboards are designed for performance, accuracy, and speed. They feature mechanical switches that require less pressure to engage, and they activate keys before bottoming out, allowing them to return quicker for rapid-fire typing.  Many mechanical keyboard switches offer a tactile bump or an audible click, feedback that lets typists know when keystrokes have registered so they can type with confidence. For example, the world-renowned line of Cherry MX switches includes Cherry MX Blue (a clicky switch), Cherry MX Brown (a tactile switch), and Cherry MX Red (a smooth, linear switch). The Cherry MX Speed Silver switch is designed with minimal travel distance for even greater responsiveness and speed. In addition, most mechanical keyboards feature n-key rollover (NKRO), allowing typists to register multiple keystrokes in a fraction of a second without wasting time or energy. Mechanical keyboards also enable typists to choose their preferred keycap profiles, enhancing typing speed and accuracy. Mechanical keyboards increase typing speed by: Requiring less force to activateRegistering keystrokes before keycaps bottom outMinimizing key travel distanceProviding tactile and auditory feedback Learn more about mechanical keyboards and how they work. 10. Practice, Measure, and Repeat Practice makes perfect, so schedule daily sessions to work on becoming a faster typist. Many websites offer free typing exercises and fun typing games (see Resources below). If typing documents seems boring, consider typing along with a podcast, audible ebook, or YouTube video. Or, make it interesting by typing the next great American novel or your manifesto. Consistency is critical, but it's also vital to avoid burnout. Practicing for 20 minutes once or twice per day is better than practicing for two hours once a week. Commit to a regular schedule and retake your preferred typing speed test weekly to measure progress. If you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like, consider taking an online typing course. Practice once or twice daily, up to 20 minutes each timeMake practice fun with typing games and other exciting typing exercisesTake a typing speed test each week to gauge progress Resources to Help You Type Faster Take advantage of the following resources to improve typing speed. Typing Speed Tests MonkeytypeTyping.comTypingTest.comRatatypeKeybr Typing Exercises and Practice Typing.com Paragraph PracticeTypingPractice.comTypingStudy.com10 Fast FingersTyping Practice for Programmers Typing Games and Competitions 10 Fast FingersKeymash.ioTyperacerNitrotypeTyperushTyprxTyping.comTypingGamesFreeTypingGames Typing Lessons, Classes, and Courses Typing AcademyTyping ClubRatatypeTyping.comPeter's Online Typing CourseOnlineTyping.orgLearnTyping.orgSense-Lang.org Blank Keycaps Das Keyboard WASD Blank Keycaps Mechanical Keyboards Das Keyboard 5QSDas Keyboard 4 Professional for MacDas Keyboard 4C TKLDas Keyboard Prime 13More mechanical keyboards Typing speed depends on multiple factors, so it's essential to understand how each plays a role in becoming a faster typist. Take a speed test to establish a baseline, use proper hand placement and ergonomics, learn how to touch type, focus on accuracy first, invest in a mechanical keyboard and commit to daily practice. You'll quickly begin to type faster, increase your WPM and enjoy benefits such as time savings, greater productivity, more career opportunities, and improved focus. --- ### Apartment Office Ideas for a Stylish and Productive Workspace URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/apartment-office-ideas-for-a-stylish-and-productive-workspace/ Published: 2022-04-25 11:29:28 Author: david This is a repost of a Redfin blog by Jenna Hall. If you work from home, you know how important it is to have a dedicated office space. Having an area that’s clear from clutter, organized, and calming can help lower stress and boost productivity during the workday. However, some apartment-dwellers find it challenging to find the space to create an office in their unit. To help you find some apartment office ideas, we put together a list that’ll inspire you to create a stylish and productive workspace – even if you’re low on square footage. Whether you’re renting an apartment in New York or a condo in Seattle, you’re sure to find a way to incorporate an office space into your apartment. 1. Create a dedicated office space Make sure you have a dedicated space for your office to separate your work mindset from your home mindset. If you start every day with your laptop at your kitchen table, move to your couch, and finish up emails in your bedroom, you won’t have a place to get away from work. We recommend a desk or workspace, no matter how big or small, where you can fully focus on your day job, so you can leave that work behind at the end of your day. – Porvata 2. Utilize closet space If you have a small rental home, don’t worry – big home office dreams can still happen in small spaces. “Hook” your next client as you set up shop in your coat closet. Add a drop-down desk, some lighting, and shelves, and hang those coats on hooks by the door. – OhMeOhMy Blog Closets aren’t just for clothes anymore. Save space and build a desk, shelves, or whatever else your home office needs inside your closet. This way, it’s hidden away when you have guests, but you’d be surprised how much you can build inside a closet. Paint it a fun color and leave the doors open – you’ll get tons of compliments. – Gloucester Design 3. Invest in office equipment that promotes productivity A home office in an apartment should look great, be comfortable, and have an enjoyable atmosphere that promotes productivity. This is why many people upgrade their workstations to include a mechanical keyboard such as the Das Keyboard 4 Professional, adding a sleek design element to any home office. Typing on a clicky mechanical keyboard, with its audible keystrokes and tactile feedback adds to the enjoyment of working from home. – Das Keyboard 4. Keep your space clutter-free For ultimate productivity, always keep your desk and work area clean and free of dust and clutter. Arrange your work area efficiently by keeping items you use frequently like your printer, phone, inbox, and working files within easy reach. Personalize your home office space by adding a few family photos and plants, but don’t go overboard as your goal is to keep your work area professional, orderly, and clutter-free. – Office Skills 5. Maximize your office storage with a tall bookshelf Add decorative storage boxes to hold printer paper and supplies, a desktop file box for important papers, and an inbox for incoming papers. This frees up your desk (or dining table) for work and helps create a system for handling paper in your home. – Smallish Home 6. Choose simple decor When designing an office space in your apartment, consider placing your desk in front of or by a window. This maximizes productivity and improves focus. While it might be tempting to fill this space with all manner of mementos and knickknacks, sometimes these items can compete with our attention and create unnecessary clutter. Instead, furnish your office space with a single inspiring quote, air-purifying plants, and an oil diffuser to reduce stress. – Caroline Solomon Home 7. Invest in ergonomic equipment Comfort is important and ergonomics is equally as important. Spend a little extra on ergonomics; a good chair that has your back, a combination of an ergonomic keyboard and mouse (even when using your laptop), and a standing desk are all great investments. And as a productivity hack, get a second monitor — it’s worth its cost. – Indefiniteloop 8. Choose multi-functional furniture It’s rare for people to have enough space to reserve an entire extra room to be an office. The trick? Office furniture that hides what’s inside. Get a secretary desk that closes up at day’s end or filing cabinets designed to look like end tables. – PixiesDidIt! 9. Find the perfect location When designing a home office in an apartment, consider the location carefully. Will you enjoy sitting in this space all day? Consider how you orient the desk for both comfort and productivity. And last but not least, don’t allow your home office to be the dumping ground for clutter. Clutter negatively affects your focus, making you less productive. – Amy Slenker-Smith of Simply Enough 10. Keep decor renter-friendly When I started designing my home office, I had to think about how to keep it renter-friendly without drilling into all of the walls – so to maximize my space, I had to think vertical and utilize renter-friendly decor. In my home office, I added several small shelves for inspiring artwork and peaceful decor, and a large pinboard for my calendar and other notes, all using command strips. – Simple Modest Mom 11. Consider transformable furniture Have you ever thought about pulling a whole workstation out of a bookshelf? Transformable furniture is an amazing way to grant more versatility to any home environment. It changes and adapts according to our needs – such as creating a comfortable home office station that quickly disappears behind a door when it’s time to declare the workday over. Transformable solutions are much more than space-saving: they’re a functional, smart, and elegant way to make our homes more resourceful and able to support our different daily activities. – Atim Photo courtesy of Atim 12. Turn a reach-in closet into a room with a view With your desk facing away from the closet, remove the doors and place bookshelves and/or printer stand against the back wall for added storage and function; hang a print under the upper shelf or apply a peel and stick mural, then frame the opening with tension-rod-mounted curtain panels to complete the look. You have now established an effective workspace with a beautiful background for those video calls. Can’t spare the closet space? Place storage on either side of the closet and find an interesting backdrop that you can hang like a curtain in front of the doors, easily moved aside to access the closet space. – Home Style Harmony 13. Save space with Murphy-style wall beds Let’s face it, home is no longer just home; recently it’s become a hub for all of life’s activities – schooling, office/work, relaxation, and family life. When living in an apartment or condo, multi-functional space isn’t only helpful, it’s necessary. Murphy-style wall beds can turn a singular use space into a beautiful, organized multi-use room. Wall beds can be customized with hidden storage options, hinged desk surfaces, and casements with shelving and drawers, essentially turning your bedroom into a home office with ease. – Midwest Commercial Millwork Inc. 14. Personalize your space Pick a statement item such as wallpaper, a unique light, or a fun piece of furniture, and build off of it. For me, it’s a green velvet swivel chair. Everything else is neutral, so the chair really pops and gives my office space personality. – Katy Allen of Artful Agenda --- ### Workplace Wellness Tips for 2022 URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/workplace-wellness-tips/ Published: 2022-03-26 13:02:00 Author: david This article is a cross-post from Mojo Helpdesk, which is a sister company of Das Keyboard. Workplace wellness is a focus for companies that want to maximize success in 2022. Though the world is hopefully in the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two years have taken a toll on employee health and permanently disrupted the workplace. Businesses that invest in employee wellbeing are poised to thrive in this new normal. This guide details the benefits of workplace wellness whether working remote, in a hybrid environment, or in an office, plus lists ten workplace wellness tips for 2022.  5 Workplace Wellness Benefits Workplace wellness offers multiple benefits to both employers and employees; here are five top reasons to focus on workplace wellness. 1. Increase Employee Resilience and Productivity Resilient employees are better equipped to handle workplace challenges and drive satisfactory outcomes. Wellness programs promote resilience, and that brings substantial benefits to employers. In fact, a MetLife study found that resilient employees are 96% more productive, 91% more engaged and 19% less stressed than their peers. 2. Happier Employees Workplace wellness also fosters employee satisfaction, and happy employees are productive employees. A Warwick University study stated that happy employees are 12% more productive than their unhappy counterparts. In addition, 89% of employees are likely to recommend their company as a good place to work if it supports wellbeing initiatives. It’s clear that employee happiness also lends to employer happiness. 3. Recruit and Retain Top Talent Happy employees recommend their companies, and that shines through in employer reviews on Glassdoor, Comparably and other sites top prospects turn to for corporate culture insights. Since wellbeing programs contribute to employee happiness, they play a significant role in helping you recruit and retain top talent. 4. Reduce Employee Absenteeism Healthy employees are available employees, and those who participate in workplace wellness activities average 1.8 fewer sick days than those who do not. For a company with 20 employees, that amounts to nearly 40 days of productivity per year. 5. Increased Productivity and Profits The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that businesses that institute well-designed workplace wellness programs enjoy a Return On Investment (ROI) ranging from $1.50 to $3.00 or more for every dollar invested. Others suggest that wellness programs help businesses realize 11% higher revenue per employee. The secret to tapping into that ROI lies in implementing wellness initiatives that meet contemporary employee needs. 10 Workplace Wellness Tips Experts predict that employee wellbeing will have the greatest impact on the future workplace, but you can’t rely on pre-pandemic strategies and expect to yield positive outcomes. The landscape has changed. Employees have new priorities in 2022, and the onus is on businesses to cater to them. Here are ten tips to help you meet your employees’ workplace wellness needs in 2022. 1. Focus on Mental Health The pandemic took its toll and its effect on employee mental health lingers. Businesses have noticed, as a Wellable Labs study discovered that 90% of employers plan to increase their investment in employee mental health during 2022. Ideas include: Adopt an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) designed to help employees with personal issues.Provide access to virtual therapy or counseling.Offer meditation and mindfulness training. 2. Offer Flexible Work Arrangements Remote work quickly became the norm in 2020 through 2022, and employers found that employees could maintain productivity levels when working from home. The MetLife study found that employees who have flexibility are 86% more productive. At the same time, many employees discovered they preferred remote and hybrid working arrangements, which improved work-life balance. Allow employees to work remotely, at least part-time.Develop hybrid working arrangements that don’t require employees to be in-office 40 hours per week.Institute flexible work hours so that employees can work at the most convenient times of the day. 3. Alleviate Employee Stress Stress and burnout continue to threaten employee wellbeing. Companies that help employees alleviate stress and avoid burnout are well-poised for a healthy and prosperous workforce. Workplace wellness tips for stress reduction include: Curate space for amenity rooms where employees can relax and destress in privacy.Encourage regular breaks and vacations so employees can recharge.Offer caregiver benefits, such as Paid Time Off (PTO) and telework so employees can care for sick family members without worrying about income loss. 4. Promote Ergonomic Workspaces It’s no secret that regular employment often leads to back and neck pain, eye strain, and other ailments caused by sedentary work and repetitive movements. A good workplace wellness program promotes ergonomic office chairs, standing desks, yoga balls, mechanical keyboards, and vertical mice that reduce physical strain. Allow employees to bring in their own chairs, desks, and computer accessories.Provide a stipend or reimbursement for employees to purchase ergonomic equipment.Offer education to help employees learn more about ergonomic options and their long-term benefits. 5. Provide Financial Training Stress over personal finances jeopardizes mental health as employees worry about how they will pay their bills, save for retirement, and enjoy a high standard of living. In fact, one survey found that employees place financial health just above mental, social, and physical health on their list of concerns. Offer access to financial coaching to help employees plan for their futures.Pay for access to financial planning and budgeting apps.Create a student debt assistance program. 6. Encourage Social Engagement Many people have grown weary of social distancing, and despite the virtues of remote work, the past few years have put social health at risk. According to the American Psychological Association, 58% of people report relationship strains due to pandemic-related conflicts. Businesses can foster workplace wellness by finding ways to encourage social engagement in the new normal. Skip employee retreats and instead plan a virtual lunch or an in-person get-together at a local watering hole.Seek ways to gamify social interactions; for example, challenge employees to virtually meet one another, score points and earn an extra day off or another incentive.Make a calendar with simple yet engaging social activities planned for each month. 7. Commit to Cleanliness The pandemic isn’t over and the flu isn’t going away anytime soon. Employees are more sensitive to health threats than ever, so commit to a clean workplace that not only promotes health and productivity but also signifies that you care about your employees. Outfit your workplace with touchless technology such as keyless entry.If you haven’t already done so, add hand sanitizer stations and air purifiers.Offer educational materials on how to prevent the spread of disease in an office setting, and require sick employees to stay home. 8. Create a Stimulating Environment The workplace environment is intrinsically linked to workplace wellness, so seek opportunities to create a stimulating environment employees enjoy. If necessary, give your office a makeover with colors that spark creativity or lend a sense of calmness. Allow employees to personalize their spaces with: Live plantsPhotos that inspire happinessTheir favorite music (with headphones, if needed) 9. Be Inclusive No employee should have to suffer discrimination or bullying, yet Forbes reported that 70% of all workers have experienced bullying or prejudice at work. That’s a disturbing trend that places an enormous burden on mental health and shatters the notion of workplace wellness. Foster gender, race, and age equality throughout the workplace and lead by example.Host training programs designed to dissuade and eliminate discrimination and bullying.Establish a clear, zero-tolerance policy with well-defined penalties for offenders, and follow through with appropriate punishments and dismissals. 10. Go Virtual In the past, many workplace wellness programs centered around on-site amenities designed to foster mental and physical health. Contemporary employees favor digital options that allow them to enjoy wellness initiatives off-site. Many companies have recognized this, with 95% saying they plan to deliver some wellness benefits digitally in 2022. Replace on-site gyms with discounts for off-site gym memberships or access to virtual workout apps.In addition to offering healthy cafeteria food choices, pay for off-site nutritionist counseling or healthy cooking classes and apps.Pay for access to online counseling services and other digital mental health programs. The most successful companies understand the vital connection between workplace wellness, productivity, and profits. Workplace wellness doesn’t need to be expensive; often, simple changes can make enormous differences in employee wellbeing. For example, if customer service employees are stressed over juggling email, messenger, and phone support requests, professional ticketing software that centralizes all communications could be the solution they need to alleviate their stress (and improve their productivity). Listen to your employees, give them the tools they need to succeed, and develop a workplace wellness program that will poise your business for prosperity in 2022 and beyond. --- ### How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Discord, Slack, and GitHub URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/discord-slack-github-shortcuts/ Published: 2022-03-23 08:36:11 Author: david By learning these Discord shortcuts, Slack shortcuts, and Github shortcuts you will increase your productivity every day, and for years to come. Keyboard shortcuts are quick ways to use different key combinations on your keyboard to navigate a program or perform different actions and functions. They allow you to keep both of your hands on your keyboard and are faster than having to move one hand to your mouse to select a button or menu in an application.  Most keyboard shortcuts are universal from one application to another, such as basic keyboard shortcuts like copy and paste. However, many applications also have their own unique keyboard shortcuts for specific functions related to the platform. Here are some of the most popular shortcuts for Discord, Slack, and GitHub, so you can increase your productivity even more while using these applications. Discord Shortcuts Discord is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service and chat application that is popular with many people around the world and has become extremely popular with engineers, developers, and gamers. With the rise of remote office spaces, it has also become popular among companies as a way to connect work-from-home employees and distributed teams.  One reason for Discord’s continued growth in popularity is that it can do a lot more than just send a plain text or a voice message. It also offers custom servers, dedicated channels for low-latency voice chats, custom bots, and many third-party integrations. Discord provides its massive community with many keyboard shortcuts, which allows for a much faster and more efficient way to communicate with others using the platform. Discord keyboard shortcuts allow you to navigate between servers and channels, scroll up and down in chat, find text in messages, and upload a file without ever touching your mouse. For all the shortcuts listed below, substitute Ctrl with Command ⌘ when using a Mac. Open up Discord and give these a try! Basic Discord Shortcuts Search for a message in a channel: Ctrl + FSearch for servers, channels, or DMs: Ctrl + KDelete a message: BackspaceDisplay pins in a channel: Ctrl + POpen the emoji picker when writing a message: Ctrl + EAccess the GIF picker: Ctrl + GGo to Discord Help Center: Ctrl +Shift + H Discord Shortcuts for Servers Create or join a server in Discord: Ctrl + Shift + NSwitch between servers: Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Key Up/DownMark an entire server as read: Shift + Esc Discord Shortcuts for Channels Switch between channels: Alt + Arrow Key Up/DownSwitch between unread channels: Alt + Shift + Arrow Key Up/DownMark a channel as read: EscGo back to the previous text channel: Ctrl + BGo back to the active audio channel: Ctrl + Alt + ADisplay the list of channel members: Ctrl + U Discord Shortcuts for Messages Scroll up in chat: PageUpScroll down in chat: PageDownNavigate to the oldest unread message: Shift + PageUpUp load a file in a chat: Ctrl + Shift + U Keyboard for Discord Voice Enable mute: Ctrl + Shift + MEnable deafen: Ctrl + Shift + DCreate a new call: Ctrl + ‘ (backtick)Answer an incoming call: Ctrl + EnterDecline an incoming call: Esc Slack Shortcuts Slack is one of the most popular platforms for company-wide communication between groups and teams. If you spend a lot of time on Slack, it’s helpful to know some of the most common keyboard shortcuts on this platform. These keyboard shortcuts will help you get around Slack quickly and easily on your Mac or PC without having to switch between the keyboard and mouse constantly.  Here is a list of the keyboard shortcuts in Slack (substitute Ctrl with ⌘ on Mac): Navigating Workplaces Switch to a specific workplace: Ctrl + [number]Switch to the next workplace: Ctrl + TabSwitch to the previous workplace: Ctrl + Shift + Tab Navigating Slack Open preferences: Ctrl + , (Comma)Change focus: F6 or Shift F6Browse direct messages: Ctrl + Shift + KBrowse channels: Ctrl + Shift + LJump to a conversation: Ctrl + KCompose a new message: Ctrl + NOpen Thread View: Ctrl + Shift + TNext unread channel or direct message: Alt + Shift + Up Arrow/Down ArrowOpen channel info pane: Ctrl + Shift + ISee mentions and reactions: Ctrl + Shift + MList of all people: Ctrl + Shift + ESaved items: Ctrl + Shift + SSet status: Ctrl + Shift + YSearch the current channel or conversation: Ctrl + FOpen previous search: Ctrl + G Navigating Unread Messages Move between messages: Up Arrow or Down ArrowOpen All Unread View: Ctrl + Shift + AMark as unread: Alt n + [mouse click] Working with Messages Press the F6 key to bring a particular message into focus, then navigate through the messages using the up and down arrows on your keyboard. Edit a message: EAdd an emoji: ROpen a reply: TPin or unpin a message: PShare a message: SSave a message: AMake a reminder: MMark all messages as read: Shift + EscMark all messages in a channel as read: Esc Formatting Messages Edit last message: Ctrl + Up ArrowMake a new line: Shift + EnterSelect text back to start of line: Shift + Up ArrowSelect text to end of line: Shift + Down ArrowAdd an emoji: Ctrl + Shift + \Bold: Ctrl + BItalics: Ctrl + IStrikethrough: Ctrl + Shift + XQuote: Ctrl + Shift + 9Code: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + CNumbered list: Ctrl + Shift + 7Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + 8 Making Calls Turn video on and off: VTurn mute on and off: MSee invite list: ASend an emoji: E Working with Files Upload a file: Ctrl + UView downloaded files: Ctrl + Shift + J GitHub Shortcuts GitHub is a platform used primarily for software development and is especially useful for teams of developers, as well as for version control. It offers collaboration features for projects such as bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis. For many software engineers, GitHub is a must-have when working on collaborative versioning of software because of its rich community knowledge and support, security, automation, and team administration. As a software engineer, one of the best ways to optimize your productivity while using GitHub is to take advantage of these keyboard shortcuts (substitute Ctrl with ⌘ on Mac): Site-Wide Shortcuts Show keyboard shortcuts for current page: ?Focus the search bar: SGo to your notifications: G + NOpens and focuses on a user, issue, or pull request hovercard: HWhen focused on above, closes hovercard: EscGo to the dashboard: G + DOpen selection: Enter Repositories Go to the Code tab: G + CGo to the Issues tab: G + IGo to the Pull requests tab: G + PGo to the Actions tab: G + AGo to the Projects tab: G + BGo to the Wiki tab: G + WGo to the Discussions tab: G + G Source Code Browsing Switch to a new branch or tag: WActivates the file finder: TJump to a line in your code: LExpand a URL to its canonical form: YOpen blame view: BShow or hide comments on diffs: IShow or hide annotations on diffs: A Source Code Editing Inserts Markdown formatting for bolding text: Ctrl + BInserts Markdown formatting for italicizing text: Ctrl + IInserts Markdown formatting for creating a link: Ctrl + KOpen source code file in the Edit file tab: ESearch in file editor: Ctrl + FFind next: Ctrl + GFind previous: Shift + Ctrl + GJump to line: Alt + GWrite a commit message: Ctrl + SReplace: Shift + Ctrl + FReplace all: Shift + Ctrl + R Issues and Pull Requests Request a reviewer: QApply a label: LToggle between the Write and Preview tabs: Ctrl + Shift + PSet a milestone: MSet an assignee: AOpen the list of commits in the pull request: COpen the list of changed files in the pull request: TMove selection down in the list: JMove selection up in the list: KAdd a single comment on a pull request diff: Ctrl + Shift + EnterToggle between collapsing and expanding all outdated review comments in a pull request: Windows - Alt + (Click); Mac - Option + (Click) Issue and Pull Request Lists Create an issue: COpen issue: OFilter by author: UFocus your cursor on the issues or pull requests search bar: Ctrl + /Filter by or edit labels: LFilter by or edit milestones: MFilter by or edit assignee: A Comments Toggle between the Write and Preview comment tabs: Ctrl + Shift + PSubmit a comment: Ctrl + EnterInsert Markdown formatting for bolding text: Ctrl + BInsert Markdown formatting for italicizing text: Ctrl + BInsert Markdown formatting for creating a link: Ctrl + KOpen saved replies menu and then autofill comment field with a saved reply: Ctrl + . (period) and then Ctrl + [saved reply number]Insert a suggestion: Ctrl + GQuote the selected text in your reply: R Moving a Column on Project Boards Start moving the focused column: EnterCancel the move in progress: EscComplete the move in progress: EnterMove column to the left: Arrow LeftMove column to the leftmost position: Ctrl + Arrow LeftMove column to the right: Arrow RightMove a column to the rightmost position: Ctrl + Arrow Right Moving a Card on Project Boards Start moving the focused card: EnterCancel the move in progress: EscComplete the move in progress: EnterMove a card down: Arrow DownMove a card to the bottom of the column: Ctrl + Arrow DownMove a card up: Arrow UpMove a card to the top of the column: Ctrl + Arrow UpMove a card to the bottom of the column on the left: Arrow LeftMove a card to the top of the column on the left: Shift + Arrow LeftMove a card to the bottom of the leftmost column: Ctrl + Arrow LeftMove a card to the top of the leftmost column: Ctrl + Arrow LeftMove a card to the bottom of the column on the right: Arrow RightMove a card to the top of the column on the right: Shift + Arrow RightMove a card to the bottom of the rightmost column: Ctrl + Arrow RightMove a card to the bottom of the rightmost column: Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Right Previewing a Card on Project Boards Close the card preview pane: Esc Network Graph Scroll left: Arrow LeftScroll right: Arrow RightScroll up: Arrow UpScroll down: Arrow DownScroll all the way left: Shift + Arrow LeftScroll all the way right: Shift + Arrow RightScroll all the way up: Shift + Arrow UpScroll all the way down: Shift + Arrow Down GitHub Actions In the workflow editor, get suggestions for your workflow file: Ctrl + SpaceGo to the workflow file: G + FToggle timestamps in logs: TToggle full-screen logs: FExit full-screen logs: Esc Notifications Mark as done: EMark as unread: Shift + UMark as read: Shift + IUnsubscribe: Shift + M As these extremely popular platforms continue to grow in popularity they will be used by even more people in day-to-day work and entertainment. Discord has been growing at a phenomenal rate since its launch in 2015, and now you can find servers for nearly anything that interests you, from programming to Led Zeppelin. Whether you use Discord for work or entertainment, now you’ll be able to mute pesky servers or channels, add gifs instantly, and scroll up and down with ease.  Since the Salesforce acquisition of Slack, the platform has not slowed down as one of the top communication solutions for businesses. If you use Slack for work or even if you are part of a private Slack channel to talk business or stocks, then you’ll be so much more efficient while slacking your colleagues or associates.  As the #1 preferred repository hosting service for developers around the world, if you are in the tech space then there’s a good chance you are already using GitHub on a daily basis. If you constantly have tight deadlines for delivering projects, features, or bug fixes, then these shortcuts will help you improve your efficiency and make life easier along the way! --- ### Das Keyboard Kicks off the #BlankKeyboardChallenge URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/blank-keyboard-challenge/ Published: 2022-03-07 15:46:19 Author: david Master a Blank Keyboard in 30 Days and You Might Double Your Typing Speed Have you ever wanted to learn how to type or code faster? Das Keyboard is kicking off its first-ever online #BlankKeyboardChallenge to help professionals excel at their craft.   Das Keyboard is inviting hardcore typists, writers, tech enthusiasts, programmers, and developers to embark on a fun, professional challenge to improve their typing speed and accuracy by mastering a blank keyboard. For 30 days participants will use a blank Das Keyboard Ultimate keyboard or another keyboard with blank keycaps to test themselves and see how quickly they can learn to type or code without looking at their keys. Warning: it won’t be easy! Even decent touch typists will have a hard time remembering where every symbol is located, but it will be a rewarding experience. Participants will measure their typing speed and post their #blankkeyboardchallenge progress to social media along the way while encouraging others to participate. Goodies will be sent out through April 30th, 2022, and it is not required to use Das Keyboard products. See below for the full list of instructions and rules. The original blank keyboard, Das Keyboard Ultimate, was launched in 2005 when Das Keyboard founder and CEO (and “Uber Geek” programmer), Daniel Guermeur (Twitter: @supercobra) had a personal quest to improve his typing speed and accuracy. Daniel found himself constantly looking down at the keys while he typed which slowed his ability to write code, so he created a blank keyboard which forced him to learn all the key placements since he wasn't able to cheat and look down at the letters. After just a few weeks of use, his typing speed doubled. When you look down at your keyboard’s keys as you’re writing or developing code the interruption stops the flow of creativity and slows productivity. Using a blank keyboard removes the ability to look at the keys while you type. It's an excellent way to increase your average typing speed and daily productivity. Touch typing is not only more productive, but it’s also more enjoyable and is a skill you will have for a lifetime. At the end of the challenge, every participant will receive a Das Keyboard goodie bag with items like keycaps, keycap pullers, stickers, microfiber cloths, and other useful items for those who conquer the #blankkeyboardchallenge. On May 2nd, three lucky winners will also win a Das Keyboard of their choosing. This challenge is limited to the USA only. How to Participate and Get Das Keyboard Goodies: Day 1: Test your speed on Typrx.com and take a screenshot of your average WPM. Post your speed to social media with the hashtag #blankkeyboardchallenge and tag @DasKeyboard. (Required)Example: "Take the blank keyboard challenge with me! #blankkeyboardchallenge @DasKeyboard" On day 15 of using a completely blank keyboard such as the Das Keyboard Ultimate, or any other keyboard with blank keycaps. Test your speed on Typrx.com and take a screenshot of your average WPM. Post it to social media with the hashtag #blankkeyboardchallenge and tag @DasKeyboard. (Required)On day 30 of using a blank keyboard, test your typing speed on Typrx.com and post a picture of your average WPM, plus a picture of video of your blank keyboard to social media using the hashtag #blankkeyboardchallenge and tag @DasKeyboard. (Required)Submit your shipping information and a picture of your social media posts to: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blank-keyboard-challenge. (Required) It is not required to use Das Keyboard products to receive free goodies. Goodies will be distributed through April 30th to US residents who comply with the rules above. Need a blank keyboard or blank keycap set? Check ours out and start the #blankkeyboardchallenge today! --- ### Average Typing Speed and Words Per Minute Explained URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/average-typing-speed-and-words-per-minute-explained/ Published: 2022-02-10 10:47:45 Author: david If you sit at a keyboard all day and happen to think you are a speedy typist, then maybe you wonder what the average typing speed is, and how many words per minute you type. To reach the fastest typing speeds on a standard keyboard you would need to average around 180 WPM (words per minute) on medium length and long-form content. If you are typing at this level then you are likely one of the fastest typists in the world, typing faster than 99% of typists worldwide. Even if you are not an elite speed typist reaching mind-boggling speeds, how fast you type may still be very important for work or school. If you apply for a technological administration, writing, or call center job you may even be asked how fast you type or take a typing test. Having a good understanding of the average typing speed will help you see if this is an area you are strong in, or if it is a place you should try to improve.  In this article you will learn: What Words Per Minute MeansThe Average WPM Speed Why WPM MattersHow to Take a WPM TestDo Mechanical Keyboards Improve WPM? What Words Per Minute Means Words per minute, or WPM, refers to the number of words processed in one minute while typing, writing, or reading. Average typing speed can also be used to determine efficiency on a 10-key number pad or the alphabet, but it is most commonly used regarding alphanumeric keys. A word in the calculation of words per minute is considered the equivalent of five keystrokes including spaces, letters, and punctuation. A series of shorter words like, ‘look at the cat’ is four words, but so is a single word like ‘triskaidekaphobia’. It’s also worth noting that ‘keystrokes’ do not include keys like Delete, Backspace, Caps Lock, or Shift.  When you factor in mistakes it changes your words per minute. Most people use the term WPM to refer to a ‘Net WPM’ or adjusted WPM once you deduct the errors from your ‘Gross WPM’ (WPM according to all keystrokes). Most of the time, a computer program or website will do these calculations for you, but to demonstrate, let’s say you typed a total of 80 words in one minute. Gross WPM: 80/1 = 80 words per minute.Net WPM with 10 mistakes (80-10)/1) = 70 words per minute. In some instances, the typing program you are using will not let you continue typing without correcting your errors, which means that your Net WPM will be the only calculation that is determined. Most people will have a slightly lower WPM when you are forced to correct mistakes, vs. a program that allows you to continue to type without correcting your mistakes. Typing Accuracy If you look up WPM statistics you’ll often see an accuracy percentage, which is calculated by dividing the number of correct keystrokes by the total keystrokes. 98 correct keystrokes / 100 total keystrokes = 98% accuracy. Typing tests almost always show accuracy, and accuracy is a very important part of typing fast and one of the best ways to increase your WPM is to focus on improving accuracy. By slowing down how fast you type and focussing on accuracy when you practice you will improve your average WPM speeds easier than only trying to type as fast as you can. Average WPM Speed The QWERTY keyboard layout is standard on nearly every keyboard and phone in the English-speaking world. Currently, the average typing speed on a QWERTY layout for an adult who uses typing for their job is around 40 WPM. Touch typists using the home-row method are typically faster typists because they don’t look down at the keyboard and type from muscle memory. Hunt and peck typists typically use two-fingers and look at the keys as they type, so it takes them longer to find the letters.  While the average typing speed is 40 WPM, having a typing speed of this level may not be fast enough for some professions. Secretaries and receptionists are normally required to type at 65 WPM or higher and legal or administrative assistants may be required to type as high as 100 WPM. Court reporters have the fastest WPM for any profession at 225 WPM, although they type on a stenotype keyboard. This gives them a huge advantage versus a typist using a standard keyboard because a stenotype keyboard uses shorthand and types syllables rather than letters.  Some factors should always be taken into account when looking at a typing speed, such as what type of text was typed when a WPM speed was reached. Burst typing uses a simple one-sentence, or 10-15 second piece of text and produces the fastest typing speeds because you don’t need to have stamina or consistency to type a small piece of text. Difficult and long-form text will have much slower WPM speeds. One example of a very difficult, long-form piece of text is the infamous “pink ping pong ball” quote that was used in the 2020 Ultimate Typing Championship where the winner, Anthony Ermolin still had a 165.4 WPM speed with 98.5 % accuracy. The Pink Ping Pong Ball Quote 1.a) [MAN] A man ordered 2,000 drums of pink ping pong balls in Paris, France. Each drum contained 100 pink ping pong balls. He paid $120 (80 Euros!) per drum, which means he spent $240,000 on 200,000 pink ping pong balls. 1.b) {BALL} These pink ping pong balls measured 40mm (how many inches?) and were given a 1 star rating [1 star?]. [FRIEND] His friends all asked him, "why did you order so many pink ping pong balls, how can you afford to spend that much, and what are you going to do with them?" His answer: "I'll tell you tomorrow." [MAN] Every day his friends asked the same question, and every day he gave the same answer: "I'll tell you tomorrow." {BALL} The pink ping pong balls started decreasing in quantity: only 189,000 left, and then only 172,000, and then 163,000, and then 147,000, etc. {BALL} One day 90% of the pink ping pong balls were gone (100% - 10% = 90% right?). His friends were really feeling frustrated with him now and demanded an explanation, "Tell us what the &^%$ [blip] you're doing with all of these @#^& pink ping pong balls!" [MAN] The man's response: "I spent $240,000 on 200,000 pink ping pong balls for a project. I have now used 90% of those, as you have observed. I promise to tell you tomorrow." [FRIEND] His friends decided to wait one more day and pronounce the alphabet to kill some time: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ then wrote a code word with strange signs: /a/&B#R{+1}>>[Bb] = X0 - 3 + @a rooftop ^ 32 + 12443678923458789 && 1 2 3 < 4. . The next day they were gathered in the man's house for the big revelation. The man stated, "Of the 200,000 pink ping pong balls I ordered I have 137 left. Would anyone like them?" His friends all groaned and said, "[---] no! Give us an answer!" The man began again, "Friends, I am about to unveil a great invention." He took a deep breath...and died. His 7 friends would never know why the man spent $240,000 on 200,000 pink ping pong balls, and neither will you. That all our knowledge begins with experience there can be no doubt. For how is it possible that the faculty of cognition should be awakened into exercise otherwise than by means of objects which affect our senses, and partly of themselves produce representations, partly rouse our powers of understanding into activity, to compare, to connect, or to separate these, and so to convert the raw material of our sensuous impressions into a knowledge of objects, which is called experience? In respect of time, therefore, no knowledge of ours is antecedent to experience, but begins with it. But, though all our knowledge begins with experience, it by no means follows that all arises out of experience. For, on the contrary, it is quite possible that our empirical knowledge is a compound of that which we receive through impressions, and that which the faculty of cognition supplies from itself (sensuous impressions giving merely the occasion), an addition which we cannot distinguish from the original element given by sense, till long practice has made us attentive to, and skillful in separating it. It is, therefore, a question which requires close investigation, and is not to be answered at first sight whether there exists a knowledge altogether independent of experience, and even of all sensuous impressions? Knowledge of this kind is called a priori, in contradistinction to empirical knowledge, which has its sources a posteriori, that is, in experience. But the expression, "a priori," is not as yet definite enough, adequately to indicate the whole meaning of the question above started. For, in speaking of knowledge which has its sources in experience, we are wont to say that this or that may be known a priori, because we do not derive this knowledge immediately from experience, but from a general rule, which, however, we have itself borrowed from experience. Thus, if a man undermined his house, we say, "he might know a priori that it would have fallen;" that is, he needed not to have waited for the experience that it did actually fall. But still, a priori, he could not know even this much. For, that bodies are heavy, and, consequently, that they fall when their supports are taken away, must have been known to him previously, by means of experience. By the term "knowledge a priori," therefore, we shall in the sequel understand, not such as is independent of this or that kind of experience, but such as is absolutely so of all experience. Opposed to this is empirical knowledge, or that which is possible only a posteriori, that is, through experience. Knowledge a priori is either pure or impure. Pure knowledge a priori is that with which no empirical element is mixed up. For example, the proposition, "Every change has a cause," is a proposition a priori, but impure, because change is a conception which can only be derived from experience. As you can see from the above text, there are a lot of factors that go into truly calculating an average WPM speed. The important thing is to set a benchmark for yourself by continuing to calculate your average WPM using the same method, and by typing on similar length and difficulty of text. This way you will have an accurate picture of what your current average WPM speed is and will be able to see progress made with practice. Why WPM Matters Having a fast WPM speed originally became a unique and prestigious skill when typing on typewriters in the early 1900s was popular and there was a rise of high-profile secretarial schools and the widespread implementation of the Morse Code. These were sought-after jobs and important to have a fast typist when dictating or communicating during an emergency. In the 1960s typing’s popularity grew as a spectator sport as seen during the World Championship which was held in Paris during the International Federation of Shorthand and Typewriting, bringing typing to the forefront of the public’s attention.  In 2010 the first Ultimate Typing Championship was held and to this day it has remained wildly popular with over 15 million views. The Ultimate Typing Championship was held again in 2020 with over 400 participants from around the world. This event showed that typing was still very popular and with the event recap video gaining over 100,000 views in the first 6-months after the event.  Today with a computer in almost every household WPM is a common marker of productivity. Access to computers has rapidly increased work efficiency as well as a dramatic rise in the average words per minute. Hiring directors and managers expect their employees to be on top of this skill to improve their team’s productivity. If you work on a computer daily then your typing speed is a factor of how productive you are every day. If you can increase your typing speed by just 10% from 50 WPM to 55 WPM this will in theory allow you to produce more code if you’re a programmer, articles if you’re writer, spend less time answering emails if you’re an entrepreneur, and get more work done if you’re an administrative assistant. How to Take a WPM Test Practicing and tracking your WPM has become more popular over the years, some people even include their WPM on their resumes. Free typing speed tests have become widespread and help people test and improve their typing skills. Here are some of the most popular typing sites with the sizes of their audiences according to SimilarWeb.com:   MonkeyType.com: 10 million monthly visitors10FastFingers.com: 7.4 million monthly visitorsTypeRacer.com: 3.7 million visitorsNitroType.com: 2.8 million monthly visitorsKeyma.sh: Around 50,000 monthly visitorsTyprx.com: Around 50,000 monthly visitors The fastest typists frequent these websites and post remarkable speeds, such as the current 60-second leader on Monkeytype, spekap, who holds the top spot by a very slim margin with a 254.80 WPM speed and 99.38% accuracy.  Some sites offer statistics that show you which words or phrases are most frequently misspelled or that are typed the slowest. You can then practice these words to help you improve and track your progress to see how your WPM improves over time. All of these sites are excellent places to practice, race against other typists, or try to achieve a position on their leaderboards. Do Mechanical Keyboards Improve WPM? Improving your WPM relies almost entirely on practice, but the right keyboard may also help improve your WPM. You will type faster and more accurately when you are more comfortable with your keyboard and are used to typing on it. Many people prefer mechanical keyboards for typing because they require less pressure to type on than a standard membrane keyboard. In addition, keyboards with key switches such as Cherry MX Blue or Brown produce tactile feedback and an audible click that some typists find helpful when typing, while others prefer linear switches with no tactility and may prefer a switch with less travel that is designed for speed such as the Cherry MX Speed Silver. Mechanical keyboards also register keystrokes in less time than membrane keyboards, making them faster, even if it’s only by milliseconds. This split-second processing time is important for gamers and competitive typists where every fraction of a second matters. Most mechanical keyboards also have NKRO, which allows very fast typists to type as many letters as they’d like simultaneously or within a hundredth of a second, thereby allowing the typist to type 8 keys at the same time. Whether you type for work, school, or as a hobby, being aware of your average typing speed and working to improve your WPM is an excellent way to increase your overall productivity and enjoyment of typing. If you just started typing then there will be a learning curve to learn how to type without looking down at the keys. New typists will show the largest gains in their WPM speeds as it will be much easier to go from 20 WPM to 40 WPM than it will to go from 80 WPM to 100 WPM. When your average WPM speed increases over 50 WPM the gains in speed will take more time and practice, but by focussing a portion of your time on accuracy it will be easier to increase your WPM. For more sophisticated typing tips you can join one of the many online communities such as the 10FastFingers or Keyma.sh discord server, and you can find more typing tips on the Das Keyboard blog. --- ### How to Change the DPI on a Mouse URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-change-dpi-mouse/ Published: 2022-02-08 12:54:26 Author: david This article is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Many people know that mouse DPI can profoundly impact performance, which is why serious gamers and productivity professionals change the DPI on their mouse for speed, precision, and personal comfort. There are several ways to change mouse DPI: Operating system settingsGame settingsMouse DPI switch/button Here's what mouse DPI means and how it affects gameplay and productivity, plus how to change mouse DPI to achieve optimal performance. What is Mouse DPI? Mouse DPI, or dots-per-inch, refers to how many pixels your on-screen cursor moves for every inch you move your mouse. It's sometimes called mouse resolution. For example, if your DPI is 800, your cursor will move 800 pixels when you move your mouse one inch. If it's 1600, your cursor will move 1600 pixels when you move your mouse an inch. Average mice range between 800 and 1600 DPI, though gaming mice often feature DPIs greater than 4000 – and some models range up to 20,000 DPI or more. What is the Difference Between DPI, CPI, and Mouse Sensitivity? DPI and CPI are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing. While DPI refers to how far your cursor travels when you move your mouse, CPI – or counts-per-inch – refers to how sensitive your mouse is to movement. Essentially, a mouse sensor can count a certain number of "steps" when you move your mouse an inch, then relay that information to your computer. The higher the CPI, the more steps it can count over an inch and the more sensitive it is to movement. There's a lot of ambiguity over how CPI affects performance. Steps are measured as pixels, but manufacturers can "slice" pixels into smaller parts to increase the stated CPI. This practice has the potential drawback of allowing the mouse sensor to pick up noise, decreasing overall accuracy. You can take a deep dive into how CPI is calculated and how it affects performance by reading PC Gamer's interview with Logitech engineer François Morier. For now, just understand that many manufacturers refer to CPI as DPI because the general public is more familiar with that term. What is the Best Mouse DPI? The best DPI for your mouse depends on the task at hand and your personal preferences. A high DPI mouse setting means your cursor will travel farther when you move your mouse an inch, increasing speed. A low DPI mouse setting means your cursor will travel less, enhancing precision. Higher DPI is often good for gaming, especially first-person shooters (FPS), where speed and responsiveness are critical to avoid getting fragged. Lower DPI is often best for productivity because it offers greater precision – for example if you're using graphic design software and need pixel-perfect accuracy. These are generalities, though, and don't necessarily apply to every situation. For example, a lower DPI might be ideal for real-time strategy (RTS) games such as Age of Empires and sandbox games like Minecraft that require precision building. Conversely, working professionals who use multi-monitor setups might prefer a higher DPI for cursor speed. Sometimes it's best to have multiple DPI presets. For example, FPS gamers might need the fast-twitch responsiveness of a high DPI for an action sequence but want the precision of a low DPI for targeting sniper scopes. That's why many gaming mice feature built-in buttons to toggle between presets instantly. Consider Mouse Grip and Personal Preference The type of mouse grip you use also plays a role. If you tend to use a fingertip or claw grip and move the mouse with your fingers and wrist, a higher DPI will allow your cursor to travel the entire monitor with minimal movement. If you use a palm grip and tend to move your mouse several inches at once, a lower DPI offers greater control. Of course, you might simply prefer a faster or slower cursor speed. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong DPI for any user, game, or application. The trick is to play with different DPIs until you find your own personal Goldilocks zone. Other Mouse Performance Factors Other factors impact mouse performance and can alter your effective DPI. They include: Polling rate: How fast your mouse relays information to your computer, measured in hertz (Hz).Acceleration: Dynamic DPI increases based on how fast you move the mouse (the quicker you move it, the greater the DPI).Game sensitivity: In-game mouse configurations. These factors can combine to alter your effective DPI, which could differ from your mouse's stated DPI. For example, if your mouse is set at 5,000 DPI and you increase in-game sensitivity, your effective DPI will be greater than 5,000. How to Check Mouse DPI You can use an online tool like Mouse Sensitivity to measure DPI. The free analyzer prompts you to drag a slider while moving your mouse over a defined distance, then reports your true DPI. Mouse Sensitivity also offers a nifty calculator that converts DPI settings from one game to another. The converter is helpful if you want to employ the precision muscle memory you've honed playing one game, like Halo, to another, like Call of Duty. How to Change Mouse DPI on a PC, Mac, or PC Game Here's how to change the DPI on popular operating systems, Windows 10-11, macOS, and tips for tracking down your DPI settings in PC games like Call Of Duty, Minecraft, or Grand Theft Auto V. Windows 10 and Windows 11 Windows doesn't allow you to set a numerical DPI, but you can still adjust it in the settings menu. Browse to Settings > Devices > Mouse, or just search for mouse in the settings search bar. Select "Additional mouse options". Select "Pointer Options" and under "Motion," drag the slider between "Slow" and "Fast" to select a pointer speed. You can optionally check the "Enhance pointer precision" box. This option acts as an accelerator: the DPI automatically increases when you move your mouse quickly. How to Change the Mouse DPI on macOS Like Windows, Macs do not have a numerical DPI option. Click the Apple icon and select "System Preferences..." Select "Mouse". Under "Tracking speed," drag the slider from "Slow" to "Fast" to adjust DPI. How to Change Mouse DPI in Game Settings Many PC games allow you to adjust mouse DPI in their settings' menus. Look for settings like "mouse," "mouse sensitivity" and "mouse DPI." In some games, you can create multiple profiles or set different DPIs based on in-game scenarios, such as targeting and scope sensitivity. How to Change the Mouse DPI on Specific Mice Some models of certain types of brands of mice have a dedicated DPI button that allows you to change the DPI on the fly, while other mice don't but you can download software to set DPI settings as your defaults. Here are some of the most popular brands of mice and how to change the DPI. How to Change the Mouse DPI on Logitech Mice Some Logitech mice feature a DPI on-the-fly button that toggles between preset DPIs. By default, it's typically right behind the scroll wheel, though the function can be assigned to any button on programmable mice. On vertical mice such as the MX Vertical Advanced Ergonomic Mouse, the DPI button is often located on top. On trackball mice like the MX Ergo Advanced Wireless, it's usually next to the trackball. Logitech's free software makes it easy to set your default mouse DPI as well as on-the-fly presets. G Hub is the latest edition, designed for gamers. It automatically detects your device and games, then lets you set individual game profiles. To set DPI with G Hub: Select your mouseSelect the Sensitivity (DPI) iconDrag the sliders to your desired DPI Supported devices include: Logitech G203 LIGHTSYNCLogitech G203 ProdigyLogitech G Pro WirelessLogitech G502 Lightspeed Note that if you have an older gaming mouse, you might need to download Logitech Gaming Software instead. Devices supported by Logitech Gaming Software include: Logitech G Pro WirelessMX518 OpticalG9 Laser G502 HERO If you have a basic or non-gaming Logitech mouse, you can use Logitech Options to change your DPI. You can't set a numerical DPI in Logitech Options as you can with G Hub and Logitech Gaming Software. Instead, you drag a slider to set pointer speed like Windows PCs and Macs. Supported devices include: MX Master 3MX VerticalMX ErgoErgo M575 Wireless TrackballM510 Wireless Razer Razer mice likewise feature DPI on-the-fly buttons, typically located behind the scroll wheel. On some models, the default location is on the front left. Download Razer's Synapse software to set your default DPI and sensitivity stages: Open the Performance tabSelect your desired number of stages (on-the-fly button DPI presets)Set a custom DPI for each stage Alternatively, you can drag a slider to set the DPI for each stage. Supported devices include: Razer DeathAdder seriesRazer Viper seriesRazer Basilisk seriesRazer Naga series SteelSeries Most SteelSeries models feature a DPI button behind the scroll wheel, but it's found underneath the mouse beside the optical sensor on the Prime series. You can set DPI defaults in SteelSeries Engine, now part of the SteelSeries GG software suite: Select the Gear tabSelect your mouseSet your desired Sensitivity (CPI) Supported devices include: SteelSeries Sensei 310SteelSeries PrimeSteelSeries Aerox 3SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless Corsair Like the other brands listed here, Corsair mice have programmable buttons, and you can set one to toggle through DPI presets you set with either Corsair's iCue or Cue software. In iCue: Select your mouseSelect DPIFrom here, you can create DPI presets and set stages for each preset Supported devices include: Corsair M65 ProCorsair Nightsword RGB Tunable FPS/MOBACorsair Harpoon RGB WirelessCorsair Scimitar RGB Elite Optical MOBA/MMO Granular control over your mouse DPI can help you improve speed, precision, and comfort. When you understand the relationship between DPI, responsiveness, and fidelity, you can fine-tune your mouse into a tool that makes you a better gamer or a more adept professional. A good first step is to check your DPI to establish a baseline. Then, tweak DPI settings under different contexts: aiming during gameplay, in-game action sequences, logo design, architectural drawings – whatever tasks you routinely perform. Find your Goldilocks zone for each environment, then save presets so you can toggle to the best DPI on the fly. It might take a little trial and error to home in on the proper settings, but once you do, you can wield your mouse to execute demanding tasks with skill. Of course, mouse DPI is only part of the equation, which is why serious gamers and productivity professionals often pair programmable mice with mechanical keyboards to optimize performance. If you are taking your setup to the next level then it is likely that in addition to a quality mouse, you are also looking to upgrade your keyboard to a mechanical keyboard if you haven’t already. --- ### Why Try a Vertical Mouse or Ergonomic Mouse URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/vertical-mouse-ergonomic-mouse/ Published: 2022-02-04 12:00:00 Author: david This article is reader-supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our site.Using a vertical or ergonomic mouse may be more comfortable and cause less strain on your joints and muscles than using a standard wired or wireless mouse with an ambidextrous design. There are right-handed and left-handed vertical or ergonomic mice, which may be more comfortable than a standard mouse. Vertical and ergonomic mice allow your arms, wrists, and elbows to take a more natural position, thereby reducing muscle strain and reducing the risk or symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), such as carpal tunnel syndrome. What is a Vertical Mouse? A vertical mouse allows your hand to be in a vertical position, as if you are shaking someone’s hand, instead of your hand laying flat on the mouse. In addition, your hand and wrist are lifted off the desk when you use a vertical mouse, which is more ergonomic. A vertical mouse will still contain left and right-click buttons and a scroll wheel. Many models also contain DPI buttons to change the mouse speed, an additional thumb button, a thumb scroll, or forward and back buttons on the thumb side. A vertical mouse can also be used for keyboard and mouse gaming. While they are not nearly as popular as gaming mice, a vertical mouse will encourage more movement from your elbow and shoulder instead of a standard mouse that uses virtually all wrist and fingers. A vertical mouse will track very smoothly, and while they may take a while to get used to, they have been designed to reduce strain on your joints and muscles and have also been used to reduce pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. If you are experiencing any discomfort, strain, or pain in your wrist, fingers, or forearm, a vertical mouse might be an ideal solution. What is an Ergonomic Mouse? While a vertical mouse is still considered an ergonomic mouse, many other designs of ergonomic mice are not vertical, such as a semi-vertical mouse, an angled ergonomic mouse, a trackball mouse, a pen mouse, or a sculpted mouse. These non-vertical ergonomic mice are also designed for a more natural position and improved posture. Ergonomic mice can also be used for keyboard and mouse gaming, and while some have additional programmable buttons, ergonomic mice have not seen large adoption within the gaming community. Whether you are interested in a vertical mouse or a non-vertical ergonomic mouse, there are several options and features to consider, such as whether the mouse is wired or wireless, mechanical or optical. Because nearly all newer mice are optical and wireless, they will be included in our suggestions below. The optical, wireless mice below will be easier to use since there is no wire to get in the way or mechanical trackball in the bottom of the mouse that can become slow or unresponsive when it becomes filled with lint and dust. If you want to try a vertical mouse or ergonomic mouse, look at the curated list of mice that customers have highly rated.  OS Compatible Vertical Mouse Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse (Buy Now) The Logitech MX Vertical mouse combines style, comfort, and performance. It is one of the best overall vertical mice and contains an outstanding optical sensor. The top-notch sensor provides accuracy, and the thumb rest offers superb support. It has a curvy and sleek design for comfortable support, a DPI range between 400 and 4,000, and is compatible with Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, iPadOS 13.4 or later 8, Chrome OS 9, and Linux 10. Budget-Friendly Vertical Mouse Jelly Comb Rechargeable 2.4G Bluetooth Vertical Mouse (Buy Now) The wireless vertical mouse by Jelly Comb is budget-friendly, and the quality and comfort you receive are comparatively higher than you can receive at this price. With this mouse, you can connect up to three devices, and while it is compatible with Mac & PC, the forward and buttons will not work on a Mac. The mouse is highly responsive, which means that it offers a seamless and smooth experience without glitches. This vertical mouse comes with a comfortable, soft handgrip, so you don’t feel any pressure on your hand. The buttons of this mouse are responsive and clicky, offering high-quality performance. The battery life is excellent, lasting over three weeks on a single charge. It also contains programmable buttons to reprogram the DPI button, forward and backward buttons, and a mouse wheel. The software to reprogram the buttons is free to download.  Vertical Mouse for Larger Hands AUTLEY Ergonomic Mouse (Buy Now) If you have larger hands, you should look at AUTLEY’s wireless vertical mouse. This mouse has a thicker and bulkier design, which offers a comfortable grip for those with larger hands. While its battery does not last as long as some others and can only last a week on a single charge, this budget-friendly has a DPI range of 800-1,600 and is preferred for people with bigger hands. This vertical mouse is compatible with Windows 8/7/10/Vista/XP/2000, Mac, and Linux, although, like the Jelly Comb Rechargeable Vertical Mouse, the forward and backward buttons will not work on a Mac. Reliable Vertical Mouse Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse by Anker (Buy Now) Anker's wireless vertical mouse may be a perfect choice if you are looking for reliability while working at home or in the office. This ergonomic mouse reduces the strain on your wrists and offers a comfortable grip so you can use it for hours without pain or discomfort. While this is known as one of the most durable options, it does have higher click latency, which may not be ideal for gaming as it could disrupt your gaming experience.  For Lefties and Small Hands Vertical Mouse 4 by Evoluent (Buy Now) Contrary to the AUTLEY vertical mouse, the Evoluent VM4L VerticalMouse 4 is excellent for people with smaller hands. Even though there are limited options for vertical mice for people with smaller hands, this mouse is an excellent option as it has been designed to be ergonomically correct to promote comfort, especially if you already have wrist pain. In addition, there is also an Evoluent VM4L VerticalMouse 4 left-handed option, which is the highest-rated left-handed vertical mouse out there. Professional Design MX Master 3 Ergonomic Mouse by Logitech (Buy Now) The Logitech MX Master 3 has a professional design and clean look. It doesn’t have a flashy look and is more professional. It has a durable build, and the latex grip is comfortable and provides excellent control with accurate movement controls.  Ergonomic Thumb Trackball Mouse Logitech MX ERGO Wireless Trackball (Buy Now) The Logitech MX ERGO Wireless Trackball is an ergonomic mouse with a natural grip and excellent movement control. While it is not a vertical mouse, it does have an adjustable trackball angle that tilts from 0 to 20 degrees due to a hinge on the mouse. This ergonomic mouse is a favorite choice because of its compatibility with Windows 7 or later and Mac OS X 10.12 or later, in addition to its excellent performance, providing 512-2048 dpi, which is adjusted by pressing the thumb button. Overall, the Logitech MX ERGO Wireless Trackball ergonomic mouse is an excellent choice with a premium feel. If you want to change your work or gaming setup and try something new, these ergonomic mice options might be your next favorite purchase. If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or want to relieve some of the strain on your pointer finger, middle finger, and wrist, a vertical mouse may help significantly. Knowing that after you purchase a vertical mouse, it may take some time to get used to, you may find that an ordinary mouse is far less comfortable once it becomes natural. If you have more thoughts or opinions on vertical and ergonomic mice, please tweet them to the team on X! --- ### How to Change the Keyboard Language on a Computer URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-change-keyboard-language/ Published: 2022-02-02 13:55:31 Author: david You may want to know how to change the keyboard language if you are studying a new language and want to make it easier to practice on a computer using an website or app like Babble or Duolingo. In addition, many people speak multiple languages in their daily lives whether it’s in business or in their personal lives. As a result operating systems on computers and smartphones make it easy to change between different keyboard languages. In this article we’ll explain how and why you might want to consider changing your keyboard's language. Changing your keyboard language on your computer is more difficult than on a smartphone because the keycaps are attached to the keyboard and require manual effort to rearrange. If you are not using a mechanical keyboard and instead have a membrane keyboard or laptop it may not even be possible at all. In this case, you will have to remember where the keys are and won’t be able to rely on looking down at your keys as you build your muscle memory to get comfortable knowing where the letters are located on your keyboard for your selected keyboard language. How to Change the Keyboard Language on Windows Changing the keyboard language on Windows PCs differs slightly depending on what version of Windows you are using. On Windows 11 changing the language is very straightforward, and on Windows 8 and 10 it is very similar, with a few additional steps. How to Change the Keyboard Language on Windows 11 Click the Start menu icon and then the Settings icon. Select Time & language and click Language & region. Click “Add language” and select the keyboard language you want to use on your PC. Select the language you would like to add and click “Next”. How to Change the Keyboard Language on Windows 8 or 10 Press the Windows logo key and type “Control” to find and open the Control PanelUnder “Clock, Language, and Region,” click “Add a language.”Click “Add a language.”Search for the language you would like to add in the search bar, then click that language and click add.The language you have added should appear in your list of languages.After you have enabled the keyboard language that you want, open your document and place the cursor in the document where you want to start to type text in a different language. To switch between languages press Alt + Shift, or you can add multiple languages to the desktop language bar by following these steps: Press the Windows logo key and type “Control” to search for the Control Panel app.Click Control Panel.Under “Clock, Language, and Region,” click “Change input methods.”Click “Advanced settings.”Under “Switching input methods,” select the “Use the desktop language bar when it’s available” check box, and then click Options.In the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box, click the Language Bar tab, and make sure that either the “Floating” On Desktop or the “Docked in the taskbar” option is selected.Click the language icon on the Language bar, which should appear on your taskbar near where the clock is, and then click the language that you want to use.Click the language icon on the Language bar, which should appear on your taskbar near where the clock is, and then click the language that you want to use. How to Change the Keyboard Language on a Mac, MacBook, MacBook Air Changing the keyboard language on a MacBook Pro, Air, or iMac is a very quick and easy process, simply: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences Then click Language & Region. To add a language click the plus button. Select one or more languages in the list, then click the language you would like to add. The macOS will as if you would like to change the primary language. Select the primary language you would like to use. To change to a new primary language, simply drag a different preferred language to the top of the Preferred languages list. To remove a language from the list select the language you would like to remove and press the minus button. How to Change Keyboard Language in Linux To change the keyboard language on Linux follow these steps. The screenshots below are from Elementary, but LinuxMint, Ubuntu and other Linux distributions will be the same or very similar. Go to System Settings and under ‘Hardware’ choose the ‘Keyboard’ option. Press the plus button. Add your keyboard language. How to Change Keyboard Language on Your Smartphone Changing the keyboard language on your keyboard will not only change your phone’s keyboard language but will also change the word prediction and autocorrect as you type in that language. Your phone can even sometimes predict correct conjugations as you type, which can be immensely helpful. How to Change Keyboard Language on iPhones As the most popular brand of cell phone, Apple has made it very easy to change your keyboard language on iPhones: First, add the language-specific keyboard to your phone’s settings:Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.Tap Add New Keyboard, then choose a keyboard.Once you’ve added your new keyboard, you can switch between your keyboards in any app that uses the keyboard. How to Change Keyboard Language on Samsung Smartphones Samsung cell phones are also very popular, and if you are using one of these mobile devices you can easily change the keyboard language by following these four easy steps: First, press the gear symbol at the top of your Samsung keyboard in any app.Select the option which allows you to choose languages (on most devices, this is called “Languages and types”).Tap on “Manage input languages” and select the languages you want your device’s keyboard to support. When you select more than one language here, you can quickly switch between languages by swiping your finger across the space bar.Press Update to view additional languages available for download. Why Change Keyboard Language? You may be asking yourself, is it worth the effort to change keyboard language? Or, is it really necessary? Here are a couple of reasons why changing keyboard language can be beneficial. Faster Typing Typing is all about speed. Keyboards are designed with the most frequently used letters of a language closer to your fingertips so that you can type faster. Therefore, changing your keyboard language will help you type much faster. For example, Q is on the top left of an English keyboard because it’s not used much. However, when the language used on an English keyboard is changed to French, Q takes the place of A because Qs are used frequently in the French language. Easier Accent Marks in French and Spanish When it comes to typing in French and Spanish, accent mark usage is very common. Accent marks are used on six different letters in French and five different letters in Spanish. If you aren’t using French or Spanish as your keyboard language, you’ll have to press three different keys to add accent marks. Changing your keyboard language to French or Spanish will save you a tremendous amount of typing time by not having to press three keys each time you want to use one of these accent marks or punctuations. French Keyboard Language Accent Marks When you change your keyboard language to French, you can type the grave accent (à, è, ù) and acute accent (é) with a single key. The other accented letters require a combination of two keys: For a circumflex (â, ê, etc), type ^ then the vowelFor a tréma, (ä, ë, etc), type ¨ and the vowel Spanish Keyboard Language Accent Marks When you change your keyboard language to Spanish, the ñ is just to the right of the L and doesn’t require you to type any other keys. Additionally, for accents on vowels all you have to do is type the apostrophe (‘) key on your keyboard followed by the vowel you want to accent. If you are fluent in multiple languages, or even if you are trying to learn a new language, it can be beneficial to change your keyboard language as you type in that language. Doing so can end up saving you a considerable amount of typing time because the letters you use more frequently will be located closer to your fingertips. Additionally, accent marks or punctuations will be much faster because you won’t have to press three keys each time. For more helpful tips and information about keyboard technology, check out our blog to learn about keyboards, productivity hacks, typing tips, and more. If you’re ready to upgrade to the next generation of keyboards shop our mechanical keyboards now! --- ### How to Use Das Keyboard Q Software to Reduce Disruptions and Help You Avoid Multitasking URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-reduce-disruptions-and-avoid-multitasking/ Published: 2021-10-27 06:34:59 Author: david How to Use Das Keyboard Q Software and Q Applets to Stay on Task and Become More Productive Throughout Your Day An unnecessary amount of time is spent every day checking on little things and gathering basic information. Just think about all of the tasks that someone does each day, plus the number of disruptive notifications that come through a phone, smartwatch, email, and browser in an inefficient, repetitive flow of information. It has been proven that multitasking hurts productivity and that one needs to focus on a single task at a time, which doesn’t even take into account the endless distractions that disrupt our work and focus from dinging phones, vibrating smartwatches, and notifications appearing on browser, further eroding efficiency and productivity. Das Keyboard Q Software was created to help reduce disruptions and avoid multitasking while streamlining important information in a non-intrusive manner. The thought process behind Das Keyboard Q Software is that all you would need to do is look down at your keyboard to instantly have all the information that’s important at your fingertips, like the control room for your daily life. Das Keyboard Q Software contains numerous Q Applets, which cause your keyboard to light up to display information on your keyboard, or when you have a notification from an applet. Below are some of the top ways anyone can use Q Applets to help organize information efficiently in everyday life with Das Keyboard Q Software. (Also, see how a developer uses Das Keyboard Q Software in this article by Das Keyboard CEO Daniel Guermeur.) Gmail: If you receive Gmail notifications on a smartphone, smartwatch, and computer then you may receive three notifications for every single email that goes to your inbox. This bombardment of notifications is not efficient or useful and may cause important emails to go unread in a timely manner due to the overwhelming number of notifications. It’s easy to streamline this process with the Gmail Q applet, which allows you to set a passive notification on your keyboard, which will display an RGB notification on a key when an email from a priority sender arrives. Instead of being a slave to your email and constantly monitoring your inbox, just look down to see if there’s anything important to address.  Weather USA and Weather International: Install this Q Applet and you will never have to look up the weather on your phone, computer, or the local news again. Change your daily routine of waking up and checking on the forecast for the day, or stopping what you’re doing to see if the weather will hold up for your plans tomorrow. Simply look down at your keyboard and the assigned RGB color-coded keys will give you the information you need for any location you want to monitor. Stock Quotes: The Stock Quotes Q Applet eliminates the need to constantly monitor stocks throughout the day, instead, just set them to display red or green on the number pad of a Q series keyboard. When investing in long positions, it is a waste of time to constantly monitor stocks by looking them up on your phone, or on your computer. With the Stock Quotes Q applet, you can look down at your keyboard to see if a stock is up or down, saving time while delivering the information you care about, so you can keep working without becoming overly distracted. Parcel Tracker: For those who want to know what the status of a shipment is, but don’t want to have to constantly search and refresh updates, using the Parcel Tracker Q applet can save time and streamline this information on your keyboard. Quickly bring up the status of your shipment with the push of a key, or just look at the keyboard’s keys which will display a progress bar to constantly monitor the delivery progress of a shipment in the background.  CPU Usage: For those that run large or multiple programs, knowing the CPU usage of their machine is quite helpful. If programs ever run slow or crash, this is a great tool to help discover if it is a CPU usage issue. Instead of having to open up your Task Manager or Activity Monitor every day, and then stop what you are doing to check your CPU usage, you can use this Q applet to display the percentage of the CPU used in a bar graph. Crypto Watch: Much like the Stock Quotes Q Applet, the Crypto Watch Q Applet is perfect for those that have long-term investments in cryptocurrencies. If you find yourself constantly looking up the price of Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum, then you’re probably spending too much time on something that is purely speculative. Valuable time can be saved by installing this Q applet, all without losing the information of knowing if a cryptocurrency is up or down. Flight Price Watcher: Something that can take up a lot of your time is booking a reasonably priced flight for a trip you are planning to take. Whether you book a lot of flights for work, or if you’re looking for a good deal on a vacation, this can be time-consuming as flight prices fluctuate daily if not hourly. With the Flight Price Watcher Q Applet, you can simply set it, and forget it. Just look down at your Q series keyboard and you can see if the price of your flight is where you want it.  Birthday Reminder: If you’ve ever forgotten a friend or family member’s birthday then you know it does not feel good. You could try to add it to your daily calendar, but with so many meetings and calendar reminders, but that is only going to show you the day of the birthday, which won’t give you enough time to prepare. With the Birthday Reminder Q applet, the selected key will progressively change from green to blinking red as the birthday date approaches, giving you plenty of time to prepare and not feel guilty for forgetting again.   H2O Reminder: Drinking an adequate amount of water has excellent health benefits. If you don’t drink six to eight glasses of water you are susceptible to a weakened immune system, fatigue, headache, and dry skin, but if you’re not already in the habit of drinking a lot of water throughout the day, it can be a difficult routine to adopt. This is why the H2O reminder app is a great way to give you a constant reminder to drink water every hour so you stay hydrated and healthy. Stand up Reminder: Sitting at a desk all day without standing has shown to be linked to several health concerns and has shown to be one of the leading causes for numerous health conditions, including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat, abnormal cholesterol levels, and more. According to the Mayo Clinic, taking a break from sitting every 30 minutes can help tremendously, which is why the Stand Up Reminder Q Applet is an important Q applet to round out our list. Stay healthy by remembering to stand up every 15 to 30 minutes, and let these reminders become part of your daily routine. Streamlining information efficiently to improve your productivity is easy with the use of these Q applets. Setting notifications to appear on your keyboard instantly eliminates the constant barrage of disruptions and distractions throughout the day and turns your keyboard into your control room. With a quick look at your Q keyboard, you can see where stock and crypto prices are, what the weather will be like for the next few days if you have an important email, daily reminders to help your health and well being, and even reminders for important birthdays you don’t want to miss. By turning off all of the notifications on your phone, watch, and browser, you can get your day back and have more time to focus on the things that matter. For more info, visit Das Keyboard Q Software.   Das Keyboard Q Software works with Q Series keyboards: Das Keyboard 5QSDas Keyboard X50QDas Keyboard 4Q --- ### R.E.M.O.T.E Leadership - How To Guide A Remote Team To Success URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/r-e-m-o-t-e-leadership-how-to-guide-a-remote-team-to-success/ Published: 2021-05-12 12:00:00 Author: supercobra This is a cross-posting from our parent company Metadot blog. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global shift to working remotely, many companies have struggled with the inorganic transition from a collocated work environment to independent home offices. At Metadot, we have established an acronym that takes into account the vital responsibilities of those in management during this transition: R.E.M.O.T.E. Leaders are often skeptical about the true potential of an entirely virtual environment. However, many organizations have successfully made the transition, ultimately morphing to a more productive, flexible, and happier workplace. A study from the company Airtasker showed that at-home employees work more hours each month than those in a collocated work environment, resulting in up to the equivalent of two extra work weeks per year. Not only is this beneficial from the perspective of an employee shifting to remote, but also in the hiring process. From a business perspective, removing the ‘physicality’ of a candidate increases the opportunity for companies to expand globally, and have the option to pick from top-notch pools of candidates who may have previously been out of reach. Positives aside, the transition has come with challenges for some employees, especially those with families, and also for more integrated work groups such as sales and customer service. For the management team, the remote workplace has added the additional challenge of keeping a team motivated when there’s less socialization. As well as managing teams that may now be spread across multiple time zones, and maintaining the workplace culture. There are many factors that contribute to a healthy, sustainable workplace, and these may shift as your company navigates the world of remote working. In any successful company, the leadership during times of transition is most essential and can make or break a business. R - Rewards In addition to the social impact of the transition to remote workplaces, some employees may also be adjusting physically to their new work environment (or sudden lack thereof) and face anxiety about the sustainability of their roles. This is where it is essential for a strong leader to come forward and be clear with expectations and benefits. As a leader, this includes ensuring that each member of your team is able to perform to the best of their abilities. Many may not have the luxury of a dedicated home office or a comfortable, quiet, area to complete their work. With the company relieved of the burden of physical infrastructure, management is now in a position to support employees with the acquisition of tools to improve their remote work environments. This could include something as simple as a computer, desk, chair, or other supplies that will help ease the stress of the remote transition. For some, working from home may not be an option. You can reward these team members with coworking office spaces. These spaces allow the individuals to complete their tasks without the added stressors of working from their homes. Not only will the employee value your effort to alleviate the challenge, but these coworking offices are a very cost-effective solution. Rewards and benefits don’t have to be tangible! Celebrating even the smallest of successes can have a huge impact on the well-being of your team. In your channels of communication and video meetings, give praise when a team member is progressing or does something well - this builds morale. People want to feel that they are making a positive contribution, and to be recognized by a leader in front of the company builds the confidence to ensure continued quality work in the future. E - Evaluation Evaluation is a necessary process in the collocated work environment but is even more vital to a remote company. If an organization is not able to reflect on what strategies are successful or detrimental, there will not be much growth and progress. As a leader, invest time into reflecting on your values, the team values, and the goals of the company. Ask yourself constructive questions: What is our long-term goal? What are our short-term goals? What strategies have I implemented to help us reach these ambitions? Are the roles of my team (and company) able to be successfully done remotely with the tools we have in place? What resources will they need to complete their tasks? Thinking with a realistic, yet adaptable mindset can be helpful as your company separates from the traditional workplace. A common roadblock on the transition to remote is the elimination of access to many perks of the collocated environment. Stopping by a manager’s desk, taking breaks with coworkers, and being able to interpret the energy of the team - the socialization benefits of a collocated work environment are no longer available. This is where it is important for leadership to invest in small strategies, to achieve big results. An effective way to read the energy of your team is to give surveys. The first survey should be within week one of working remotely and include basic questions about how the process has been for the individual. Followed with an opportunity to list remaining questions, comments and concerns. This will provide you with substantial information into the state of your company’s wellbeing. The feedback will give insight into the uneasiness your team may be experiencing, and give you the opportunity to strategize and implement helpful changes. To improve the validity of your data sample, allow these surveys to be completed anonymously. The anonymity will encourage people to be more honest when completing their assessments. Implementing changes will be an extensive process and the changes will be gradual. Consult with other leaders for feedback and suggestions to ensure you are utilizing your resources effectively. After a month of applying new ideas, present your team with a similar survey. See how effective the changes have been, areas where there has been difficulty, and an open opportunity to suggest ways of improving the system. Maintaining evaluations is crucial. Investing in feedback will be a clear indicator of issues that may not be noticeable through a virtual setting. Staff will appreciate the opportunity to be heard, and feel empowered by the collective initiative introduced by management. M - Mindset If a leader is not whole-heartedly committed to the ambitions of the company, it is detrimental to the well-being of the entire organization. Working remotely requires an “all in” commitment. Employees are receptive to the way in which a leader presents their dedication, especially through times of change. This is where adopting an adaptable, optimistic, and passionate mindset is a necessity for a leader guiding a remote team. With any form of change, there will be unforeseen conflicts that arise and need addressing. Your team may begin to have doubts when working through a process remotely for the first time, and it is your responsibility to lead by example and maintain professionalism. The structure of the remote environment will hold less of a focus on rigid monitoring, and be more based on trust and progress. In a collocated workplace, it is easy to track and monitor the progress of your employees. You have direct access to tangible work, opportunities to observe tasks, and the ability to track the attendance of your team. Although this structure may have benefited your team in a collocated environment, it is your duty as a leader to adjust your mindset to that of a successful remote environment. Over-managing your employees will do more harm than good. Heavily monitoring tasks can take away from the productivity of the team and gives the employee less opportunity to take initiative over their duties. If the productivity of the team begins to struggle, this will increase stress within the company, and ultimately deteriorate the culture and trust of your organization. Here at Metadot, we are focused on results and outcomes over micromanaging and monitoring. In other words, we are more driven by progress. We utilize a spreadsheet we refer to as a “Sprint” which is an easily accessible document where employees can list their goals for the week. We begin each week with a meeting where we discuss our goals and our methods to achieve them. This includes our color-coded system where we can indicate our progress. Green means our task is on time, and close to completion. Yellow means we have faced a challenge with our task and need support, or are waiting for assistance from another team member. Red means that the task will not be completed, but will be prioritized in the future. There is no rigid structure, just a simple spreadsheet for reference as we navigate through our week. Each team member knows they are responsible for their project and have the independence to work freely. When a team member has a task in red, our CEO Daniel Guermeur has a prominent responsibility. He consistently demonstrates positive leadership by taking time to understand the difficulties that have impacted the completion of the task, then offers his support, and ensures they have the necessary resources to accomplish the task. Maintaining his mindset of adaptability, optimism, and passion towards the goals of the company - he drives the success of his company culture. He is perceived as approachable, which makes addressing conflict smoother - further increasing the productivity of the company. His management style builds confidence within the individual to be more successful in their role and to enjoy the content of the work. O - Organization Documentation is vital, especially when your team is remote. Developing a “Handbook” is an easy and effective way to track the ways in which the company grows. This handbook includes company policies, core values, growth goals, and other important information. Having an updated, public handbook allows employees in different time zones to have access to information regardless of their working hours. It also supports the onboarding process and provides a clear set of expectations for new employees. The blueprint for a successful remote company is in the accuracy and specificity of the handbook. Another effective strategy is to develop a “Buddy System” when onboarding new employees. Each new team member is paired with a veteran team member who has strong knowledge of the company. The veteran team member is a resource for asking questions, helping locate information, and ensuring that the onboarding process is successful. This includes holding one on one meetings each day for the first three weeks and introducing the new employee to the team. The buddy system is a documented process, with its own guidelines listed clearly in the company handbook. During my first week at Metadot, I was assigned a “Buddy.” Being the new member of the team is never easy, but knowing I had an immediate support system relieved much of the stress of the onboarding process. My connection to the team gave me so much insight into the culture of the company, and it smoothed the transition of my collocated work experience to my remote environment. When leading a team, establishing a Buddy System is not only effective for the new employee. The system keeps veteran employees grounded in the foundation of the company and helps keep their views fresh. A new team member is seeing what we are comfortable with and through a new set of eyes, keeps us from becoming complacent. Once the company polishes this process, it simplifies our ability to replicate the process as we experience future growth. For communication purposes, your organizational strategies should be a top priority. This begins with confirming that each department has access to necessary software, and verifying the safety of this software. Your team will be significantly increasing virtual activity and cybersecurity needs to be a primary focus. It will also be beneficial to select a software that possesses cross-functional collaboration, so multiple departments have access to relevant information. Next, it is your responsibility to establish a secure and easy platform for communication. This platform should have features that allow video conferencing, private discussion rooms, news boards to post information, and streaming capabilities. There are many affordable programs available, at Metadot we use “Discord.” Discord allows us to connect via video conferencing, stream, or screen share, as well as have private and public chats. An effective addition to Discord is its “Channel” feature, which allows our team to mimic the conference room environment of a traditional workplace by communicating over video conference calls. Not only has this increased productivity, but also limited the feeling of isolation that is common in a remote environment. T - Transparency Communication is vital. Working in a workplace where information is hard to access, the intentions of management are unclear or the communication is minor - is not a sustainable, nor healthy environment. When a leader is transparent, this boosts the confidence of the team. Transparency is not to be confused with revealing all company secrets. Transparency is a leader’s ability to respect each member of his or her team by giving access to changes in the company and context to clear goals and guidelines. You want to not only talk about your company values but exemplify them through your actions. For example, if you are pushing for your team to invest in their mental wellbeing, it would be a strong suggestion to encourage them to take time off. To be transparent, be clear and open about times you are deciding to take a break from work to indulge in a vacation. You are giving the green light to more reserved employees that it is acceptable and recommended to take time away from work. This also means demonstrating humility in times of error. If your employees are exposed to a leader who can admit mistakes without anger, they will know that the workplace is a safe environment to come forward with their faults. Transparency should also be utilized from a business perspective. If you have important information that needs to be shared with the company, call a company-wide meeting. Prepare a presentation and review your notes thoroughly, as well as be ready to answer questions and address any uneasiness that may arise. Even with tough information, the team will be respectful of your transparency and openness and receive the information directly from the source. E - Empathy One of the greatest threats to the success of your company will be facing “burnout” in your employees. Burnout is when someone begins to exhibit behaviors of exhaustion, irritability, and frustration - often from being overworked and a lack of socialization. Not only could the signs be seen emotionally, but within their quality of work. When employees are experiencing burnout, you may see a pattern of incomplete tasks or work quality that does not reflect their previous habits. Unfortunately, this is a prominent issue for remote companies. Many people prefer the familiarity of an office and specified schedule, and are easily overwhelmed with the lack of structure in remote work. As a leader, you will need to face these problems head-on, and establish an appropriate relationship with your team. This means investing and understanding their personal and professional goals. This can begin by holding 1 on 1 meetings each week with a different member of the team. Learn more about their ambitions, what they are looking for, what motivates them and the steps they have taken to reach the goals. Take notes. Know whether they live alone or with a partner - or a pet! Know about their children. Understand their work environment. Once you have a better understanding of who they are, offer your support and see how you can be of assistance. Help them understand the work/life balance. For a team member living alone, this will be different from a team member juggling work and a family. This could be as simple as sharing informative articles, shifting portions of their work more towards their aspirations or even checking in with them to make sure they are being held accountable. Repeating these meetings every few weeks will demonstrate your leadership and empathy skills, and will hold a positive impact as you invest in their wellbeing. Another investment would be to develop a package with your finance and HR team that puts funds towards the mental and physical health of your workers. For those expressing interest in counseling, you could offer benefits to cover some the expenses of a therapist. For those who want to improve physical health, covering the costs of a fitness membership could help reduce the chance of burnout. As a leader, you are responsible for not only openly communicating about the importance of mental health, but also ensuring you are leading by example. Having these conversations can bring awareness to the issue and encourage individuals to avoid overworking and isolation. Arrange remote team-building events! At Metadot, Daniel encourages the team to establish a healthy balance of work and play. Each week, the team comes together for a virtual stretch class or fitness class. Every Friday, the team meets in a virtual room on Discord to have a “Happy Hour” and share non-work-related conversations. These efforts demonstrate his investment into our mental wellbeing, as well as ensuring we are taking care of our physical health as well. Empathy should be a prioritized attribute when being a leader. Although your relationship with your team is in a professional setting, understand that your workers are human and face challenges outside of the workplace. When someone isn’t performing, avoid criticism - empathize first. When you invest in the mental and physical health of your team, you invest in the company. Strong leadership is one of the keys to success for a corporation and individuals alike, and at times is a practice of trial and error for even the most experienced. This new culture of leading remotely is changing the face of leadership across the workplace and we are constantly learning how to perfect the task. Possess the self-awareness to learn from your mistakes, be confident in your abilities to lead. Commit to embodying the foundation of being a R.E.M.O.T.E leader and your team and organization will be well on the way to success. --- ### Zoom Fatigue: How To Beat The Burnout Of Remote Work Meetings URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/zoom-fatigue-how-to-beat-the-burnout-of-remote-work-meetings/ Published: 2021-05-05 09:11:15 Author: supercobra This is a cross-posting from our parent company Metadot blog. Zoom calls are something everyone has become familiar with especially during the pandemic. Whether it's a virtual birthday party, long-distance family game night or just the classic 9 am work meeting - Zoom has become a more consistent part of our daily lives. It has allowed companies to keep operating, families to stay connected, and the world to shift the way we once viewed work structures. Amidst all the positives, Zoom and other virtual communication platforms have their negatives. Professor Jeremy Bailenson with the Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab conducted a study analyzing the ways in which these meetings may be burning us out. He has reduced these feelings of exhaustion into four identifiable categories and ways to help ease the effects, coining the term: Zoom Fatigue. Social Distance From The Screen When the majority of “face-to-face” human contact starts occurring through screens, we are experiencing some subconscious effects. The normal meeting dynamic of the presenter holding the attention is shifted as everyone now has direct eye contact with all of the participants of the meeting. While this not only shifts the dynamics of the meeting, Bailenson includes the rise in emotional turmoil for those who experience social anxieties. “Social anxiety of public speaking is one of the biggest phobias that exists in our population,” and when individuals are put in an environment where “everybody’s staring at you, that’s a stressful experience.” This could go as far as to affect one’s performance, and definitely add a level of stress that would otherwise be avoided in the traditional workplace meeting. Bailenson refers to this as a “hyper-aroused state” as you are also experiencing other individuals' faces at a size that the brain acknowledges as an intense situation. The intensity for long periods of time can contribute to Zoom Fatigue, which Stanford recommends combatting with: Taking Zoom and other virtual communication platforms out of full-screen when in use. This can help control the image and reduce the intensity.Try using an external keyboard to help create excess space between you and the screen, in comparison to using the keyboard that is attached to the laptop. Face-Time Leads To Fatigue While the amount of face time with others can cause fatigue, we are also experiencing an increased amount of time looking at our own faces. In our ordinary lives, we rarely ever spend hours a day looking at a reflection of ourselves, analyzing our body language and mannerisms - that is not a normal human experience. Humans can be relatively critical, especially of themselves, and viewing yourself through a Zoom screen is like living under a constant microscope. This can be quite draining, and add a level of emotional stress - lowering one’s confidence. These effects can begin to develop an association between anxiety and meetings, which potentially creates a less positive performance from the lack of confidence. While the most ideal solution would be to have the platforms change the way in which they display the meeting room, users can take initiative and manually hide their own self from view. This detracts from the attention and criticism they put on themselves and opens the opportunity for a company to have more productive meetings where the attention is directed in a healthier, more appropriate way. The New 6 Feet Of Space Whether it’s a conversation at the office or connecting over a phone call, people have the flexibility to move around and express themselves through physical motion. When individuals are required to sit in front of a screen through a visual environment, this opportunity for movement is greatly limited. Research has shown that sitting for long periods of time is not healthy, and that movement is essential for improving cognizability. For people like me who tend to have a difficult time remaining still and engaged during meetings, I feel this is an area where I can most clearly recognize my Zoom Fatigue. I don’t feel at my best when sitting for long periods of time, or being limited to small places of movement. I find an outlet in my movement, or even something as small as being able to take notes or make small doodles as I follow along with a presentation. A way to help ease this challenge is to: Make a point to engage in physical activity when not in meetings. Whether it be a quick 10 minute stretch or a walk on your lunch break, make time and be intentional with giving yourself the opportunity.Try adding an external camera to increase the distance between you and the monitor, giving slightly more room for comfortable movement.Another option is to break against the norm of turning off cameras during meetings, and instead establish times when turning off the camera is acceptable and appropriate.Managers can help combat this issue by reducing meeting times, and the amount of meetings that take place throughout the week. Non-Verbal Communication Fatigue A large portion of effective communication is non-verbal, when engaging in conversations we are constantly picking up on body language cues. When the in-person, physical element is removed along with audio and video delays, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to identify cues and communication. The way in which we communicate becomes a little unnatural, as we over exaggerate to better understand others, as well as the ways in which we send and receive communication. This includes holding “thumbs up” or “overexaggerated head nods'' which is not a typical or perceived natural behavior in a physical work environment. The lack of physical human interaction can potentially limit our social skills and create some social anxieties, weakening communication further. Bailenson recommends giving an “audio break” which includes turning off the camera and microphone when not presenting, and stepping away from the camera for a few minutes to give the opportunity to ground yourself in your environment, and not become overwhelmed with the virtual world. While we all consistently experience the positives of technology, we are also simultaneously experiencing the negatives. As we move forward as a virtual community, it is important to combat these challenges and be intentional in solutions. The Covid-19 pandemic has proven the shift to remote working to be the new normal, and the prioritization of combatting Zoom fatigue should become essential in creating a healthy work environment. University, Stanford. “Four Causes for ‘Zoom Fatigue’ and Their Solutions.” Stanford News, 1 Mar. 2021, https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/. --- ### The Das Keyboard 5QS Smart Keyboard Launches with Second-Generation Supercharged Hardware & Features URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-das-keyboard-5qs-smart-keyboard-launches-with-second-generation-supercharged-hardware-features/ Published: 2021-03-30 14:25:36 Author: david Das Keyboard is excited to release the second generation of the 5Q keyboard, the 5QS. The Das Keyboard 5QS is a smart RGB mechanical keyboard that helps boost productivity by displaying information (e.g. weather, stock quotes, etc..) in color on the keyboard’s keys. The Das Keyboard 5QS key features Das Keyboard Q technology built-in to enable smart RGB notificationsUltra-bright RGB lightingA built-in RGB profile editor with pre-configured profilesA built-in macro editor to replay recorded keystrokesGaming mode with full-NKRO100M cycle mechanical key switches with Das Keyboard Gamma Zulu switches (made in Japan by Omron) with centered LED light pipeDetachable palm restQ volume knob changes volume & previews notificationsAnodized aluminum top panelWindows & Ubuntu support. Built-in Mac mode. Here are some of the built-in RGB profiles: Rainbow pattern (Press Fn + 0 on the number pad to set, hold Fn + 0 to cycle through rainbow pattern): Blue RGB Profile (Press Fn + 1 on number pad): Green RGB Profile (Press Fn + 2 on number pad): Red RGB Profile (Press Fn + 3 on number pad): Solid color rotation (Press Fn + 4 on number pad)Slow solid rainbow rotation (Press Fn + 5 on number pad): White finger imprint. (Press Fn + 6 on number pad or Fn + Print Screen): Orange RGB profile (Press Fn + 7 on number pad) Yellow RGB profile (Press Fn + 8 on number pad)Light Blue RGB profile (Press Fn + 9 on number pad)Purple RGB profile (Press Fn + / on number pad)White RGB profile (Press Fn + . on number pad) Das Keyboard Q desktop software can be used to configure additional RGB profiles. Here are some of them: AutoCAD RGB Profile: Best typing position (QWERTY) RGB Profile: Counter-Strike RGB Profile: League of Legends RGB Profile: Texas Longhorns (orange) RGB Profile: Photoshop RGB Profile: The new macro feature records keystroke sequences that can be played back to help with repetitive words or sentences, or to replay complicated sequences that are long or difficult to run in real-time games. Connect the 5QS to your favorite software As for all the Q enabled Das Keyboards, the 5QS can be used to display notifications coming from popular software. Das Keyboard Q desktop software allows users to configure them: Asana applet: Display Asana notifications on a Das Keyboard Q Series. Asana is a work management platform. For more information about Asana visit https://www.asana.com.Bamzooka applet: Create checklists, schedule them, assign them to teams, watch progress in real-time. This applet displays a notification for Bamzooka assignments on a Das Keyboard Q device. Red assignment due date is lateOrange assignment is due soonBlue assignment is due laterGreen no assignments to completeTo get started, signup for a Bamzooka account at https://bamzooka.comBasecamp applet : Displays Basecamp 3 projects activities (new tasks, messages, meetings, etc.) on a Das Keyboard Q Series. You need a premium account. Basecamp is a project management tool, helping to manage projects and collaborate with clients. For more information about Basecamp visit https://www.basecamp.com.Birthday Reminder applet: This applet will remind you of the birthday dates you don't want to forget.CPU Usage applet: Displays the CPU usage as a progress bar.CircleCI: Get CircleCI build status alerts directly on a Das Keyboard Q Series. CircleCI's continuous integration and delivery platform makes it easy for teams of all sizes to rapidly build and release quality software at scale. For more information about CircleCI visit https://www.circleci.com.Clock applet: Displays the time on a Das Keyboard Q Series. Example: The time is 8:58pmCrypto Watch applet: Displays cryptocurrency price variations.Das Ping applet: Das Ping is a Das Keyboard Applet that periodically pings a website and assigns a color to a key based on the response time. The colors and timings are configurable. It works well for monitoring downtime as well as performance for websites.Firewall Guard applet: This applet monitors firewall and server ports. It notifies users of port availability changes.Green: firewall up and runningRed: alarm - port does not satisfy conditionFlight Price Watcher applet: This applet displays the price trend of a flight*. This applet will change the color of the key on the keyboard according to the maximum price the user can afford and the price trend: Green: The price is decreasing and is under the maximum price the user can afford. Yellow: The price is increasing and is under the maximum price the user can afford. Orange: The price is decreasing and is above the maximum price the user can afford. Red: The price is increasing and is above the maximum price the user can afford.(*) Supports only direct and one way flights.GPU Usage applet: Monitors GPU memory usage on your Q keyboard. Requires NVIDIA client software.Example: The "N" key in the image below is green because the GPU memory usage is currently under 20%.Game Deals applet: Displays a signal whenever a new deal goes live on a wanted game.GitHub: Displays GitHub notifications on a Das Keyboard Q Series by blinking a key of your choice.H20 Reminder applet: Drinking water is essential for a healthy life. This applet will remind you to drink every hour. The right quantity of water based on your body mass, gender and lifestyle.ICMP Ping applet: A highly-customizable applet that displays ICMP ping response times as a color gradient depending the average round-trip time duration.Jenkins Pipeline applet: A Das Keyboard applet to display the status of a Pipeline on Jenkins. Jenkins is the leading open source automation server, Jenkins provides hundreds of plugins to support building, deploying and automating any project. For more information checkout jenkins.io.Mini Meters applet: Displays the CPU usage, free memory, GPU usage, or average load on individual keys on a Das Keyboard Q Series.Mojo Helpdesk applet: Displays new tickets activity on a Das Keyboard Q Series. Mojo Helpdesk is the #1 help desk & ticket tracking software to provide great customer support. For more information visit https://mojohelpdesk.com/.Montastic applet: Montastic monitor URLs and sends an email when a website goes down. This applet displays Montastic alarms on a Q device: Green: website is OK Red: website alarmTo get started, signup for a free Montastic account at https://www.montastic.com.Parcel Tracker applet: Displays the progress of a shipment as a progress bar of 5 keys. This applet supports: UPS & FedexPhilips Hue applet: Displays whether hue lights are on or off in a room on a Das Keyboard Q Series. Example Lights are on in the kitchen, basement, and attic; Lights are off in the garage and living room.Q alerts for Gmail applet: Notifies of new unread Gmail messages on selected keys.RAM Usage: Displays the percentage of memory used with the following colors: greens <30%, yellow <70%, orange < 85% and red 85% and above.Example with 50% memory used :Server Fault applet: Displays Server Fault notifications for unread inbox items by making a Das Keyboard Q key blink in blue. Server Fault is a question and answer site for system and network administrators. For more information visit https://serverfault.com/.Server Ping applet: Monitors the status of web servers by performing HTTP requests on a given interval and updating a key color to reflect an 'UP' or 'DOWN' status based on how it compares to the desired status codeStack Overflow applet: Displays Stack Overflow notifications for unread inbox items by making a Das Keyboard Q key blink in blue. Stack Overflow is a question and answer site for professional and enthusiast programmers. For more information about Stack Overflow visit https://www.stackoverflow.com.Stand Up Reminder applet: Do you find yourself sitting at your desk for long periods at a time? This applet will remind you to stand up every hour by blinking a key of your choice.Stock Quotes applet: Displays changes in stock prices. Teamwork: This applet displays all projects updates activity. Moreover, you can trigger specific kinds of updates (posts, comments, notebooks, tasks and milestones.) Teamwork can provide collective strength and staying power for your business or organization. For more information visit https://www.teamwork.com/.Timer applet: Need a block of time? The timer can countdown from up to 24 hours. Watch the remaining time run away. Configure the timer and effect to your linking.Travis CI applet: Get Travis CI build status alerts directly on a Das Keyboard Q keyboard. Requires a Travis account and the token linked to this account: https://travis-ci.com/.Trello applet: Displays Trello notifications on a Das Keyboard Q Series. Trello lets you work more collaboratively and get more done. For more information about Trello visit https://www.trello.com.Twitch applet: Displays Twitch notifications on a Das Keyboard Q whenever your favorite streamers are online. Twitch is a live streaming video platform. For more information about Twitch visit https://www.twitch.tv.Weather applet: Displays a 4-day weather forecast for cities located in the USA, and multiple cities around the world.Workout Reminder applet: Do you find yourself sitting at your desk for long periods of time? This applet is for people who find it difficult to fit exercise into their busy schedule. The Workout Reminder applet allows users to set up reminders to start working out every hour during the workday. Workout routine can be customized by choosing from a list of 12 exercises.ZenHub applet: Lights up a keyboard key whenever issues are moving inside boards. ZenHub is the only project management tool that integrates natively within GitHub’s user interface. For more information, visit https://www.zenhub.com. For an up to date list visit Das Keyboard Q software page. Software developers will be happy to know that all Das Keyboard applets are open source and that they can easily develop and contribute their own. Useful links Das Keyboard 5QS product pageDas Keyboard Q applets marketplaceDas Keyboard GithubQ applet developer documentation --- ### Celebrating Engineers for their Contributions this National Engineers Week URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/celebrating-engineers-for-their-contributions-this-national-engineering-week/ Published: 2021-02-22 16:00:15 Author: david Engineers are often overlooked as we go through each day, taking for granted the comforts and newfound quality of life that was once impossible to imagine. Many of these advances would have been impossible to achieve it if wasn’t for engineers playing a major role in their contributions to technology, architecture, transportation, and virtually anything else one can imagine. By highlighting and applauding just a few of the millions of engineers during National Engineers Week, applaud and show our appreciation for their contributions, and look forward to witnessing future marvels. A myriad of engineers from the ancient ages, middle ages, and European Renaissance have contributed to the fields of transportation, technology, architecture, science, music, and mathematics. Dating back to the pyramids of the Egyptian, Mayan, Inca, and Aztec Empires, the Greek aqueducts and Colosseum, wind and steam power, the music sequencer (the earliest programmable musical instrument), and the almighty steam engine in 1698. Let’s take a look at a few present-day engineers in the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Structural Engineering while recognizing the brilliance of thousands of others in hundreds of additional fields. Martin Eberhard & Marc Tarpenning: Computer & Electrical Engineer Tesla Motors Image via Tesla Everyone is aware of Elon Musk, but the original co-founders behind Tesla frequently go unmentioned. Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning are US engineers and entrepreneurs who launched Tesla Motors to create a completely electric car, in part influenced by GM’s electric car experiment, the EV1. Even though the EV1 was never released for purchase, Martin & Marc considered it a success from an engineering standpoint. Eberhard and Tarpenning dreamt of building an electric sports car, which led to the release of the incredible Tesla Roadster which entered production in 2008. Originally with a base price of $98,950 Martin, Marc, and their teams had created a modern marvel that the world had never seen. With a range of 220 miles, 248-hp/211-lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 125 MPH, and a 0-60 time of 4 seconds, the original Roadster proved skeptics wrong that you couldn’t have a fast, stunning, all-electric vehicle, and ultimately moving the automotive industry forward with their engineering marvel. While the new Tesla Roadster has had massive improvements, with the new model teasing that it is will be the fastest car in the world with under 2 second 0-60 time, none of these advancements would likely have been possible without the original work and vision of Martin Eberhard & Marc Tarpenning. Jan Koum: Computer Engineer WhatsApp Jan Koum, the founder and computer engineer behind WhatsApp has an interesting rags-to-riches story that led him to his massive achievement. Jan was born in a small village outside of Kiev, Ukraine, where he lived with his mother who was a housewife, and his father who was a construction manager. Their house had no hot water and one can only imagine how getting an early start in the field of computer engineering must have been difficult. In 1992 Koum and his mother immigrated to Mountain View, California when he was 16, where they lived in a small two-bedroom apartment. By the age of 18, Jan became a self-taught computer networking expert by purchasing manuals from a used book store. After becoming an active member of hacker communities, and gaining a new level of access to other experts in computer engineering, such as Sean Fanning, co-founder of Napster, he had found his calling. After a brief stint as a student at San Jose State University, Jan was hired by Yahoo! as an infrastructure engineer. Jan worked at Yahoo! for seven years and then in January 2009, Koum saw the massive potential of the fledgling Apple iPhone App Store, which led him to build the WhatsApp voice-over-IP and instant messaging app. WhatsApp was not initially very popular until in 2009 Apple added push notifications to the iPhone, which allowed users of the real-time messaging app to get a notification every time one of their contacts messaged or called. Once push notifications were available the app grew its userbase tremendously as people saw it as a free alternative to costly texting. In 2014 Mark Zuckerberg and the teams at Facebook witnessed WhatsApp popularity skyrocket, leading to Zuckerberg inviting Koum to dinner at his home where he formally proposed Koum a deal to join the Facebook board. Shortly after, Facebook announced that it was acquiring WhatsApp for $19 billion, making Jan the world’s newest billionaire. WhatsApp is still one of the most popular iPhone apps in the world, although Jan has since parted ways with Facebook. WhatsApp is coded in ERLANG and uses an extremely reliable Ejabberd (XMPP) server to transfer messages instantly between two, or many users simultaneously. Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson: Computer Engineers Go Programming Language Image via golang.org Google has employed a host of some of the most talented engineers in the world across a variety of fields. One such group is the team that developed the Go programming language: Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson. They were motivated by their shared dislike for C++, so set out to create a statically typed, compiled programming language that would improve programming productivity in an era of large codebases. Robert, Rob, and Ken decided to use the most useful elements from a variety of other programming languages while avoiding using elements that drew criticism. The language uses static typing and run-time efficiency (like C), readability and usability (like Python or JavaScript),[ and is designed for high-performance networking and multiprocessing. The reason Go is such an important achievement is that it is a very simple language to understand, allowing new programmers to pick up the language quickly, and experienced programmers to quickly understand someone else's code. Go is also extremely fast, which is why massive companies such as SendGrid, Salesforce, Docker and so many others have switched over, as it has proved to be the best for cloud compatibility. Also, Rob, Ken, and Robert built a superior garbage collection facility, which is a form of automatic memory management, it has a solid network package & solves the problem of unused variables, multi and cross-culture compilers. Craig Venter: Biological Engineer Human Genome Craig Venter is one of the leading biotechnologists today, most well-known for leading the first draft sequence of the human genome. Venter has always been passionate about the power of genomics to radically transform healthcare and took the view that the Human Genome Project was so important to this cause. Because the project was moving so slowly, he argued that shotgun sequencing (a method used for sequencing random DNA strands) would be the fastest and most effective way to get useful human genome data. Venter was ultimately kicked out of the Human Genome Project for his beliefs, which he saw as an opportunity to raise $300 million in private funding from Celera Genomics to proceed with his method at a faster pace and at a fraction of the cost of the $3 billion publicly funded project. Celera saw the opportunity to profit from the work by creating genomic data to which users could subscribe for a fee, which led to Venter and Francis Collins of the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Public Genome Project announced jointly in 2000 the mapping of the human genome, three years ahead of the expected end of the Public Genome Program. Venter went on to co-found Synthetic Genomics in 2005, a firm dedicated to using modified microorganisms to produce clean fuels and biochemicals, and in May of 2010 a team of scientists led by Venter became the first to successfully create the first form of "synthetic life". The team synthesized a very long DNA molecule containing the entire genome of a bacterium, and introduced this genome into another cell, creating the first form of what has been called synthetic life. In 2013 Venter was featured in an article by The Guardian about his vision of a Digital Biological Converter, which would be a box attached to a computer with the ability to receive DNA sequences over the internet to synthesize proteins, viruses and even living cells to fill a prescription for insulin, provide vaccine during a pandemic or even produce phage viruses targeted to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Burt Rutan: Aerospace Engineer The Rutan Voyager, Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer and Private Space Travel Image By NASA - Public Domain Elbert “Burt” Leander Rutan, one of the most innovative aerospace and aircraft designers of all time, is noted for his originality in designing light, strong, and energy-efficient air and spacecraft. From a very young age, Burt was enthralled with aircraft, as a child designing competitive model airplanes, and then flight-tested airplanes during the Vietnam war, and has gone on to develop a new airplane every year since 1982, many of which are classified. Burt was one of the driving forces behind the Rutan Voyager in 1986 when it became the first plane to fly around the world in a nine-day nonstop flight without refueling. Originally sketched on the back of a napkin, the idea of the Rutan Voyager was conceived at lunch when the imagination of Burt, as well as Jeana Yeager, and Dick Rutan- Burt’s brother who piloted the Voyager flight. Containing both front and back propellers with their own engines, the Voyager was constructed of fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Kevlar so that it weighed only 939 pounds (without fuel). While the flight wasn’t without its challenges, succumbing to damage during the flight and Libya denying access to its airspace, it landed safely nine days later in front of 55,000 spectators and the press. In 2006 Rutan launched the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, which set the world record for the fastest and longest nonstop flight around the world without refueling. With a somewhat similar overall look as the Rutan Voyager, the GlobalFlyer contains a single jet engine. While the flight was aided by a helpful tailwind, in January of 2005 the GlobalFlyer completed its journey around the world in just 2 days, 19 hours, 1 minute, and 46 seconds. The GlobalFlyer then set a new world record in 2006 when it flew the longest distance by any kind of aircraft, landing 25 minutes before its generator would have died, and traveling 25,766 miles in 76 hours and 45 minutes. Rutan has also been a leading force in making low-cost space tourism a reality, collaborating with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic for SpaceShipTwo, a collaboration between Richard Branson. In March of 2010, SpaceShipTwo completed its first "captive carry", marking it the first private space venture ever, and launching the era of commercial space exploration. Bill Baker: Structural Engineer Burj Khalifa, Dubai Image By Donaldytong Bill Baker is known to some as the “King of Superstable 150-Story Structures”, has an impressive collection of structural achievements. Having built more “supertalls”, towers that exceed 1,000 feet than any engineer in history, the list is not only impressive but breathtaking. Having worked on the AT&T Corporate Center in Chicago, the Exchange House in London that spans the tracks at the Liverpool street station, the General Motors entry pavilion in Detroit, the Cayan Tower in Dubai, the Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou Hong Kong, the Nanjing Greenland Financial Center in China, and setting a new world record in 2010 with the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai standing 2,720 feet tall. The Burj Khalifa is one of the most impressive buildings on earth and its incredible height was only possible due to Bill’s development of the “buttressed core” structural system. The most ambitious architectural endeavors are often designed without the realization of whether or not they can be built, and that’s why the “buttressed core” was a crucial part of its success. Originally used in the 73-story Tower Palace III in Seoul, the “buttressed core” has three structural "wings" which extend out of a central hub. The wings provide support for the building, and the core keeps the wings firmly anchored so they don't twist in the wind. The design allows Baker's buildings to be extremely tall, be built very fast with material efficiency a top priority, and with enough usable floor space to maximize the building’s potential profitability. Bill is aware that we live in a world with limited resources, and while some of his buildings may be looked at as willful excess, his goal is to see structural engineers create buildings that will facilitate dreams. Bill Baker lectures on a variety of structural engineering topics in the U.S. and abroad to help the structural engineers of tomorrow develop subsistence ideas that can lead to meaningful architecture. As the National Society of Professional Engineers and Discover Engineering organizations continue to promote engineering in education and throughout cultural societies, we are happy to celebrate and raise awareness around the contributions that engineers have made. We salute and admire engineers, as well as the teachers, and students of math, science, and technology. To help spread the word, make a post to social media with #Eweek2021 and tag an engineer you admire. --- ### Increasing Productivity by Minimizing the Time Between Thought and Action URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/increasing-productivity-minimizing-time-between-thought-action/ Published: 2021-01-25 13:45:00 Author: BradleyOkdie The majority of productivity systems increase productivity through the use of elaborate systems and complicated rules. Therefore, increases in productivity typically come with a considerable time investment while learning and implementing the new productivity system. But, what if you just want some quick ways to increase productivity without investing time in a complicated system? One way to increase productivity without learning a new productivity system is to decrease the time between thought and action. The distance between thought and action is a bottleneck Thought precedes action. The time between thought and action creates a bottleneck to productivity. Decreasing the time between thought and action increases productivity and focus[1]. Productivity increases because less time is needed to accomplish a task. Focus increases as shortening the time between thought and action means you need less working memory (i.e., a brief memory store in your brain used to hold and manipulate information) resources leaving more for continuing your desired train of thought. Moreover, increased focus should lead to an increased propensity for further thought generation. That is, the less time spent holding any single thought in one’s head, the greater likelihood that the thought will continue to generate other meaningful thoughts on the topic (e.g., one cannot think of the next thing in a sequence if they are too busy ensuring they keep the first thing in their head). Working memory is fleeting and keeping things in it is effortful. Sometimes the thoughts that follow the initial idea are the ones that are important and worth remembering. Reducing the time between thought and action increases the likelihood that those second-order thoughts will occur. Imagine Jane is working at her computer and has a great idea for her next book and wants to quickly write down her thoughts. To capture her idea, she must locate her book idea file, open her writing app, title the file, insert the date/time, title the note, and begin writing. While accomplishing these steps, she must also simultaneously hold her initial thought in her head in working memory. While Jane is doing these steps, the idea (and thoughts that surround it) are quickly fading and the train of thought that may have propelled her into new ideas beyond the original may be lost. But, it does not have to be this way. Now, imagine Jane increases her focus and productivity by shortening the time between her thought (idea for a new book) and action (capturing her idea). In this new scenario, Jane presses a keyboard shortcut which opens her book idea file in her writing app of choice, insert the date/time, title, and places the cursor at the appropriate place for her to start typing her new idea. When Jane finishes outlining the idea, a new set of keystrokes saves the document and quits the writing app leaving her to continue her original work.[2] By minimizing the time between thought and action, Jane can get the idea out quickly and increase her focus. How to minimize the space between thought and action There are many ways to minimize the time between thought and action. Below are a few examples. Contextual computing As described in the earlier example with Jane, one way to minimize the time between thought and action is by utilizing contextual computing. Contextual computing is using a computer in such a way that it minimizes the steps between thought and action. This requires that you set up your device such that, when you have a thought, you are immediately presented with the specific context upon which you can act.[3] For example, if Jane wants to work on her blog, she could tap the blog shortcut on her iPad (or launch a script) that will open her blog writing platform and begin a new page with a “#” at the top for a markdown title. Thus, from the moment that Jane has the idea to write, she is one keystroke (or tap) away from capturing her idea. Contextual computing allows Jane to minimize the time between thought and action thereby maximizing her ability to maintain focus and attention. Contextual computing is not just limited to writing. You can use this concept to maximize productivity and minimize the latency between thought and action in almost all computing tasks. For example, let’s say that Jane would like to work on email related to her work. However, she is never as productive as she should be in processing her work email because she always gets distracted by the personal email messages that appear in her unified inbox. One way that she can shorten the time between thought and action is to set up an automation that opens her email directly to her work inbox only bypassing the distracting email messages in her personal inbox and allowing her to focus on responding to her work email. Touch typing Learning to touch type (i.e., typing without looking at the keys) is another way to shorten the time between thought and action. Touch typing increases the speed with which you can get words on the page saving you time from searching for the keys on the keyboard. If you can get the words out of your head quicker, you increase productivity and focus. The productivity boost comes not just from getting more words on the page quickly; it also comes from ensuring that the flow of thoughts and ideas, while you write, is uninterrupted. Touch typing should not only increase the speed you can create documents, but those documents should also be of higher quality. If you do not already touch-type, you can learn how by covering your keyboard and practicing on a standard keyboard[4]. If you are a touch typist but want to improve, you can use websites such as Das Keyboards Typrx website. No matter your skill level learning to touch type will shorten the time between thought and action leading to better focus and increased productivity. Making use of the idea I hope that you will take ideas from this post and implement them in your life. The earlier examples should serve as two of many ways in which you can increase productivity and focus by decreasing the time between thought and action. How you decrease the time between thought and action will be unique to your needs and particular work setup. Your needs are unique to you and will require unique solutions. Thus, the goal of this post is to introduce you to the idea; it is up to you to meaningfully apply the ideas to your life. How can you create systems in your life that minimize the time between thought and action? This idea may have been originally coined by Merlin Mann on his original 43 folders blog. However, the blog has been dormant for many years and I cannot find the initial reference. ↩Better yet, this entire process can be automated by writing a script that asks Jane for the pertinent information (e.g., title) and automatically appends that information to the appropriate file in place without forcing Jane to leave her current context. ↩Here is a great podcast episode in which the hosts discuss the concept of contextual computing in great detail ↩The easiest way to accomplish this is to take a large shoebox and cut a hole in one side to cover the keys from sight but still allow your hands to reach the keys. ↩ --- ### NKRO: Pressing the limits of human-to-computer interaction URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/what-is-nkro-pressing-the-limits/ Published: 2021-01-14 09:50:35 Author: dwangoAC When you think about the primary interface between a human and a computer, a keyboard is probably the first thing that comes to mind. A mouse, game controller, or speech recognition can help with plenty of tasks but nothing matches the accuracy of a keyboard for recording your thoughts into a computer. Elon Musk’s Neuralink appears set to create a functional brain-to-computer interface but, to put it mildly, the implications of surgical probe insertion limit the potential audience considerably. Since that shortcut is out of consideration for most of us and stenography is limited in scope, the better option is to improve the efficiency of the keyboard designs we already have, which is where n-key rollover comes into play. What is NKRO? Simply put, n-key rollover (or NKRO) is the term used to describe how many keys can be pressed simultaneously. The “n” used in the term is a mathematical symbol used to define “natural numbers”, which are positive integers from 1 to infinity. If you have a 6-key rollover keyboard, you can press 6 keys at the same time, if you have a full n-key rollover keyboard, you can press all of the keys at the same time. Mechanical keyboards are famous for having n-key rollover, vs membrane keyboards which don't due to limitations in the way they are manufactured. Das Keyboard has always sold keyboards with NKRO which is part of their popularity with typists and gamers. How many fingers am I holding (down)? Every normal keyboard method involves pressing and releasing a button, but there are a wide variety of ways that can happen. If you think of your common mobile phone soft keyboard on a capacitive touchscreen display, you’re likely using two thumbs to press and release one letter or function at a time. If you’re quick you might find that your left thumb is coming off of pressing one letter while your right thumb has already started pressing the next. This is the simplest example of a common situation every keyboard needs to contend with - humans often press more than one key at once even in non-gaming contexts. Your phone will probably max out at two simultaneous presses given you’re likely using your thumbs, but with 10 fingers on a full keyboard things get a lot more interesting… and a lot more broken. On a typical keyboard, various shortcuts are used to cut down manufacturing costs. One of these cost-cutting measures involves using a matrix technique also found on pinball machines where the switches for each key are connected with a grid of intersecting wires logically arranged in rows and columns. In this design, the matrix controller constantly “scans” the columns of wires for any presses, then when one is detected scans the rows and identifies where that row and column intersect to map which key has been pressed. One limitation of this technique is that pressing multiple keys can result in ghosting or phantom presses. Simultaneously pressing the letters “the” might cause an unexpected j to be received as well, which is undesirable. To combat the issue while still keeping costs down, keyboard manufacturers add diodes and additional matrix circuitry to prevent ghosting by jamming any further input from being registered, typically after three keys are pressed simultaneously. The result is your typical keyboard is only moderately better than your thumbs, although you’re likely to notice it less due to the preferential treatment is given to commonly held down keys such as Ctrl and Shift. How many fingers do I really need to be holding down right now? You might be asking why any of this matters, and in reality, it often won’t. In normal typing circumstances it might not be noticeable; if you’re a fast typist hitting a burst and a keypress is dropped due to jamming you might assume that you made a typo. There are also some contexts where you really do need to hold down unusual button combinations simultaneously. Some are niche needs, such as braille input that might require up to 6 keys at once. Others are gaming-focused and come up more often for southpaws such as myself that don’t use WASD controls. With that said, the best example I can come up with is the world of Tool-Assisted Speedrun creation. What is Tool-Assisted Speedrun creation? A speedrun is a human completing a video game as fast as possible. A Tool-Assisted Speedrun, or TAS, is a speedrun without human limitations. As you’ll see below, making a TAS is a keyboard-heavy process where the need for NKRO becomes apparent. Running right for great justice is harder if you can’t jump Video game console emulators often map Up, Down, Left, and Right to WASD but the other buttons are often less defined. Perhaps you plan to make room for a friend on the right and set the A and B buttons to the C and V keys. You’ll quickly discover this arrangement has a problem - on many keyboards, you can move Mario right (the D key), and you can make him run (the C key), but the moment you try to jump over the first Goomba (the V key) you’ll discover your keyboard has decided to ignore you. You’re probably going to die and might decide not to run right for great justice after all. You can remap keys to work around most jamming problems, but things are going to get a lot harder when you try to do a two-player game or if you need more simultaneous button presses for more glitchy reasons such as making a TAS. If you put a video game in an emulator, you can control every aspect of the game and console. You can create a savestate and restore it later, or you can create a movie file of every button press in order so you can rewatch your progress. Taking it a step further, you can map a key to pause the game and advance one frame at a time every time you tap it, resulting in an interesting phenomenon best described as chorded keyboarding. Chords on a keyboard, but not the musical kind A stenotype or chorded keyboard typically uses combinations of keys held down simultaneously to create characters or words depending on the design. Many designs work by holding down a series of keys and releasing them all to produce a result. In creating a TAS you’re using a similar process that involves pressing the frame advance key. Let’s assume the game is paused and you’re preparing to have Mario run and jump over the first Goomba which means you’ll need to hold down three keys simultaneously for right, run, and jump. While holding those three keys down you’ll tap and release the key you’ve mapped to frame advance after which you’ll see the result. You can keep tapping frame advance while adjusting whether you’re holding right or continuing to jump until you’re satisfied and make a savestate or go back with a load state and try again. The result is a kind of keyboard dance where you’re alternating between chords of keys, tapping the game forward one frame at a time. With careful mapping, you can successfully create a TAS on a normal keyboard, but some glitches require holding down a lot of keys at once. Sooner or later you’re going to encounter a situation you can’t remap your way out of without NKRO. Ask yourself if NKRO is for you Fortunately, you’ll be able to tell fairly quickly if NKRO will matter to you without having to consult an expert (or a doctor, for that matter). Want to play a two-player fighting game on a single keyboard? No problem. You’re an exceptionally fast typist that notices high bursts sometimes lose button presses? Fixed. You’re extremely efficient at typing important budget numbers into a spreadsheet and you can’t risk being off a digit due to lost input? NKRO has you covered. Most people looking to pick up a new keyboard are likely to be more concerned with physical form, but it’s worth considering if it has NKRO support. * This guest post has been provided by Allan Cecil, better known as dwangoAC, keeper of TASBot. He is President of the North Bay Linux Users’ Group, a senior staff member of TASVideos.org, and a mechanical keyboard enthusiast. --- ### Mechanical Keyboard Guide URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/mechanical-keyboard-guide/ Published: 2021-01-01 00:00:00 Author: Das Keyboard Are you sitting there typing on your computer wondering what makes Das Keyboards such high-quality keyboards? Maybe you think mechanical keyboards are only 80’s IBM keyboards. Either way, a little education about the differences in keyboards will explain why so many people are making the move to mechanical keyboards. In order to fully understand the technical differences between keyboards, you will first need to understand some of the terminology first. Read on to learn about the differences. At the end of the first section is a helpful glossary of common keyboard terms in case you are unfamiliar with any keyboard terms and definitions. Table of contents Part 1: Membrane vs. Mechanical Keyboard ComparisonPart 2: Common Keyboard TerminologyPart 3: Keycap ShapesPart 4: Key PrintingPart 5: Common Key SwitchesPart 6: Mechanical Keyboard Maintenance and Cleaning Membrane vs. Mechanical Keyboards Most inexpensive keyboards, like the ones that come with computers, utilize a flexible membrane layer beneath the keys. When you press a key, it causes the membrane to press down and make contact with a bottom layer. This allows current to flow “closing” the switch so that the parent device registers the keypress. The biggest problem with this type of keyboard is that you have to completely depress the key, also known as “bottoming out.” There is also little to no tactile feedback. Without tactile feedback it is very difficult to type without bottoming out every keystroke, causing over-exertion and finger/hand fatigue that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Mechanical keyboards, however, use a switch underneath every key. Depending on the type of switch, they have a variety of response and travel times. Key switches will be explained in full detail in future installments, but the differences amongst them include the tactile feel and audible click each produces. Switches on a mechanical keyboard are made to last up to 50 million keystrokes. Think about how often you press a single key, and you’ll realize that’s a long time! Compare that to membrane switches, which typically last around 5-10 million keystrokes, and you’ll see why the initial investment in a mechanical keyboard is well worth it. A mechanical keyboard is the only keyboard with the capability to register all keys at one time (PS/2 permitting), also known as full N-Key Rollover. This is helpful for folks who type really fast and need to be able to hit keys in quick succession. Gamers who need to mash key combos quickly to frag their enemy also benefit. Try it on a membrane keyboard and you may be the one fragged. Certainly, the clicking sound on a mechanical keyboard can be an acquired taste, but what is interesting is how many people find it relaxing. You get the rhythm of clicking while you type and often it is a calming sound. Some people find that listening to the clicks helps them create a faster typing speed. Plus, not having to bottom out with each key allows you to move to the next letter more quickly with less energy wasted. Try it for yourself and see if it doesn’t make a difference in how quickly you type. Keyboard Terminology Common Keyboard Terms Actuation Point is the point at which the contact mechanism registers a keypress. Key Blocking is when multiple keys are depressed simultaneously, your keyboard will not recognize future keystrokes until the original keys are lifted. Keyboards have a maximum number of keys it can register at one time and if you depress more than its limit, it won’t register the other key presses. Key Ghosting can occur when three keys are pressed at once and a fourth keystroke you did not press is registered by your computer. Key Rollover is the number of keys that can be pressed in succession without having to lift a finger from any of the previous keys. Keyboards use the term KRO to represent the maximum number of keys you can press without experiencing any key blocking. So a 3KRO keyboard is a keyboard that can register 3 keys being pressed at once without experiencing key blocking. NKRO refers to N-Key Rollover, the ultimate in keyboards. A keyboard with N-Key Rollover can register as many keys as you can press at once without any key blocking issues. Currently, this feature is only available in keyboards with PS/2 connectors. PS/2 is a 6-pin Mini-DIN connector used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. While most modern connectors are USB, PS/2 has the benefit of full N-Key Rollover. Reset Point is the point when the mechanism ceases to register the keypress. Tactile Point is the point during the keypress at which the bump occurs to indicate to your finger that the key has been actuated. USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is the current industry standard for the connection of computer peripherals to personal computers. Most Common Keyboard Types Buckling Spring Keyboards use a buckling spring mechanism that controls a small hammer. When you strike the key, the mechanism causes the hammer to strike a capacitive or membrane switch. The spring is responsible for the tactile and audio response of the keyboard. These were utilized in the legendary IBM Model M keyboards. Dome Switch Keyboards are a hybrid of membrane and mechanical keyboards. They utilize either metal “dome” switches or polyester formed domes that collapse when a key is pressed. The collapsed dome then connects the two circuit traces and completes the connection to enter the character. Both versions are very common in consumer keyboards. Mechanical Keyboards utilize a switch underneath each key. Depending on the type of switch, these keyboards can have a variety of response and travel times, which make them attractive to gamers and heavy typists. Membrane Keyboards have one-piece plastic keytop/switch plungers that press down on a membrane to actuate a contact in an electrical switch matrix. They are the most inexpensive to manufacture and the most common type of keyboard available, but they wear out more quickly than other types of keyboards. Scissor-switch Keyboards use a type of dome-switch. The keyboard still uses rubber domes, but a special plastic, scissors-like mechanism links the keycap to a plunger that depresses the rubber dome with a much shorter travel than the typical rubber dome keyboard. These can often be found in built-in keyboards on laptops and low-profile keyboards. Topre Keyboards are a type of hybrid between a mechanical switch and a rubber dome switch keyboard. The Topre mechanism uses a spring underneath a rubber dome. Because of the domes, they are much quieter than most mechanical keyboards. Key Shapes Keys have come a long way from the flat disks on vintage typewriters. The shape of the keys and the feel under your fingertips have been taken more seriously over the years by keyboard manufacturers, although, choosing from the different types is purely based on personal preference. Cylindrical keys The type of key on a Das Keyboard, and what you typically find on most keyboards. These keys curve up on the left and right edges in order to cradle your fingertips. Flat keys or Chiclet Keyboards Typically found in laptops, and just as the name implies they are flat on top with no curvature. They are often referred to as “Chiclet” keys, because they look like the Chiclet chewing gum which are small squares with rounded corners. Spherical keys Keys that are curved on all four edges (see from the photo to the left). A spherical well is in the center of each key. These keys are typically found on old model typewriters like the IBM Selectric and some vintage keyboards. Key Printing There are a variety of printing types from pad printing to dye sublimation printing. If you are not familiar with these terms, it can be quite confusing as to whether you need a keyboard with pad printing or if it’s worth spending the money for double-shot injection molded keys. Pad Printing (or Screen Printing) The least expensive, most common form of key printing is Pad Printing, where the key image is printed using a durable ink. Often, the manufacturer will follow up with a clear coat to extend the life of the image. Unfortunately, this type of printing tends to wear out fast for most heavy typists. Check out the video to see how the production process works. Laser Etching A laser is used to burn the required character into the keycap, physically marking it, therefore impossible to wear off. This works best on light colored keys as it results in an image with a black burned color, but it works for black keys as well. Many manufacturers, Das Keyboard included, fill the engraved area with colored filler in order to laser etch on a black plastic background and have the character standout. You can also feel the texture of the raised character on each key with this process. Dye Sublimation Printing Dye Sublimation is a process where heat is used to impregnate a material with a dye, resulting in the dye sinking into the plastic. The nice feature to this is due to the dye becoming part of the plastic, it cannot be worn off like in pad printing. This is a much more expensive method of printing keys and must be used in situations where the dye is darker than the material being dyed. Double Shot Injection Molding Instead of printing characters onto plastic, double shot injection molding molds the character and underside of the keycap into one piece of plastic with the top part of the keycap molded onto another piece. They are fused together to form a dual-layer keycap with a very high contrast graphic. This is the most expensive, highest quality type of printing possible and results in a key that cannot be worn off as it is part of the keycap. It also limits the printing to two colors per keycap due to the molds and expenses involved. There have been examples of more than two colors using this method, but the price at this point is way too high for most companies to embrace. In fact, even most keyboard companies have abandoned double-shot injection molding based upon its high cost. Common Mechanical Keyboard Switches There are many different types of switches found in mechanical keyboards. Due to mechanical keyboards’ durability, it is common to find functioning used keyboards with switches that are no longer manufactured. The only way to know what type of switch is inside the keyboard is to take apart a board and sometimes even the switches, risking the destruction of the keyboard or the switches. Switches differ in how they close the circuit, signaling a key depression, the amount of tactile bump felt and the loudness of the click when the key is depressed. Cherry MX Switches Cherry MX are mechanical switches that consist of a spring and two metal contacts. When depressed, it causes the plastic stem to go down, at which point a steel spring inside closes the switch, signaling the key has been depressed. One of the benefits of Cherry MX switches is the gold-plated contacts. Unlike other metals, the gold prevents the contacts from rusting, increasing the lifespan of the switch. There are a variety of switch constructions for these types of keys, and they can be differentiated by the color of the stem, which you can see when you remove the keycap. Linear Switch: Cherry MX Black Cherry MX Black switches were one of the first mechanical keyboard switches available to the general public. They are linear, or non-tactile, this means that Black switches don’t have a loud click or a bump that is felt when a key is depressed. Many gamers like these because of the smooth feel and the fact that the actuation and release points are at the exact same position, making double-tapping easier than other switches. Actuation Force: 60cN Many gamers like these because of the smooth feel and the fact that the actuation and release points are at the exact same position, making double-tapping easier than other switches. Light Tactile Switch: Cherry MX Brown The Brown switches are about halfway between a typing and a gaming switch. Unlike the black switches, the browns have a soft, tactile bump about halfway through the keypress. Some people prefer them for gaming since it enables you to double tap faster and typists like them because they still have good tactile feedback, but the audio feedback isn’t quite as noticeable as Blue switch. The Brown switches have a softer click when depressed and require less force to actuate. The Das Keyboard tactile-soft series utilizes Brown switches. Actuation Force: 55cN Clicky Switch: Cherry MX Blue The Blue switches are popular within the typing community because of the “clicky” tactile bump when the activation point is hit. The overall experience of Blue switches is very similar to typewriters, however, those around you might not be as big of a fan due to the audio feedback. The standard “clicky” versions of Das Keyboards utilize Blue switches. Actuation Force: 60cN Light Tactile Switch: Cherry MX Clear Cherry MX Clear switches are a bit harder to find in keyboards, but many users consider them to have more of a tactile feel than the Browns without being as clicky as the Blue switches. The clear switches have a higher actuation force than the Brown switches and a more pronounced tactile bump. Also, Clears tend to have the most friction among mechanical key switches, this is due to the size of the tactile bump. Actuation Force: 65cN Linear Switch: Cherry MX Red Cherry MX Red switches are similar to the Cherry MX Blacks in that they are both categorized as linear, non-tactile. This means that their feel remains constant through each up-down keystroke. Where they differ from the Black switches is in their resistance; Red switches require less force to actuate. The result is a feeling that most perceive as “smoother” and “faster,” making them especially popular among gaming enthusiasts. Actuation Force: 45cN Other Mechanical Switches Buckling Spring Buckling Spring switches contain a spring that buckles when the key is pushed. This mechanism controls a small hammer that strikes a membrane switch to signal the key has been depressed. Topre Switches Topre switches are a newer development that are almost a hybrid between a mechanical switch keyboard and a rubber dome keyboard. Topre switches are capacitive switches that use a spring underneath a rubber dome. When you depress a key, it depresses the spring, causing a capacitive circuit underneath to sense that the key has been depressed. Alps Switches There are a few commonly available types of ALPS switches. The most commonly discussed type is nicknamed the “Bigfoot” because the original ALPS keyboards had a big footprint, taking up a large amount of desk space. Of the Bigfoot switches, there are two versions: complicated and simplified. Complicated ALPS come in a variety of colors with slight differences between them. You can find tactile and clicky, tactile and non-clicky, and linear versions of Complicated ALPS. Simplified ALPS switches are considered by many to be less smooth and louder than the Complicated ALPS. These are most often found in newer keyboards because the Complicated ALPS are no longer available. There are not only a variety of versions within each type of ALPS switch, but there are also many ALPS clones out there that all have a different feel while looking very similar to the real thing. Due to this, determining which type of ALPS you have, or if it’s a real ALPS, requires opening the switch, a difficult task that takes a gentle hand as just removing them could potentially damage the switches. Mechanical Keyboard Maintenance and Cleaning Whether it’s from sweaty hands typing, or crumbs falling while eating lunch at the computer, keyboards get dirty. After spending time researching mechanical keyboards and then purchasing one for its superior performance and longevity, it’s now time to consider cleaning and maintaining it. Whether you just want to clean the surface or pull the keys and clean every inch of your keyboard, it’s important to know the best way. Here are some tips on keeping your keyboard clean and also how to remove the keycaps for cleaning or replacement. Simple mechanical keyboard maintenance cleaning To maintain a mechanical keyboard and keep it clear of debris, turn the keyboard upside-down and shake it to let any loose debris inside fall out. Take some canned air and lightly spray the keyboard to remove anything that didn’t come out initially. It helps if you hold the keyboard upside-down at an angle so the crumbs and debris fall out. Also use quick, short blasts when spraying the canned air. Thorough cleaning1) To do a more thorough cleaning of the keyboard, the small keycaps from the keyboard need to be removed first. If you have never removed the keycaps from a keyboard, check out our how-to video on replacing keys first. It demonstrates how to remove the keys and how to put them back on a mechanical keyboard. Use a key puller to help pull off the keycaps. Remember that the keys have different shapes based upon placement in the keyboard and, in the case of the Das Keyboard Ultimate, it can be very hard to differentiate the keys. We recommend organizing the keycaps as they are removed to help easily put them back after cleaning the keyboard. We strongly discourage anyone from attempting to remove the space bar, return key, and other large-sized keys. These keys have a support bar underneath them that can make it very tricky to remove the key and even more difficult to put it back in place. As shown in the photo below, the stabilizer bar connects to 2 little white pieces attached to the keycap. It is very easy to break these pieces or even lose one if it flies off the keycap when removed. Unfortunately, there are no replacement parts available for these, so once broken or lost, the keys they attach to will no longer function properly. Since it is possible to get a very thorough cleaning without removing these keys, it’s recommended to leave them in place. 2) Once the keys are removed, hold the keyboard upside-down and shake it to let the loose debris drop out of the keyboard. Then, take a can of air and a brush to help loosen and remove any remaining bits inside. 3) If something has spilled into the keyboard, take a damp cotton cloth or microfiber and wipe the area with it. If needed, use a drop of isopropyl alcohol or diluted liquid soap (1 drop to a gallon of water) to help remove any sticky substances. Do not apply the liquid directly to the keyboard, apply it onto the cloth. The switches in Das Keyboards use gold contacts because the gold prevents the contacts from rusting; however, if there is any liquid in the switch around the contact, it will keep the connection closed (as it is when a key is depressed), until the water evaporates. Always check with the manufacturer of your keyboard because some keyboards (excluding the Das Keyboard) do not do well with alcohol and might be damaged by it. If this is not enough to clean the spill, check out our blog post on cleaning beverage spills. It’s very risky to soak your keyboard in isopropyl alcohol, but if nothing else is working, it may be worth it to save the keyboard. 4) Place the keycaps back on the keyboard and then take a very slightly damp cotton cloth or microfiber and wipe the top of the keys and the enclosure with it. If the keys are seriously dirty to the point that the inscriptions look faded, use a tiny amount of isopropyl alcohol or diluted liquid soap as described in step 3. 5) Turn the keyboard upside-down and let it dry overnight. This can take even longer, depending on the climate and room temperature. No matter what, make certain the keyboard is completely dry before plugging it in and using it. While there are some articles reporting success in washing a keyboard in the dishwasher, putting an electronic device into a dishwasher where it will be drenched in water is a huge risk. The only way to do this is to completely take the keyboard apart, which usually voids the warranty. Hard water or water from a water softener can cause corrosion inside the keyboard because of the salts and minerals. Using tiny amounts of alcohol or diluted liquid soap to clean the keyboard is a much better method than attempting to stick it into a dishwasher. Photo Credits: Pictures of Keycaps and Cherry MX switch thanks to Ripster on OCN & Geekhack Key cutaways thanks to Signature Plastics Special thanks to Lethal Squirrel from Geekhack.org for the animated Cherry MX images. << Previous post Next post >> --- ### QWERTY vs. Dvorak vs. Colemak Keyboard Layouts URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/qwerty-vs-dvorak-vs-colemak-keyboard-layouts/ Published: 2020-11-02 15:46:23 Author: david In this article we will be comparing three different keyboard layouts, QWERTY, Dvorak, and Colemak, to help you make an educated decision on which layout might be best for you. QWERTY was the first typing layout invented in the 1870s to complement the typewriter. It works very well with the typewriter, however, it's a less efficient layout for modern-day keyboards compared to the Dvorak and Colemak layouts. The QWERTY standard was set long ago and people are so used to using it that many people are not aware of the more optimized layouts, Dvorak & Colemak. By looking at the history of these keyboard layouts, the differences between each, and how to configure your keyboard for Dvorak or Colemak to learn one of these newer typing methods, you may decide to make the switch. Which Layout is Faster, QWERTY, Dvorak, or Colemak? Unfortunately, because QWERTY is so widely used and the sample size for Dvorak and Colemak typists is so small, there is not yet any definitive evidence that supports the notion that one layout is intrinsically faster than another. Currently, the fastest typist in the world, Anthony "Chak" Ermolin, winner of the 2020 Ultimate Typing Championship, is typing on a keyboard using the QWERTY layout. During the competition, only one typist was using an alternate layout during the competition, John “NoThisIsJohn” Leeds, who types on a Dvorak layout and finished in the 12th position. While this doesn't mean that there aren't extremely fast typists using other layouts, it is worth mentioning that all top 10 quarter-finalists in the competition were typing on a QWERTY layout.  As time progresses and if more people become aware of Dvorak and Colemak layouts there may be more evidence to show that one, or both of these layouts are faster than QWERTY. Because Dvorak and Colemak are still virtually unknown to the general public, it would take a large change in the knowledge of these layouts and the younger generation of typists would need to adapt them to progress their acceptance in the world of competitive speed typing.   Which Layout Should I Choose? The QWERTY Keyboard Layout QWERTY Layout on Windows QWERTY Layout on Mac The very first typing layout was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 1870s. The goal of this layout was designed to be slow and inefficient so that the typewriters would not jam from typing too fast on them. Sholes accomplished this by putting vowels and other common letters far away from each other and by not placing many of the most used letters on the home row. If you look at this list and then look down at your keyboard you’ll see that the home row of the QWERTY layout contains the letters A, S, D, F, J, K, L, and colon/semicolon. If you then compared these letters to the below chart which shows the most commonly used letters in the English language according to Wikipedia’s relative frequency in texts, the only ones that match up are A (3rd), S (7th), and D (10th): 1. E – 13%2. T –9.1%3. A – 8.2%4. O – 7.5%5. I – 7%6. N – 6.7%7. S – 6.3%8. H – 6.1%9. R – 6%10. D – 4.3% Today, virtually every computer keyboard uses this layout, which is why it’s so common and widely available. It is also the main reason that other layouts have not become more popular and are virtually unknown to the general public. The Dvorak Keyboard Layout In the 1930s the Dvorak layout was invented by Dr. August Dvorak. The goal of the design was to be fast and efficient, so Dr. Dvorak placed the most common consonants and vowels on the home row, except for the letter U:  A (3rd)O (4th)E (1st)U (13th)H (8th)T (2nd)N (6th)S (7th) As you can see, the Dvorak layout also places the most used letters in the English language, E (1st) and T (2nd) on the longest fingers, the middle finger. You will also find the most common punctuation just above the left hand’s home row which has also been shown to have its advantages for typists who adopt this keyboard layout. Because the Dvorak layout is not widely used, the sample size of typists to use it is too small to make a true determination of the layout is intrinsically faster than the QWERTY layout, but there is early evidence that shows that it Dvorak (and Colemak) typists tend to be more accurate.  If you have an interest in trying this layout you can take comfort in the idea that at the very least you may become a more accurate typist, but as with learning anything new it will take months to get used to and the more practice that is put into learning to type on a Dvorak layout, the more progress and the faster you will be able to type. Read this blog for more tips on how to type on a Dvorak layout. For those looking to begin to use a Dvorak layout, it is very easy to set up your keyboard for a Dvorak layout, simply change the keyboard settings in your computer’s system settings. Once you reconfigure your keyboard settings, you’ll be typing on a Dvorak layout, but the keycaps on your keyboard will still be set up for a QWERTY layout so will be inaccurate. To remove and reconfigure your keycaps, make sure to purchase a keycap puller and then set aside 20 minutes to remove and reconfigure the keycaps in the correct place for the Dvorak layout. Dvorak is great for people who are looking to type with less effort in the long term and are willing to overcome the challenge of learning something new. It may take months to feel comfortable with the Dvorak layout, but it will be worth it in the long run. Colemak Colemak Layout on Windows Compared to Dvorak Below Dvorak Layout on Windows Lastly, we have one of the newest keyboard layouts, the Colemak layout invented by Shai Coleman in 2006. It was designed to be an upgrade from the Dvorak, where the O (4th) is replaced by R (9th), E (1st) is replaced with S (7th), and U (13th) is replaced with T from the right hand (2nd). The right hand on the Colemak differs from Dvorak with the H (8th) being replaced with N (6th), the T (2nd) with E (1st), N (6th) with I (5th), and S with O (4th): A (3rd)R (9th)S (7th)T (2nd)N (6th)E (1st)I (5th)O (4th) With the Colemak layout the letter I makes its first appearance in the home row, and you will have the punctuation keys in the same place as a QWERTY keyboard except for the colon/semicolon key being moved above the home row. If you are interested in making a switch from QWERTY to a new layout, then Colemak may be easier simply because there are fewer keys that are changed due to the same period and comma keys.  To change to a Colemak layout is a very similar process to switching to Dvorak on a Mac. On a Windows PC, however, there is no easy way to reconfigure your keyboard which is one reason it has a very small userbase. It is difficult to make a Windows PC run a perfect Colemak layout, but there is a third-party application that Colemak.com has created for Windows users, although the Caps Lock on a QWERTY is not replaced with the second Backspace key without downloading another program that has not been yet had an impartial assessment. All said, it is common to see in the Dvorak community holds the Colemak layout in high regard and they are both well respected in the general QWERTY typing community.  Conclusion When comparing the QWERTY layout to the Dvorak and Colemak layouts there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the QWERTY layout is a lot less efficient than the other two layouts and is only so popular because of its history and how widely distributed it has been for the past 150 years. The Colemak layout is arguably the best in terms of efficiency, and ease of use when coming from QWERTY, however, you would need to download a third-party application that does not remap the Backspace with Caps Lock as in a true Colemak layout. No matter what you choose as your keyboard layout, have fun and happy typing. Created in collaboration with Keyboard Kings --- ### Watch the Fastest Typists Share Their Typing Tips & Tricks URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/watch-the-fastest-typists-share-their-typing-tips-tricks/ Published: 2020-09-25 11:11:07 Author: david The five fastest typists in the world share their tips on how to increase your typing speed and improve from a casual typist to a very fast typist. With so many people trying to improve their typing skills, speed, accuracy and overall work performance, the top typists from the Ultimate Typing Championship 2020 weigh in with their secrets, many of which fly in the face of what your typing teacher taught you in school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8846CeV0jI The Temperature of your Room or Office In many offices there is a constant battle with the thermostat, with some people who prefer a cooler temperature while they work, and others who freeze and want it warmer. Emre "Eiko" Aydin, the 3rd Place finisher in the Ultimate Typing Championship 2020 explains his thoughts on what he believes is the ideal temperature for faster typing speeds. Will a New Keyboard Dramatically Increase your Typing Speed? Some believe that by swapping your keyboard you will dramatically increase your words-per-minute when typing. This comes from the idea that membrane keyboards are simply inferior to mechanical keyboards which can have n-key rollover capabilities (the ability to press multiple keys down at once). See what the 4th Place UTC 2020 semifinalist, Kathy "Laani" Chiang has to say about this theory. Should you use the Home Row Method to Type? The home row typing method has been taught around the world for over a since at least 1888, when Frank Edward McGurrin, a court stenographer from Salt Lake City, Utah who taught typing classes, reportedly invented home row touch typing. But is the the home row method the way the top typists in the world actually type? We hear from Sean "arenasnow" Wrona, the former 2010 Ultimate Typing Champion and 2nd Place finisher in the 2020 Ultimate Typing Champion, as well as the winner of the 2020 Ultimate Typing Championship, Anthony "Chak" Ermolin on the home row method, in one of the most prevalent and controversial topics in speed typing today. Using Multiple Fingers to Type Each Letter If you've ever wondered how some of these typists have been able to type at what seem like impossible speeds, this may be one of the reasons. In every typing class in the world, students are taught to always use the same finger to type a single letter, but does this make you a fast typist? This does not seem to be the case based on the secrets from 5th Place finishers (tie) in the 2020 UTC, Izzy Aroeti and Brandon Vielle. They claim that by learning to move your fingers around the keyboard, based on the word you are typing. Blast Music While you Type Another secret many coders and typists have used for years is to listen to their favorite music. Watch as Kathy "Laani" Chiang discusses that she loves to blast EDM when she types, even though she doesn't normally listen to EDM. Here's a EDM playlist she suggested if you'd like to try it yourself. Watch the full video to see all the secrets, tips and tricks from top typists in the world. --- ### Watch the Fastest Typists in the World Compete for the Championship URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/watch-the-fastest-typists-in-the-world-compete-for-the-championship/ Published: 2020-09-18 11:10:54 Author: david The fastest typists in the world compete online for a chance at the title and a place in typing history Over 400 signed up to compete in the 2020 Ultimate Typing Championship, and one winner emerged. Watch the recap video from this intense battle as the top typists in the world vie for the title of the Ultimate Typing Champion! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPlb8IwJIzY In this video of the Ultimate Typing Championship, the top 25 qualifiers were invited to compete remotely from 7 different countries for over $10,000 in prizes. The top 25 typed long-form, short-form and non-standard text during 5 races in the Eighthfinals, where accuracy times words-per-minute determined the points they would earn and which 10 typists would advance to the Quarterfinals. The typists were blasting through the quotes in the first 4 races in the Eighthfinals at remarkable speeds, until they came to the fifth race, the misspelt alphabet. This quote gave them so much trouble only one typist, Sean Wrona, that was able to break a 100 WPM speed on the quote. Misspelt Alphabet Typing Quote After 15 talented typists were eliminated in the Eighthfinals, the top 10 Quarterfinalists competed for a chance to be one of the top 4 to advance to the Semifinals. After typing another 5 races the Semifinalists were determined and they went on to race for a spot in the Championship. Watch the video to see the races as these extremely talented typists put everything on the line for a chance at the Championship and a place in history! --- ### Watch the CEO of Das Keyboard on the Tom's Hardware Show URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/watch-the-ceo-of-das-keyboard-on-the-toms-hardware-show/ Published: 2020-09-15 15:11:24 Author: david In this episode of The Tom's Hardware show, special guest Daniel Guermeur, CEO and co-founder of Das Keyboard, chats about the Ultimate Typing Championship, keyboards, the best computer mice and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5mavCmLzI0 Daniel Guermeur was invited to join the weekly Tom's Hardware Show as a special guest, with host Scharon Harding and guest Matt Safford who is a writer for TomsHardware.com. In the episode they discuss the 2020 Ultimate Typing Championship, the interesting story about how Das Keyboard got started, Scharon's recently completed "Frankenboard", computer mice, and future things to come from Das Keyboard. In the segment, Daniel starts off by discussing the reboot of the Ultimate Typing Championship, and how they completely rebuilt the competitive typing website Typrx.com so that the entire event could held online due to COVID-19. The competition was a search for the fastest typist in the world, and a new winner was crowned. All of the typists competed on a Das Keyboard 4 Professional, with their choice of Cherry MX Brown or Cherry MX Blue switches. Most typists selected the Brown switch, which is the soft, tactile version, and which is currently the most popular for typists in the US. Next, Scharon showed Daniel her new "Frankenboard", which she pieced together with switches and keycaps she had laying around from a variety of companies. Matt has been working on testing and reviewing wireless keyboards, and Daniel lives in the keyboard world so and the feedback wasn't all bad. Scharon, Daniel and Matt close out the program by discussing mice, including the trackball (which still exists and is loved by a small subset of users). They talk about what is currently the best computer mouse, and Daniel reveals the secret to why one company has always been the leader for building the best mice. About The Tom’s Hardware ShowOn the Tom's Hardware show, editors discuss the most important hardware products and trends of the week. The live show takes place every Thursday at 3 pm ET. --- ### The Fastest Typist in the World Wins the Ultimate Typing Championship URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-fastest-typist-in-the-world-wins-the-ultimate-typing-championship/ Published: 2020-08-24 16:11:29 Author: david On Saturday, August 22nd, 2020, a new Ultimate Typing Champion was crowned, Anthony Ermolin, dethroning former Champion Sean Wrona in an intense battle for the $5,000 first prize. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPlb8IwJIzY The competition started out with a total of 414 registered participants, who completed over 94,000 total typing tests on the competitive typing website, Typrx.com, before the top 25 qualified for a spot in the Eighthfinals, where they competed for a spot in the Quarterfinals, which was live streamed on YouTube. The top twenty-five typists aged 14-35 years old came from the United States, Israel, Norway, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, and competed during the 2 hour 45 minute tournament. The field of expert typists was made up of high-school, college computer science and medical students, software developers, and a female esports professional, among others. Sean Wrona was ready to defend his title against an eclectic group of typing veterans, and newcomers in their teens. Winners and Prizes After one of the most intense typing competitions in history, comprised of three elimination rounds including the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Championship, the favorite to win the competition, Anthony "Chak" Ermolin took home the Ultimate Typing Championship Trophy and the $5,000 cash prize after his decisive victory. Ermolin was crowned the new Ultimate Typing Champion after dominating the first three-out-of-five races against former Champion, Sean Wrona. During the five races of the Championship round Chak averaged 180.88 WPM. Chak saved his best highlight of the entire competition during the second race of the finals, when he posted an incredible speed of 210.40 WPM on standard English long-form text. Coming into the competition, he held the fastest speed record of 233.0 WPM, in the “Hall of Fame” on Typrx.com, and so it's no surprise that he also held the fastest speed during the Championship. The defending champion, Sean “arenasnow” Wrona, 35, of the United States, was named the runner-up with a high speed of 184 WPM and an average typing speed of 172.72 WPM in the Championship round. Wrona took home $500 in cash and a bevy of keyboard and typing related prizes. All top 25 typists took home a premium mechanical keyboard, the Das Keyboard 4 Professional mechanical keyboard as they completed a series of challenging typing races that tested speed, accuracy, endurance, and ability under pressure until the winner was finally declared. The third-place winner Emre “eiko” Aydin, 19, of the United Kingdom, with a high speed of 175.3 WPM in Race 4 of the Semifinals; and fourth place winner Kathy “Iaani” Chiang of the United States, with a high speed of 182.5 WPM in Race 4 of the Semifinals were neck and neck as they took home a medley of non-cash prizes. Highlights This year’s competition contained unique challenges that tested a variety of typing skills, such as long-form English text, non-standard text and completing tricky text with typos intended to create obstacles. See full quotes and results here. Highlights from the competition include: The UTC 2020 had a total of 414 registrations and more than 94,000 typing tests completed during the qualifying week alone.Typists who qualified for the competition represent eight different countries, with 15 typists in the US, three in Canada, two in the UK, and one in Israel, Norway, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Poland.Typists needed a minimum qualifying speed of 170.7 WPM to qualify for the top 25.The youngest top 25 qualifier, Adam "Adamsky" Fallon was just 14 years old.The average age of typists that competed in the top 25 for the Championship title was 22 years old.Rayna “trashfish” Xu and Kathy “Iaani” Chiang were the only female speed typists among the top twenty-five qualifiers.Jesse Garcia competed in 9,000 races to improve his average WPM to advance to the top 25 Eighthfinals.The most difficult text was also the trickiest of the competition, which appeared in Race 5 of the Eighthfinals. The text started with what appeared like the alphabet, but the reality was that there were intentional typos included in the quote throughout, which tripped up every racer, producing an overall WPM average of just 47.78 WPM. In the Eighthfinals, Matthew Yang, a student at Georgia Tech, surprised everyone with a very impressive showing, making the Top 10 by securing the #8 spot in the Quarterfinals. Matthew was originally ranked in the 23rd spot and barely qualified for the top 25 Eighthfinals, but blasted through five races, surprising everyone as he was previously a completely unknown typist.In the Quarterfinals, well-known typist Kathy “Iaani” Chiang, who is the Assistant Director of the esports department at the University of California, Irvine, surprised the field when she secured the 4th spot in the Semifinals against Anthony 'chak' Ermolin, Sean 'arenasnow' Wrona, and Emre 'eiko' Aydin. Kathy came into the competition ranked in the 10th spot in the Top 25 Eighthfinals. In the Championship races, Anthony ‘Chak’ Ermolin, who is just 17 years old, put up dominant scores in the first three races, securing his victory by sweeping Sean Wrona. In the second race, Anthony put up a superhuman WPM speed on a standard English long-form quote of 210.4 WPM with 99.30% accuracy for an adjusted score of 208.93. This is one of the fastest speeds ever recorded in a live event, with the highest typing speed ever recorded being 216 WPM in 1946 by Stella Pajunas according to RataType.com. For more highlights and information about the Ultimate Typing Championship, follow the Das Keyboard blog and the Ultimate Typing Championship YouTube Channel. --- ### Watch the Ultimate Typing Championship Live URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/watch-the-ultimate-typing-championship-live/ Published: 2020-08-19 12:03:57 Author: david How and where to watch the fastest and most talented typists in the world compete for the Championship title! On Saturday, August 22nd at 12 pm CST, the top 10 typists in the world will compete for the title of the Ultimate Typing Champion! After five races in the Eightfinals ten typists will advance to the Quarterfinals, which will be streamed live on YouTube & Twitch. How to watch: There are multiple options to watch the live stream: Subscribe to the Ultimate Typing Championship YouTube channel, and turn on notifications for the channel or add a reminder in your calendar.Follow TypingChamp on Twitch and tune in at 12 pm CST.You can add a Twitch alert to your Q Series Das Keyboard Set a reminder and visit UltimateTypingChampionship.com where the competition will be syndicated from YouTube Don't miss watching this historic event, as the Champion is crowned and wins the $5,000 grand prize! --- ### Ultimate Typing Championship Top 25 Announced URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/ultimate-typing-championship-top-25-announced/ Published: 2020-08-10 13:05:28 Author: david Top 25 result, updates to the prizes, competition rules are announced. After a week-long competition, where the fastest typists the world battled for a spot in the top 25 competition, qualifications have closed. The Ultimate Typing Championship, the search for the fastest typist in the world was announced by Das Keyboard on July 15th, with online qualifications open from August 3rd through August 9th. During the typing competition's qualifications, 180 competitors completed over 94,000 typing tests in an effort to earn a coveted spot in the typing competition and a chance at winning their share at the over $10,000 in prizes. Results from the Top 25 Qualifications: Sean Wrona (aka arenasnow), the first Ultimate Typing Champion decided to defend his title and he was the fastest during this round (#1 above). However, the margins are very tight with just a 0.2 second lead over the 2nd place qualifier, Chak. The qualifying round saw some hard-fought battles, as typists were constantly trying to improve their average words-per-minute scores on their top 30 races. Every day during the qualification round there was a jockeying of position throughout the leaderboard. Qualifications were so competitive that the slowest qualifying typist needed a mind-blowing average speed of 181.0 WPM to make the top 25. Typists who qualified for the competition represent 8 different countries, with 15 typists in the US, 3 in Canada, two in the UK, and one in Israel, Norway, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Poland. Championship Day Live Stream on August 22. This is a big day for all 25 contestants, with $10k in prizes on the line and $5,500 in cash up for grabs. After all typing races are finished, one winner will be crowned the Ultimate Typing Champion 2020 and take home the title, and the $5,000 grand prize. The competition will begin at 9 am CST on August 22nd online. All racers will be racing against each other for the highest points from a WPM * (times) Accuracy scoring system. Points will be tallied for each race and at the end of the top 25 competition, the top 10 typists with the highest scores will move onto the next Championship round, which will be live-streamed on YouTube and Twitch at 12 pm CST, on August 22nd. Viewer prizes will be given out during the live stream and the Ultimate Typing Champion will be crowned. Don't miss this historic event! If you have never seen someone type at 200 WPM tune in to see the fastest typists in the world compete live. Prizes Over $10,000 in various prizes, including $5,000 in cash for the winner, and $500 for the runner-up. See the full prizes list. Resources Ultimate Championship websiteTyprX - Typing race app (used for this championship, you can try for yourself and see how fast you type)YouTube and Twitch for the live event --- ### Early Ultimate Typing Championship Leaders and Who to Watch URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/early-ultimate-championship-leaders-and-who-to-watch/ Published: 2020-08-05 17:46:47 Author: david Three days into qualifications incredible typing speeds are being registered for a chance at a piece of the largest prize pool in competitive typing history The Ultimate Typing Championship, the search for the fastest typist in the world, is off to a blazing start with typists setting the bar for qualifying for the competition extremely high. Three days into qualifications there are a number of familiar names that are off to an early lead in solidifying their place in the top 25 competition, including the current champion, Sean Wrona who is currently ranked in 4th place. More about the UTC: The Ultimate Typing Championship with $10k+ in Prizes is Here Early Leaders The early and most dominant leader in the qualification round has been the US racer chak, who was unknown until he burst onto the typing scene a few years ago with speeds that have been near impossible to match. Boasting a top 30 race qualifying average of 200.0 WPM on just 62 qualification races with a high speed of 233.0 WPM, chak is clearly leading the field with his mind-blowing speed. The current 2nd place racer is izzy from Israel, who is carrying a 196.5 WPM average during the qualification round. Even with this super-human average, izzy is still off pace with the leader with 4 days to go. While it will be tough for racers to catch up to chak or izzy, who currently have substantial leads, it is too early to count on anything. The 3rd and 4th positions are currently very close, both with a 190 WPM as of a few minutes ago, and now the reigning champ, Sean, moving up to the 3rd spot with a new average of 193.4 WPM. Shazzy, now with a 190.4 WP average and 3.6 seconds ahead of the next fastest racer is famous for using 3-4 fingers while he types, and also for using a standard laptop keyboard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EN_cOD00tk Who to Watch With a minimum average speed of 175 WPM likely needed to break into the top 25, only the fastest typists stand a chance of qualifying and winning a Das Keyboard 4 Professional. The top ten leaders are now posting average speeds of over 177 words-per-minute, causing people to scratch their heads as to how this is even possible. There are a number of typists that are likely to shake up the rankings before qualifications close at midnight on Sunday, August 9th. A few of the top typists have yet to join the competition, such typist is Michael Deroche, who boasts a 180 WPM non-quit average on other competitive typing sites. Another extremely fast typist, Bailey, is one of the youngest typists at the age of 15 and has a 175 WPM non-quit average. Other competitors to watch during qualifications include Foggy, who just a few hours ago was towards the bottom of the leaderboard was then battling edwin from New Zealand for the 10th spot, and who has since moved into 8th position. Keep an eye on 365days, currently in 21st position as well as PicklePower in 23td as they currently hold top 10 global average speeds on Typrx.com, which include abandoned races. Another dark horse to keep an eye on is jtitor, who has the 9th fastest speed in the hall of fame on Typrx.com at 199.7 WPM, but who is currently out of the top 25 qualifiers in 27th place with just 24 qualifying races. Andreaak is rounding out the field in the 25th spot and would be a clear winner for any Italian language speed typing competition. Will enough English typing tests get andreaak to the Ultimate Typing Championship? Only time will tell. Top 25 Leaderboard as of Wednesday, 6:45 pm CST: With so many talented typists in the field, not all could be mentioned. Rankings are changing every hour, for up-to-date rankings view the live leaderboard #NameCountryTyping Speed1chakUnited States200.0 WPM2izzyIsrael196.5 WPM3arenasnowUnited States193.4 WPM4shazzyNorway190.4 WPM5AdamskyUnited Kingdom186.0 WPM6KeeganTCanada184.3 WPM7eikoUnited Kingdom179.0 WPM8FoggyUnited States179.0 WPM9angeloUnited States178.4 WPM10ConspyreUnited States177.7 WPM11edwinNew Zealand177.4 WPM12trashfishCanada176.3 WPM13GMU_OatsUnited States175.8 WPM14XeogranPoland175.7 WPM15JohnUnited States175.2 WPM16jessegarciaUnited States175.2 WPM17typer_unknownUnited States175.0 WPM18VielleUnited States174.8 WPM19wilburtUnited States174.4 WPM20LeSirHUnited States174.2 WPM21365daysUnited States173.4 WPM22JelaniNelsonUnited States172.8 WPM23PicklePowerUnited States172.7 WPM24_son_France172.6 WPM25andreaakItaly172.4 WPM --- ### Qualifications Open for the Ultimate Typing Championship and Top 25 Competition Format Announced URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/qualifications-open-for-the-ultimate-typing-championship-and-top-25-competition-format-announced/ Published: 2020-08-03 13:25:20 Author: david Online qualifications are open August 3rd-9th and the format for the top 25 competition is announced. The top 25 typists in the world will compete shortly after qualifications close on August 10th (date to be determined). The top 10 typists from the top 25 competition will win a spot in the Ultimate Typing Championship which will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube on August 22nd at 12 noon CST. Sign up for email updates or follow the leaderboard for up-to-date rankings. Qualifications: The top 25 typists with the highest WPM averages on their top 30 races (with a minimum of 50 races) will qualify for the competitionWPM averages are based on all races, even if you race the same text more than onceWPM is calculated in a standard format, with a "word" equalling the typing of 5 characters, including spaces, numbers, letters, and punctuation. What you need to know if you qualify in the top 25: The top 25 will be grouped into Five Groups of FiveOfficial groups will be announced at the close of QualificationsHow the grouping will work:Group 1: Rank #1, #6, #11, #16, #21Group 2: Rank #2, #7, #12, #17, #22Group 3: Rank #3, #8, #13, #18, #23Group 3: Rank #4, #9, #14, #19, #24Group 3: Rank #5, #10, #15, #20, #25There will be Five Races per Group, each race lasting roughly 1-2 minutesFive rounds of races will be held for each group to determine the top two racers to move onto the QuarterfinalsCompetitors who make it to the Quarterfinals will be required to submit a waiver BEFORE August 12th.Each racer will be scored by WPM * Accuracy(i.e. 135.3 WPM * 99.2% Accuracy = 134.2)Accuracy is defined as: a mistake on a single character is only counted once, even if additional characters are typed after the mistakeEach race is weighted evenly based on the scoring: The best score in a race receiving 5 points for that race/round2nd receiving 4 points3rd receiving 3 points4th receiving 2 points 5th receiving 1 point Good luck, and Happy Typing! --- ### How to Focus on Wellness while Working Remotely URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-focus-on-wellness-while-working-remotely/ Published: 2020-07-21 09:00:00 Author: BradleyOkdie Photo by Polina Zimmerman from Pexels Contributed by Dr. Bradley Okdie I am a social psychologist and researcher who has spent the last two decades studying the mind and examining how people form, maintain, and end relationships online. During this time, I have learned (and the research supports) that the mind’s capacity is finite and digital interactions are meaningful and have significant psychological consequences. The following article details how to use these principles to ensure that you come out of the pandemic equal to or better than how you entered it. Focussing on wellness during a normal workweek is difficult; focussing on wellness during a global pandemic is near impossible. The number of inputs pulling at your attention during a pandemic has increased while your ability to deal with them appropriately has decreased. Thus, if you are like many people, your mental and physical wellness has decreased as a result. If the effects of the pandemic were short-lived, this would not be a problem as you could quickly return to your normal self-care routines once it was over. But, it is clear that the effects of the pandemic will be lengthy making finding ways to focus on wellness increasingly important. Things are different and you must create different solutions to issues that used to be naturally occurring. Getting the structure of wellness setup now will carry you through the pandemic and any future unexpected stressful life events. Many people have produced content related to wellness and the pandemic but few have mentioned how technology may be a part of that process and even fewer discuss how keyboards can be part of this process. This article will focus on how technology (and your Das Keyboard) can help increase general wellness. Don’t rely on your brain to enact your wellness plan Because there are so many new constraints on our time and such reduced capacity to deal with those constraints, focusing on wellness can seem unimportant or impossible. However, during times of adversity, maintaining mental and physical wellness is critical to staving off mental and physical breakdowns as these wellness activities can act as a barrier to the stress of the world. (1) So, how then, with all that is happening around us, can we focus on wellness? One of the best ways to enact and continue a focus on wellness is to not rely on your brain. I realize how ludicrous this sounds but, our brains have a finite capacity and are not good at remembering to attend to things that are not immediately accessible or are considered an immediate current need. So, do not rely on your brain to enact your plan of wellness. It turns out that these sorts of tasks are exactly what computers are good at; so let them help you. Small mental and physical activities can have large effects on your overall wellness. Most of these activities are easy to do, if you can remember to do them. Before discussing how technology and your Q enabled Das Keyboard can help you achieve wellness, let’s discuss some of the small activities that can have big impacts on your mental and physical well being. Simple activities for mental wellness Schedule Breaks One of the simplest ways to improve your mental well-being is to take breaks throughout your day. At the office, breaks naturally occur when your coworkers stop by for brief chats about the weekend happenings or simple work things. But, when working from home (or when working in an office where social distancing regulations prohibit most face-to-face contact), taking breaks must be actively managed. Be proactive about making breaks part of your workday. This can be done by scheduling them in your calendar (just as you would a meeting) or by having something in place to alert you that you have been working for a while and should take a break (e.g., an exterior alert of some kind). Be Mindful Mindfulness sounds like something that would be practiced at Woodstock and touted by hippies but science supports that being mindful (focussing on the present) has measurable benefits such as empathy, perspective-taking, and better romantic relationships. Just like most wellness behaviors, being mindful is not likely to happen unless it is at the forefront of your mind. Thus, having technology remind you to focus on what is currently happening can be helpful. Practice Self-Compassion Remember, the rules of the game have changed. Working and living during a pandemic can take its toll on you before you even realize that it is happening. Many of us are great at showing compassion to others but fail to show ourselves that same level of forgiveness. Therefore, it is important to remember that during times of stress, you should not hold yourself accountable to the old rules that existed prior to the stress experience. For example, if prior to the pandemic you used to get up at 5 in the morning work on your novel and then run 5 miles on the track before heading into the office, this may not be possible or good for you now. Because of the pandemic, people are getting less quality sleep, anxiety levels are constantly higher than baseline, and doing what you used to do under the old expectations is likely not healthy anymore. Instead, you should be operating within the new constraints of the game. The new you needs to be compassionate and know that it is okay to only accomplish a portion of your old daily goals. Instead, establish new norms for what the day looks like under times of stress. These goals will vary widely depending on what your baseline activities used to be, but these goals should include the ability for you to engage in self-compassion when you fail to meet them. Make Time for Yourself It is counter-intuitive but, most of us are now working from home and have less time for ourselves. In a utopian world, working from home entails working in your pajamas and taking breaks on the couch when you need them. However, most of our homes are now also populated with the other members of our families. While spending more time with your social connections is generally a good thing, ensuring that you are taking time to do the things that make you happy is equally good. You must be proactive about making time for yourself. In a non-pandemic world, time alone occurs naturally (e.g., your significant other is out with their friends or attending an event or the kids are at school). But, during a pandemic, not only are the other members of your house likely home more, they are also unable to go anywhere making naturally occurring alone time less likely. Therefore, you must be proactive about carving out time for yourself in your new reality. Again, this will not happen on its own. You must set up a system to ensure this occurs. An external system that will remind you to take some time for yourself will help here too. (2) Make Time for (Virtual) Social Connection I know what you are thinking, “please, not another Zoom meeting.” I know because I have thought it too, but this is a necessity. The social psychologist in me knows how important social connections are to well-being. Humans are social creatures and having social interaction is crucial to our mental and physical health. A mountain of research suggests that having a strong social support system can ward off many of life’s ills and that being socially excluded can have dire emotional (e.g., lowered self-esteem, meaningful existence) and physical (e.g., physical and social pain) consequences. So, like you, I loathe the thought of more virtual meetings with the disembodied heads of people I know, but I also know that it is necessary. Make a point to set up times to chat with your social group. You may not notice it at the time but it will help your mental well-being. You can increase the likelihood that your meet-up is enjoyable by planning to do something fun during the interaction. I know this sounds cheesy because you would not typically plan out your face-to-face interactions, however, those interactions would likely occur out of your home in places that are naturally interesting. You do not have that luxury with virtual meet-ups (at least without some technical savvy), thus prior to the meet-up do some planning. Activities can include playing games that can take place virtually (e.g., heads up). I have spent over a decade studying online social connection and its importance. My research, and that of many other psychologists, suggest that interpersonal relationships formed or maintained virtually can be meaningful, consequential, and increase wellness. This research is more relevant now than it has ever been, so it is important that you create or use a system that will help you continue to be social. Simple activities for physical wellness Stay Hydrated and Eat Well Be sure that you are drinking enough water throughout the day. Being at home all day is great because it means that you likely have all your favorite snacks and drinks handy. It is also not great for your physical health because you have access to all of your favorite snacks and drinks. At work you likely have limited supplies of your favorite sugary drinks or they are limited because they must be purchased. At home the ease with which you can obtain unhealthy food is increased making it more likely that you will choose unhealthy compared to healthy snacks throughout the day. Be sure that you are eating healthy and staying hydrated. There are multiple ways that you can accomplish this. You can ensure that only healthy snacks are available in your home, or treat those snacks as off-limits until after your typical workday ends. Using an outside alert system to remind you to drink water and eat well may also prove useful to help you stay healthy during the pandemic. Move Much research has shown that physical activity is important for physical and mental health. Because you are likely working remotely, you are also moving less. For example, working from the office means that I have to expend energy walking in and out from the parking lot, climb four flights of stairs to get my coffee, and take short walks with my colleagues. Working from home means that I have a fifteen-foot commute to my office, no stairs are required to get coffee (which I do multiple times a day) and there is zero pressure to walk with colleagues. Thus, it is important to ensure that you are being physically active during the day as these things are not likely to naturally occur as they would when you are not working remotely. Many of these exercise behaviors do not need to be full gym workouts as going to the gym might be difficult or unsafe; instead, consider just moving around. Remember that the rules have changed so you need not walk 10 miles each day, but any physical activity is better than no physical activity. Standing at least once an hour (or actually using your standing desk!), going for a brief walk around the neighborhood, or doing laundry during your break so that you are forced to climb stairs, are small achievable ways that you can increase the extent-to-which you are engaging in physical exercise. Your Das Keyboard can be your wellness hub Other than smartphones, keyboards are likely the things that are hands touch the most throughout the workday. Most people assume that keyboards are input devices, but the Q-software from Das Keyboard can turn your keyboard into an output device that allows your keyboard to serve as your wellness hub (yes, really). Your Q enabled Das Keyboard can be the external source needed to ensure the goals discussed in this article remain at the forefront of your mind . Your Q enabled Das keyboard can remind you that it is time to take a break or drink some water or do something social. Sure, you can set up weather alerts, website traffic notifications, and other nerdy things but, at the end of the day, the keyboard's real potential lies in its ability to make you more productive through taming notifications, and by enabling you to engage in wellness activities. (3) In short, the global pandemic has brought with it chaos that invades most of our lives in ways that we had not prepared for. This chaos taxes our finite cognitive capacity such that engaging in wellness behaviors is likely to decrease and organically arising wellness behaviors are no longer possible. Thus, creating a system that reminds you to engage in personal wellness activities is crucial. One mechanism for establishing such a system is to use your Das Keyboard as your personal wellness hub. And, it helps that the Q software enhances an already wonderful Das Keyboard experience! 1 For a great video that explains many of the concepts discussed in this article, watch C.G.P. Grey’s video “Spaceship You.” 2 There are a minority of people for whom being in quarantine has increased their ability to take time for themselves. These are likely people who do not have children and/or have not been able to work during quarantine. Even for these people, taking intentional time for themselves is important. 3 The das keyboard has a GitHub site that contains pre-built profiles and examples of Applets that you can use to get started if you do not have experience coding. The software has an open API and there are pre-built applets for things like remembering to stand. --- ### The Ultimate Typing Championship with $10k+ in Prizes is Here URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-ultimate-typing-championship-the-search-for-the-fastest-typist-in-the-world/ Published: 2020-07-15 01:00:00 Author: Media The Ultimate Typing Championship Kicks off with Over $10,000 in Prizes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9MYgp61ub4 Today registration opened for the Ultimate Typing Championship, the search for the fastest typist in the world! The online event is being presented and organized by Das Keyboard, initially launched in 2010. The National title is currently held by Sean Wrona, who won the tournament with a spectacular 163 WPM speed on long-form English text, setting an unofficial world record (in addition to a 124 WPM score on a long-form, non-standard English text). With the continued growth of competitive typing, the reboot of the Ultimate Typing Championship is being hosted completely online and has been expanded globally. Talented speed typists from around the world can now register to participate in the competition to see if they can topple the former Champion and earn a spot in history. The competition is being held on UltimateTypingChampionship.com where typists will compete for the fastest typing speeds on the competitive typing website, Typrx.com. The top 25 qualifiers will be invited to compete for a spot in the live event that will be streamed on Twitch August 22nd, 2020 at 12:00 PM CST to compete in the championship. Key dates for the event include: Registration Opens: July 15th, 2020Qualifications Open: August 3rd through August 9th, 2020Live Championship: August 22nd, 2020 at 12:00 PM CST The over $10,000 prize pool for the event includes $5,000 for the winner, $500 for the runner up, dozens of keyboards, keycaps, and more. Spectators will also have opportunities to win prizes during the live event. To register for the competition or to sign up to receive updates on the event visit UltimateTypingChampionship.com, follow UTC on Twitter or become a fan of the Ultimate Typing Championship on Facebook. For More Information: FAQRules and ConditionsHistory of UTCContact --- ### Winner of Work-from-Home Flowchart Contest Announced URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-work-from-home-flowchart-contest/ Published: 2020-04-14 15:52:54 Author: david Working from home can be fun and more comfortable, but it can also get a bit monotonous sometimes. Das Keyboard gave Facebook fans chance to break out of the monotony while showing off your creative side. That is why we held a contest to see who can create the best "work-from-home" flowchart. Winner: David Parks with 31 Likes Honorable Mention: Thomas Dettbarn Honorable Mention: Shawn Dorman Ended: Das Keyboard WFH Contest: Create a work-from-home flowchart where a Das Keyboard is one of the elements in your design (example below).Post your flowchart in the comments on this Facebook post! Make sure it is public so we can see it. How to win: The flowchart with the most likes will win a Das Keyboard of their choosing! The contest starts Tuesday, April 13th and ends next Monday, April 20th, 2020 at 5 pm CST. We will announce the winner on Facebook and on this blog post on Tuesday, April 21st, 2020. The winner gets a free Das Keyboard and bragging rights as we share your flowchart with the world on the Das Keyboard blog next week. *Make sure your flowchart is kid- and parent-friendly. Please be creative, not inappropriate.*Contest limited to shipping within the United States (US Based Shipping Services exist but Das Keyboard is not responsible for the coordination or the additional costs) Example Flow Chart: Now its time to get creative! Post your flowchart in the comments of this Facebook post today. Share with your friends and ask them to like your submission so you can bring home a Das Keyboard! --- ### Home Office & Work From Home Hacks URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/home-office-work-from-home-hacks/ Published: 2020-03-20 12:16:52 Author: david 10 Practical Work From Home & Home Office Tips Many people who have never worked from home before now find themselves in a completely new work environment. This can be an uncomfortable scenario, but these practical tips will help improve productivity and wellbeing while working from home during the quarantine. If you want to share your home office, submit your setup here for a chance to win Goodies and be featured. If you'd like to make a guest post or contribute to the blog on another topic, pitch your idea here. 1. Create a Place Dedicated for Work Separate a Workspace for Better Work-Life Balance When working from home it's very important to create a space that is dedicated to working. The most ideal environment is a home office, but if this is not an option then dedicating a specific workspace in the form of a desk or table, then there will be a clearer work-life balance. Without a place dedicated to work it is easy to slip into work when you should be living your life, and vice versa. If you have a home office or workspace that is only used when working, then it is easier to draw a clear distinction as to how you are spending your time so you avoid burnout from working around the clock, or allow daily life to distract you when you should be working. 2. Set Household Ground Rules Agree on Clear Boundaries with the People in Your Home Setting ground rules with the people in your home is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships as well as your productivity. It can be extremely difficult to work and live in the same place with very little space and time away from the people you live with. By sitting down and coming up with a set of ground rules that everyone can agree on, it will help to navigate potential discomforts of this new work-from-home environment. Parents with kids who are also home from school have a new and extremely difficult set of challenges to manage. Now that both child and parent are at home full-time, there is no escaping a constant barrage of requests throughout the day. There are myriad activities that can keep children busy and entertained but the problem exists that many kids won't play by themselves or keep themselves entertained, even if they are at an age where they are entirely capable of doing so. By setting clear rules with your children ahead of time so that they know that if they let you work uninterrupted between certain hours they will have your undivided attention or be able to do something special afterward, may help navigate this difficult terrain. 3. Avoid Tech Shortcomings in your Home Office Don't Allow Tech Issues Hurt Productivity The New York Times' Brian X. Chen recently published an in-depth piece on The Tech Headaches of Working From Home and How to Remedy Them which highlights how everything from slow WiFi to working on a subpar keyboard will decrease your productivity. Some companies are now offering employee stipends for WiFi upgrades, hardware, and software needs as well as office furniture for their workers' home offices. Since the quarantine has taken effect, Das Keyboard has noticed that many loyal customers are replicating their office workstations by purchasing the same keyboard they use in their office. Whether or not employees have access to their offices and their equipment, it is always nice to have a separate home setup in case these work from home scenarios become more commonplace. 4. Stick to a Work Schedule Stay Productive and On Task When working from home it is very tempting to sleep in late, skip a shower, take more breaks or throw in the towel early. It is important to avoid changing your habits just because you are working from home for a number of reasons. Skipping or altering your normal routine will likely negatively impact your productivity and performance, and while many companies will be looking the other way during these times, as an employee it is your responsibility to want the best for the company that employs you. The act of keeping a strict work schedule when working from home can also give you a feeling of purpose, drive and lead to more success in the future. Sticking to a schedule and staying on task has been widely recognized as keys to success. In the future when you look back at this time of working remote, an introspective view of staying productive. 5. Use a Standing Desk or Workspace Stand Up While You Work Prolonged sitting has proven to be dangerous, so much so that it is also being compared to smoking. According to the New York Times, even if you run every morning or hit the gym if you spend most of your time sitting in an office or your home you are exposing yourself to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and even early death. One of the best ways to rule out the dangers of sitting is by standing. By introducing a standing desk or standing workspace in your home, you can help avoid a sedentary lifestyle. 6. Add Natural Daylight to your Home Office Natural Daylight Improves Performance & Wellbeing Various psychologists have proven that the right amount of daylight and access to windows positively impacts people's well-being. It was also shown that outdoor views are also associated with better performance in the workplace. By adding natural daylight to your home office, you will be more likely to complete a task on time, exhibit a greater interest in your work and your company, and will be less likely to want to quit your job than those without. 7. Take a Nap Taking a Short Nap Boosts Productivity In a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview with HubSpot CEO, Brian Halligan, Brian admits he takes a nap every day and that may just be the most important half-hour of his day. Including a nap of around 20 to 30 minutes can boost your productivity, enhance alertness, improve accuracy, enrich decision-making capabilities, and fuel memory. 8. Work with Your Pet in your Home Office Time with Pets Reduces Stress and Anxiety Over the past few years, offices have been moving towards pet-friendly offices since there are a number of advantages to pets in the workplace. There is no difference when working from home. Having a pet in a home office can act as a stress reliever for workers and allows for better focus. By having better access to carry out daily responsibilities related to a pet, such as feeding, walking and playing, someone working in the home office doesn't have to worry about whether or not the pet is being taken care of. This shift in the responsibility of friends or family members is also an added bonus for those who typically watch over the pet while you are at work. 9. Start Setting Reminders Don't Forget to Breathe Working from home for the first time you may find yourself forgetting to take care of yourself by not drinking water, standing up, or taking a break. This will be detrimental to your health and wellbeing and why it is highly recommended to regularly set reminders. You can simply set reminders in your calendar or phone, or even better you can use Q Software on a Das Keyboard from the Q Series, which allows for setting reminders to display right on your keyboard. You can set reminders to workout, drink water, stand up, meditate and more. Small steps like setting and following reminders will go a long way in keeping you happier, healthier and more productive in your home office. 10. Add a Plant to your Home Office Greenery Improves Focus and Productivity Some of the largest and most famous technology companies in the world have been longtime advocates of including plants in their offices. As stated in an Entrepreneur article from last spring, plant-filled spaces “inspire creativity and even improve brain function.” Being confined to your home during the quarantine period, having a plant will bring the outdoors inside, and can help to alleviate the anxiety associated with cabin fever. While many are new to working from home, very few have ever experienced a full-time quarantine. This can be very stressful as concerns over COVID-19 continue, and uncertainty looms over people who are unable to work. We wish everyone the best and hope that this piece helps alleviate even the slightest amount of stress for those of us that are lucky enough to be able to work from home. We hope that everyone can make the best of a tough situation and that you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. --- ### How to Become a Faster Typist URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-become-a-faster-typist/ Published: 2019-08-23 12:06:19 Author: john Many of us now spend hours every day typing at our computers. Have you ever thought to yourself that you wish you could type faster? Typing fast is now an essential skill and helps to improve productivity, and it can also be fun! If you are looking to improve your typing speed, you will need to spend time practicing. However, there are some ways that are better to practice than others. Continue reading to see my suggestions for improving your typing speed. Note - If you have spent any time reading about typing online, you have most likely seen debates over what the best keyboard or keyboard layout is. In reality, there is no single best keyboard or keyboard layout. People have reached incredible speeds on cheap keyboards and expensive keyboards and also on all three of the main keyboard layouts (QWERTY, Dvorak, and Colemak). However, having a keyboard that you enjoy typing on can turn practicing into something you look forward to. How to Type 30 WPM When you type less than 30 words per minute, this is the time to make sure that you have the fundamentals of typing down. While there are several typists who have reached incredible speeds typing while only using several fingers, it is recommended to type with a standard technique, to begin with. This means learning to touch type (type without looking at the keyboard) with the home-row method (resting your left hand on asdf and your right hand on jkl;). There are many free online programs to help with this. Three great options are typing.com, Typing Club, and Key BR. No matter which program you choose, be prepared to dedicate time and focus to learning to type. While it might seem tedious, it is essential that you master the basics, and it is much easier to learn the correct habits from scratch rather than replacing old ones. When learning, try your best to not let yourself cheat by either using the wrong finger for keys or looking at the keyboard. You will spend many frustrating hours learning the basics and forming the muscle memory necessary to type accurately without looking at the keyboard. If you are dedicated to practicing every day, you most likely will be able to reach 30 WPM within a month of beginning. https://youtu.be/27C31pvjK38 How to Type Faster Than 30 WPM Once you reach 30 WPM, you should have the muscle memory of where the keys are down. You should be able to type “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” (a phrase that contains every letter in the alphabet) without looking at the keyboard. Check out this website for more phrases that contain every letter to practice with. If you can comfortably do this, it is time to start putting in some practice time on the different typing websites available. When you are just starting out, you should practice on Type Racer, Nitro Type, or TyprX. All three of these websites are great for improving at this stage, so playing on any of them will help you to improve. However, Nitro Type does not require you to backspace if you type an incorrect character, so make sure that you do not abuse this feature and let your accuracy drop. On Nitro Type, your accuracy should not drop below 96% at this typing speed. The higher your accuracy the better, as long as you are not too afraid of making a mistake every once in a while. It is crucial to form the habit of typing with good accuracy. You will most likely be able to continue to improve just by putting in more practice time. Do not be frustrated if you go seemingly weeks without improvement, as progress is not linear. You will plateau at a certain speed, and then all of a sudden feel like you have unlocked a speed that you have never reached before. Just make sure that you are typing with high accuracy and good technique. https://youtu.be/de-wCUomJeo How to Type Faster than 60 WPM If you get to the point where you can type over 60 WPM, you have achieved a very proficient typing speed. Most people will need to want to improve in order to improve past this point. Consider investing in a keyboard that you will enjoy typing on. Even though it will most likely not have a great effect on your typing speed, it can make practicing much less of a chore. Roughly half of the surveyed top typists said that they primarily used a mechanical keyboard, and many of those who did not use a mechanical keyboard mentioned that they enjoyed typing on them more. The majority of typists who type around 70-80 WPM fall into one of two traps. The first, which is much more common in the online typing community, is hitting keys as fast as possible while sacrificing accuracy. If you feel yourself doing this, slow down and type deliberately with as high of accuracy as you can. It can be painful to spend time practicing where you feel like you are not hitting your top speed, but this sort of focused practice is what will help you improve faster. The other trap that many typists around this speed fall into is typing too accurately and never increasing their speed. It is possible to type with nearly 100% accuracy, but preventing yourself from ever making mistakes will hold you back. If you feel like this describes you, try to relax more when typing and speed up your fingers, even if this means your accuracy drops slightly. At this stage in typing improvement, typists should be starting to think about typing phrase by phrase instead of character by character. For example, when you see the word “around”, do not think of each individual character and type “a, r, o, u, n, d,” Instead, think of it as being like a piano chord. You should be able to drop your hands on the keyboard and see the word “around” appear on your screen. Eventually, you should be able to do this for almost every word. It is easier to do this when you have typed a word before, so the more you practice, the more automatic it will be. One way to practice this is to type one word at a time. Type each word as fast as you can (while still typing it correctly), take a brief pause, and then continue to the next. You can gradually eliminate the pauses and still type the words as fast as you previously were. You should also realize that you do not need to write every word at a continuous pace. Speed up on the easy ones and slow down if you need to on harder ones. This is a skill that takes practice. https://youtu.be/K3IHdb527uU Typing Faster Than 100 WPM Once you are able to type over 100 WPM, progress will most likely seem to stall for many months. While at this point there is not much you can do other than continue to dedicate months of hours of practice to typing, there are several things you can think about that might help. The first of these is making sure you are reading ahead. This is important for several reasons. The first and most crucial is ensuring that you do not have a pause between each word which means you can type at a continuous pace. This means that you should not be looking at the word you are currently typing, but rather the next word or even several words ahead. If you have only been playing on one typing website, consider using a different one for a little while, as every typing site has a different format that teaches different skills. One method of practicing that I believe helped me progress past ~120 WPM is alternating practicing different skills. I would spend a week exclusively typing as calmly as I could with great accuracy. The next week, I would let myself type as fast as my fingers would carry me. When I am trying to type as fast as I can, I would use a mix of these two strategies, but spending time focusing on each extreme helps kickstart improvement. This is not something that you will do once and immediately notice the improvement, but after several cycles of working on accuracy and then speed, you will almost certainly notice that you are a better typist than before. Focused practice like this is what separates the great typists from the good ones. At this point, it can seem like it is months before when you improve. If you continue to type with the intent to improve, you will eventually get faster. https://youtu.be/Zy1b-wSBUcU Typing Faster Than 140 WPM When you have reached an incredible typing speed of over 140 WPM, you most likely know most of the tricks of typing. One thing you can do if you haven’t already is to optimize your typing style. The biggest movement you want to avoid is using the same finger twice in a row. For example, with words that contain “ed” (fed, bed, etc.), you will use your left middle finger for both the e and the d if you use a standard typing style. However, you could use your ring finger or index finger for one of the characters to avoid using your middle finger twice in a row. I personally type the e with my middle finger and the d with my index finger in cases like this, but what works for me might not work for you.Using tricks like this of course requires you to practice, read ahead, and process information quickly. You can get creative with tricks like this, as long as they work. Everyone learns and improves in different ways, and this is true for typing too. At the end of the day, your improvement will be based on both your quantity of practice and the quality of practice. While typing mindlessly all day will help you to a certain extent, it is much less efficient and will not get you as far as spending some time every day dedicated to focused practice. I have suggested several methods of practicing and strategies to consider, what ultimately matters is that you find a way to practice that both is fun and works for you. --- ### The Dvorak Keyboard Layout URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-dvorak-keyboard-layout/ Published: 2019-08-22 15:05:04 Author: john About the Dvorak LayoutIs Dvorak faster than QWERTYHow to change a keyboard to DvorakHow to learn how to type on Dvorak If you have spent any time researching typing, you have probably heard of the Dvorak keyboard layout. In case you are unfamiliar with this, a keyboard layout is the layout of your keys. The standard keyboard layout in America is QWERTY, but some people use different ones because they believe that they are better than QWERTY for one reason or another. The most common of these is the Dvorak keyboard layout. About the Dvorak Layout Dvorak was created by August Dvorak in the 1930s. The most common letters are placed on the home row, which is intended to lead to faster and more comfortable typing. The vowels are placed under the left hand, and some of the most common consonants (d, h, t, n, s) are under the right hand. Many words are able to be typed without leaving the home row on Dvorak, such as adhesion, hunted, and sound. The Dvorak keyboard layout Is Dvorak Faster than QWERTY So, is Dvorak a better keyboard layout? It depends on how you define it. Dvorak is not proven to be faster - the highest recorded speed on QWERTY is 227 WPM, while the highest recorded speed on Dvorak is 194 WPM. However, there are many more people who have practiced QWERTY for their whole lives than Dvorak. Perhaps if more people used Dvorak there would be a fastest Dvorak typist. Even though QWERTY has a much higher top speed, most top typists agree that Dvorak has the potential to reach that same speed so do not let this scare you away from switching layouts. Even if Dvorak is not proven to be faster than QWERTY, it is definitely more comfortable. When typing with Dvorak, your fingers move only 62% as much as they do with QWERTY. If you are someone who experiences pain while typing or types a lot, switching to Dvorak could help prevent injury. You can see in the heat maps below that Dvorak is much more centered around the home row. QWERTY heat map Dvorak heat map How to Change a Keyboard to Dvorak If you are thinking about switching, it is completely free but takes a lot of practice. You do not need to buy a special keyboard to type Dvorak with - you can simply change it on your computer and use your standard QWERTY keyboard. To do this on a Mac computer, open System Preferences, go to “Keyboard”, and then click "Input Sources" the plus in the bottom left corner and search for Dvorak. Once it is added, you will see a black box that says DV at the top of your screen in the taskbar. Click on it and switch to the American flag “U.S.” layout to go back to QWERTY. Keyboard System Preferences on Mac iOS - Click "Input Sources" Click the + Button to Open Keyboard Layout Options Dvorak Keyboard Settings In order to change your keyboard layout on a Windows computer, open settings and go to “Time & Language”, “Language”, and then click on English (highlighted in a grey box) and click “Options.”  Under this panel, click “Add a keyboard” and search for United States-Dvorak. On Windows, you can also easily toggle between QWERTY and Dvorak by pressing ctrl + shift. Or, you can click where it says “ENG DV” at the bottom of your screen to toggle between layouts. Windows Language Settings How to Type on a Dvorak Layout Once you have decided to start learning how to type with Dvorak, it is recommended to pick an online program to go through. I used the Dvorak section of typing.com. Others recommend learn.dvorak.nl and typingclub.com. All three of these programs work if you put in the time. If you are 100% sure you want to switch layouts, it is most efficient to completely cut out all QWERTY typing as soon as possible. If this isn’t feasible, do as much of your typing on Dvorak as possible and only use QWERTY when needed. A beginning Dvorak typing lesson (typing.com) Many worry that they will lose their QWERTY typing speed or not be able to use other people’s computers. I personally lost my QWERTY speed when I initially learned Dvorak and stopped typing QWERTY, but quickly regained it naturally. Others have reported completely keeping their QWERTY speed or losing it entirely. If you type QWERTY occasionally, it is unlikely that you will lose your current speed. Even if you lose most of your QWERTY speed, you will still be able to use others’ computers. Or, if you need to use it frequently, it is simple to add Dvorak and swap between the layouts when needed. I personally found learning Dvorak harder than QWERTY, as I already had muscle memory that I had to replace rather than just starting fresh. It’s also tempting to quit when you face adversity with Dvorak, as you know that you already can type QWERTY. But avoid this mindset as much as possible, as it takes a long time to truly learn Dvorak. If you are looking to improve with Dvorak (or QWERTY), check the Das blog later for typing tips and different ways to practice. Also, if you want to talk to other dedicated Dvorak users, click here to join the Dvorak Discord server. --- ### How to join the competitive typing community URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-join-the-competitive-typing-community/ Published: 2019-08-01 15:21:25 Author: john Whether you have been touch typing for years or are just learning the basics, many have a desire to measure and raise their typing speed. Because of this, there is a community built around competitive typing, with members competing against both themselves and others to be the best they can. This community’s members range from those just starting their journey to becoming a fast typist to the very greatest in the world. While there are a considerable number of typing websites around, the community congregates around three main ones. The first typing website frequently used by the competitive typing community is Type Racer. This website has been running since 2008 and has a somewhat dated design. Regardless, it still provides one of the best ways to compete in typing. In races, you are matched up against several other people from around the world. You will be shown one of many thousand texts, (ranging from short sentences to long paragraphs) and will race to type it first. In order to complete the match, you must type everything correctly, meaning that if you make a mistake, you must backspace and fix it. While this makes it difficult to reach as high of speed as websites where you are not required to backspace, it makes it the most realistic measure of typing speed. If you would like to get involved with the Type Racer community, click here to join their Discord server. Type Racer The second website that competitive typists use is 10 Fast Fingers. On this website, you are given random words from the top 200 most common words in your language. You type for a minute straight, meaning that you need to type at your top speed for longer than the other websites competitive typists use. If you make a typo, you do not need to correct it, but you will not be given credit for mistyped words unless you correct your mistake. Because it only uses common words which are generally easy to type, most typists can achieve higher scores on this website. You can either race on your own, or enter competitions that will run for 24 hours and generally have between 50 and 80 entrants. In these competitions, every entrant will be given the same text to type to make it fair. The fastest ever score on 10 Fast Fingers is an astounding 233 WPM, or over 19 keys per second. If you would like to get involved with the 10 Fast Fingers community, click here to join their Discord server. Enjoy! 10 Fast Fingers The final website typists compete on is Nitro Type. This website is the most popular, with over a billion races having been completed since its creation in 2011. When you enter a race, you are matched up with 4 other typists at a similar speed to you and are given a text that will take you about 40 seconds to type. If you make a mistake, you do not need to backspace in order to correct it, but you do need to type the correct character before you can continue. You can also press 'Enter' to use a nitro and skip a word! The leaderboards on Nitro Type do not purely revolve around speed, but rather a point system. At the end of each race, you are awarded a certain number of points depending on your speed and accuracy. This means that you do not need to be one of the world’s fastest typists to reach the top of the leaderboards if you race enough. You can also join a team with 49 other typists and help your team rise in the leaderboards by racing. If competing against others in this way does not interest you, there are also hundreds of achievements and cars to earn. Nitro Type All three of these websites have an active competitive community and frequently host tournaments. The largest recent tournament was called The Clicking Championships 1 (TCC1) and attracted over 100 of the best typists in the world with several hundred more watching it live. It was hosted on Type Racer, and lasted for over 10 hours. Late into the night, a typist who goes by the name Chak emerged victorious and was crowned the world’s fastest typist. While tournaments of this scale are not common, there is almost always a smaller one to test yourself in. In order to get involved in the typing community, it is as easy as either joining one of the Discord servers or starting to type on Type Racer, 10 Fast Fingers, or Nitro Type. If you are at all interested in typing, join today! --- ### How my Das Keyboard Q helps me boost productivity URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-my-das-keyboard-q-helps-me-boost-productivity/ Published: 2019-05-30 07:38:45 Author: supercobra Nowadays, most of us use multiple communication and project tracking solutions. This generates dozens, if not hundreds of daily notifications, often not very important. I work at Das Keyboard and I receive over 120 notifications a day, on my phone and my computer. This is a productivity killer. To remedy this, I configured the Das Keyboard Q software to light up keys on my RGB keyboard for notifications that matter to me. This way I can focus on my work knowing that my keyboard will tell me if something important comes up. In this post, I would like to share how I configured my Das Keyboard Q to get rid of unnecessary notifications and boost my productivity. First, I use my Das Keyboard Q to change colors to inform me of software development activities. Not clear enough? Let me explain. We use Github to store our code, and Travis CI to test it. Stack Overflow replaces Google when we are looking for software development answers. Github makes the G key blink red to alert of new notifications Travis CI turns the DEL and END key green when the software builds pass, orange when the builds are in progress and red when the builds fail.Github will make my Page Downkey blink red for every new notification (pull requests, issues, etc.)Any new message or response I receive on Stack Overflow will make my Page Up key blink in red In addition, we maintain several websites - no need to say they need to be up at all times! So I monitor them like this: I use Montastic to monitor our websites. The Montastic applet turns my PAUSE key to green if everything is fine, and will make it blink red if any problem is reported.Server Ping, another Q applet, lights up the F9 to F12 keys to tell me if the URLs I monitor are up or down. I also monitor the progress of my projects and watch for urgent emails: Trello lights up the ESC key every time an update is added to our project.Gmail turns the following keys to blue for all emails I don't want to miss:B for my manager on my professional emailW for my other boss - my wife - on my personal emailT for any member of the team I also like to keep track of my computer's activity: The CPU usage of my PC shows as a progress bar on the numeric keys from 1 to 9, with a color gradient from green to redThe RAM usage lights my ~ key with a color from green (0%) to red (100%) Finally, I monitor some non-work related information that is important to me: As a triathlete, I like knowing the weather looks like in the next few days - my F1 to F4 keys give me a 4-day weather forecast in Austin. If there is a risk for a storm, I will plan to train indoor.)My family lives in France, so I also monitor the weather forecast there on my F5 to F8 keys.I follow stock tickers on my numpad, on keys from 1 to 9Because I'm sitting at my desk all day, I have set up a workout reminder that will prompt me to do a healthy workout break every hour. That could be as simple as moving around for a minute or two. This is how I have configured my Das Keyboard Q (note that my stock portfolio is having a bad day...): With this configuration, I can focus on my work and stop checking email and other project services so often. Productivity increases and I still get the most important notifications, but this time directly on my keyboard! Learn more about the Das Keyboard Q Series. --- ### The Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate teaches typing at Harlem Middle School URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-das-keyboard-4-ultimate-teaches-typing-at-harlem-middle-school/ Published: 2018-02-21 09:27:32 Author: supercobra Ken is a Business & Computer Science teacher at Harlem Middle school, and enjoys teaching his students keyboarding, productivity applications, introductory coding, and computer science theory. With typing being the key to computing, Ken was looking for a more effective way to help his students learn touch-typing. These keyboards would be used throughout the whole school day, so he needed a solution that was both durable and reliable. The school chose to go with Das Keyboard mechanical keyboards, instead of the old membrane keyboards that came with the computers that previously failed after only 6 months of heavy use. He specifically chose the Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate, a mechanical keyboard with blank keys that is built like a tank. “The standard is typing by touch with speed and accuracy. When the students can see the keys, many don’t learn to touch type. By using the blank keyboard, students have no choice but to learn.” Purchasing through the Das Keyboard team was a quick and painless experience. The setup was similarly easy: plug and play. Ken encountered no problems whatsoever. Afterwards he was easily able to integrate the keyboards primarily into the keyboarding curriculum. Harlem Middle school has had the keyboards in place for two months now, and the students really like them. “The typing students have all been forced to slow down, learn proper key placement, hand position and posture, and are learning to type the correct way.” Most of the feedback has been positive, both from the students and other teachers. “Our computer technician was recently performing some preventative maintenance, and commented about how nice the keyboards were. I look forward to using these keyboards for several years.” We at Das Keyboard are glad to help and share Harlem Middle School’s experience with our keyboards. Click here to learn more about the Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate. Special thanks to: Kenneth Glaze, Jr., Ed.S. Business & Computer Science Teacher Harlem Middle School --- ### 6 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy Into the Ergonomic Keyboard Hype URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/6-reasons-you-shouldnt-buy-into-the-ergonomic-keyboard-hype/ Published: 2016-08-18 09:18:57 Author: thedas In recent years, ergonomic keyboards have been all the rage. The general idea is that ergonomic keyboards are more comfortable to use, lessen muscle strain while typing, and possibly reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Yet, these claims are inflated. Before shelling out additional cash or more on an ergonomic keyboard, you should be aware of recent research suggesting that the benefits of ergonomic keyboards are outright untrue. Here are the top six reasons why you shouldn’t waste money on an ergonomic keyboard: 1. Ergonomic keyboards don’t actually protect against injury, or help users recover from typing-related injuries. The big selling point of ergonomic keyboards is that they prevent typing injuries and are useful to people who already have typing-related injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. However, academic research has demonstrated that this is not actually the case. Nancy Baker is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, holding a PhD in therapeutic studies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health funded Baker’s research. She conducted an experiment with 77 subjects, all of whom suffered injuries related to typing. Their injuries included problem with hands, wrists, necks, and/or backs. Using special technology, Baker videotaped participants typing. Participants also filled out weekly surveys rating their pain levels. About half of participants used an ergonomic keyboard, while the other half used a standard keyboard. The somewhat surprising finding was that using an ergonomic keyboard had no effect on the pain level of participants. About 80% of participants were pain-free after two months. But that was true of both groups of participants—meaning that the extra expense of ergonomic keyboards just isn’t worth it. While many study participants were surprised by the findings, their meaning is quite clear. In fact, Baker suggests that keyboards marketed as ergonomic keyboards should be called “alternative” keyboards rather than “ergonomic.” Experts in the field generally agree that “ergonomic” devices have been specifically fitted to individual users. One-size-fits-all “ergonomic” keyboards don’t fit the bill. As for the claim that ergonomic keyboards prevent injuries, there is no clear evidence to support that claim. A lot of the research extolling the benefits of ergonomic keyboards was conducted by manufacturers of those keyboards, who have a clear, vested interest in promoting their products. 2. Ergonomic keyboards are not intuitive to use for experienced typists. Most ergonomic keyboards are split down the middle, oftentimes with separated sections for numbers and function keys. This design requires most people to completely reconfigure the typing style they’ve already learned. The next time you type something up, pay attention to how you’re typing. Chances are that you’re moving both hands all over the keyboard, unconsciously making calculations about how best to expend your movements. Most programs designed to teach typing will suggest that users do just that. For example, you may use your left hand to press the Y key, or your right hand to press the V key. But with ergonomic keyboards, only one hand can access each half of the keyboard. This will require typists to completely alter their natural typing stance, slowing them down considerably. In many ways, ergonomic keyboards actually require users to expend more energy to do the same work. 3. Ergonomic keyboards don’t actually have a consistent meaning. Google “ergonomic keyboards,” or maybe enter it into your favorite online shopping site. Chances are, you’ll see many different designs, from the traditional split keyboard to keyboards that are simply curved. There is no single design for an “ergonomic” keyboard. That’s because people have individual bodies and needs that cannot be adequately addressed by so-called “ergonomic” keyboards. 4. Ergonomic keyboards can actually cause certain injuries and fatigue. Because ergonomic keyboards force users to keep their elbows at a wide distance from their bodies, usage can actually cause the elbows to become fatigued. In some cases, this can lead to injury. When using the numbers and function keys, your upper arm has to move even more, tiring out your muscles further. This not only can cause additional injury, but will actually make you type more slowly. Having to constantly move your hands long distances can cause your wrists to twist—exactly the injury that users attempt to avoid when using an ergonomic keyboard. In general, you will actually be using more muscles to type on an ergonomic keyboard. This means more energy expended and more potential for getting hurt. 5. Ergonomic keyboards make people type more slowly. A lot of offices are buying ergonomic keyboards in bulk for use in the workplace. Yet this can actually have a negative effect on employee productivity. Employees who are accustomed to typing on a regular keyboard will take longer to perform the exact same functions, which will have negative effects on your organization as a whole. Even if writing an e-mail only takes thirty seconds longer, that difference spread out over multiple e-mails across an entire week can have a big impact. 6. Ergonomic keyboards cost a lot of money. Although there is a wide price range for ergonomic keyboards, many higher end models cost $200, if not twice that amount. Especially if you will be purchasing a great number of keyboards for an office, those numbers can add up. Given that ergonomic keyboards actually come with numerous drawbacks, why overpay for a tool that doesn’t live up to its promises? Sometimes, people get the design right in the first place. Such is the case for the good old-fashioned keyboard. Don’t fall victim to the hype promoted by ergonomic keyboard manufacturers. Ergonomic keyboards can actually be harmful to users and certainly aren’t worth the hefty price tag attached. --- ### How George R.R. Martin Writes on an Old-School, DOS Computer URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-george-r-r-martin-writes-on-an-old-school-dos-computer/ Published: 2016-07-18 10:35:44 Author: thedas As I’m sure many of you readers know, the Game of Thrones books are freaking massive. They’re so long and hefty that just holding them to read should count as some form of weightlifting. The popular novels’ crazy size and complexity makes it even more shocking to find out that author George R.R. Martin writes them all on a computer older than current college students. Martin uses a DOS running computer and a WordStar 4.0 word processor to type out his epic novels. For anyone too young to remember, WordStar 4.0 was released in 1987, nearly 30 years ago. Think about that next time you want to upgrade your system as soon as the newest version comes available. The WordStar 4.0 word processor looks like it came straight out of a 90’s sci-fi movie too. With its black background and complex controls, it looks like Microsoft Word’s evil twin. There isn’t a cursor, so you have to enter commands on the keyboard to do anything within the processor. If you’ve never used a DOS computer or have forgotten just how complex the WordStar system was, there are plenty of demonstration videos on YouTube that will give you some serious respect for Martin’s writing methods. So, why does he write on such an old system? It’s not like he can’t afford a better computer. The guy’s made so much money off of Game of Thrones that he’s got this writer wondering if a DOS computer isn’t the real secret to success. Well, it’s not hooked up to the internet, so the distractions are minimal, he doesn’t have to fear a virus or a hacker, and it doesn’t autocorrect all of his made up words. Can you imagine the field day autocorrect would have with the names from Game of Thrones? I know what you're thinking: so that’s why it takes him so damn long to finish each novel. Honestly though, using an old school word processor seems to help him and his writing. Everyone has their own weird preferences when it comes to their personal computers, especially writers. Plus, according to his interviews, Martin does have a second computer that is hooked up to the internet, so he isn’t totally stuck in the dark ages. Now, we don’t know whether or not he uses a Das Keyboard hookup on his old-school machine, but if you’re out there, George, let us know. What about the rest of you? Is anyone else out there still running retro machines? --- ### How to Find the Right Mechanical Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-find-the-right-mechanical-keyboard/ Published: 2016-04-25 09:36:29 Author: thedas Yes, mechanical keyboards are badass, but which one is right for you? Let’s face it: mechanical keyboards are awesome. Whether you’re typing in the office or gaming with your friends, there’s something satisfying about the old school click-clack of a mechanical keyboard. They’re practical, durable and cause fewer typos. Older PC users might find that the sensation of using a mechanical keyboard brings back the nostalgia of their very first computer (IBM Model M, anybody?), while younger gamers will appreciate a keyboard that can withstand the heavy usage that modern life demands. (IBM Model M) So we’ve established that mechanical keyboards are epic. But which one should you buy? Finding the right keyboard is like buying any other computer accessory: your choice will depend on your individual needs. Here are some questions to take into account while you make your decision. How sensitive are you to noise? By and large, mechanical keyboards are louder than standard ones. Yes, we know you love the sound of your typing, but VP John Smith from the next office cubicle might not share your enthusiasm. You don’t want to irritate everyone around you with your new favorite gadget! If you’re frequently on Skype, FaceTime or something similar, this is a really important consideration, as the person you’re speaking to might find the typing sound distracting. Das Keyboards with brown switches are renowned for having a softer tactile sound. On the other hand, if you just can’t get enough of that magical typing sound, feel free to look into louder keyboards, such as the Das Keyboard with blue switches. What will you use your keyboard for? Are you a gaming junkie, or a professional writer typing hundreds of words each day? Most likely,  you’re somewhere between those two extremes. Your answer will affect what types of switch you want on your keyboard. If you’re a gamer like Kripparrian (pictured), we recommend MX Black switches. These switches leave no doubt as to whether you pressed a key or not, and are great for double-tapping. They’re quite tiresome for regular typing though, since you’ll have to traverse the whole key for a key press to register. The MX Red is a good alternative for student gamers who also want to type occasionally. For users who want to type and game in equal measure, consider a keyboard with MX Brown switches. These keyboards are great for FPS games that require a fast reaction time, because they’re so sensitive that even the slightest twitch will register a keypress. The reactivity of these keyboards comes from a tactile bump near the middle of each key, which conveniently also increases your typing speed. If you want your keyboard for work reasons, check out switches that offer the most tactile feedback, like the MX Blue, MX Green and MX Clear. Of these options, the MX Blue types with the least resistance, giving typists a satisfying click sound when the actuation point of the switch is hit. MX Green switches are a relatively new innovation that are basically a tougher version of the MX Blue — their keys require more force to press down. The hardest keys of all to press down are those of MX Clear keyboards. Typists love them, but such keyboards are hard to find these days. What’s your budget? For students and other people on a low income, you can find decent keyboards for less than $100. At the other end of the scale, you can buy flashy keyboards for $920. There are even mechanical keyboards with gold plating on, if you want get really fancy. For quality keyboards that range from from $99 to $179, we invite you to check out our product range here at Das Keyboard. --- ### Valentine's Day is Almost Here! Click, Clack...Oh. URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/valentines-day-is-almost-here-click-clack-oh/ Published: 2016-02-08 12:12:50 Author: thedas Surprise Your Valentine with a Keyboard Instead of Chocolates. Looking for a badass gift for your valentine? Look no further, for a limited time, buy one Das Keyboard 4C Professional and get another one for 50% off. Your valentine will be in click clack heaven. Das Keyboard 4C Professional is one of a kind. Not only is the click clack sheer music to your ears, but you'll also have one incredible machine that delivers a faster, more enjoyable typing experience. It's made of the highest-quality materials and has a robust construction you can feel. All of our keyboards are designed with high-performance, gold-plated mechanical key switches lasting up to 60 million keystrokes. Here are some of the features you will enjoy with this keyboard: - Greetech mechanical key switches with gold contacts - Sleek, compact tenkeyless 87-key design (US) - NKRO over USB for faster gaming, programming, or anything that makes you a formidable opponent in work or play Learn more - Buy now Sales end 02/15/2016. US residents only. Free ground shipping. --- ### The State & the Future of Mechanical Key Switches URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/considerations-about-typing-experience-and-the-future-of-mechanical-key-switches/ Published: 2015-09-29 16:50:49 Author: supercobra What Is the Object We Touch the Most? A Keyboard Over the past 10 years, mechanical keyboards have become very popular. The reason for this success is very simple: as computers become our primary work and social connection interface people use a keyboard several hours a day and many more than 8h a day. People have realized that typing skills and typing experience affects their productivity. The key to typing nirvana? A great switch in a great keyboard. How Do Mechanical Keyboards Achieve Higher Productivity and Better User Experience? As the brain delegates some visual processing function to the eyes, the same happens for the touch processing pathway(1). Fingertips have thousands of nerve endings  to identify texture, shape, size. Our fingers don't enjoy non-mechanical keyboards such as rubber membrane or low profile laptop keyboards. There are exceptions such as the Lenovo Thinkpad keyboard. By having feedback-less keys, they will need to be pushed all the way down to actuate. It's an all or nothing kind of operation. You will have to bang keys all the way down to input onto the screen. a rubber membrane keyboard, our delicate fingers don't get any tactile feedback until they hit bottom. The bottom is often squishy (the rubber membrane). Typing for extended period of time on a low quality keyboard hurts fingers and creates RSI (repeated stress injury). Mechanical keyboards are different: under each key there is a mechanism - a mechanical key switch - that provides progressive tactile feedback from the top of the key all the way down to the bottom of the travel. Most mechanical switches activate in the middle of the travel so users don't have to push buttons all the way down - providing a lighter feel. Mechanical key switches are the key to great typing experience with no contest. Which Switch Do I Need? Switches are basically divided in three buckets: clicky, tactile (less clicky) and linear (not clicky at all). Furthermore users have the choice of how much force (push back) the switch needs to be operated. Keyboard users' taste changes over time, we have seen entire countries change their buying habits from linear to tactile and vice and versa. Other times we have seen demographic taste changes as well. For example, in recent past, video game players preferred heavier linear switches (e.g.: Cherry MX black). Nowadays they prefer a more tactile or lighter linear experience. All switches feel good, it all boils down to personal preference. Why Is Switch Quality Important? There are over 100 switches on a keyboard and if one fails, the whole keyboard is kaput. We need switches that are dust and corrosion resistant and can survive the onslaught of 10 fingers banging the next New York Times best selling novel. Quality is achieved by several factors, from the type of electrical contact (best are cross point and double cross point), the amount of anti-corrosive material (gold or other metal), and quality of the switch assembly. What Are the Main Types of Switch? There were numerous switch types and brands but only a few are popular nowadays. The most common type of switch is the MX line from the Cherry company. There are other types, like the buckling spring technology found the in the IBM model M keyboards, the Alp switch found in the first Apple keyboards, and the new switch on the block, the Omron switch found in the latest Logitech gaming keyboards. Omron is a Japanese company based in Kyoto founded in 1933. Greetech Switches: Switches with High Standards To date, Das Keyboard is using Cherry MX and Greetech switches. Das Keyboard is obsessed with quality and we pick our suppliers based on their ability to satisfy strict quality standards. For example, we require switch manufacturers to have assembly and testing lines that are automated. We test our components over several months before we commercialize them. Before we picked Greetech as an second supplier for MX switches, we visited many Asian-based factories. We found that the Greetech switches have higher specifications and better testing results in all aspects - than all other  MX or MX compatible switch brands: from life cycle testing to corrosion testing to dust resistance, the Greetech switches finished first. Our conclusion is that Greetech and Cherry companies are two top notch switch makers. The Future: More Switches Choices, Better Specs. After enjoying a monopoly for 30 years, desktops will soon share their mechanical switches with laptops. These are laptops with super low profile mechanical keyboards. They are being tested in the labs of big manufacturers in the USA and they will be a available next year. Some companies are trying to make optical switches a viable commercial option but are facing a hard problem to solve: operating power exceeds the standard USB specifications, i.e. it needs an external power supply. That's all about switches. Now that you have learned about mechanical switches, it times to use them: try a typing race: www.typrx.com. (1) Reference: Pruszynski, J. A. & Johansson, R. S. (2014). Edge-orientation processing in first-order tactile neurons. Nature Neurosci. http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v17/n10/full/nn.3804.html --- ### Tips and Tricks: Doggy Loot, Grammar, and More... URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-doggy-loot-grammar-and-more/ Published: 2015-07-16 13:54:20 Author: thedas Here are this weeks tips and tricks from the Das Keyboard team. 1. This tip was shared with the team and we were all too excited to try it out. Shake, shake, fold, pat. If you don’t know how to effectively use a paper towel, check out Joe Smith’s How to Use a Paper Towel video. Glorious! 2. If you have a dog (or two or three), you might be interested in signing up for Doggyloot. Everything is discounted and shipping is always free. You really can’t beat the deals at Doggyloot. The best part about it, they have some really cool stuff, so Fido can have some extra cool loot to add to the doggy bin. 3. Check out some Quick and Dirty Tips from Grammar Girl. Ever wonder where the phrase “Mind Your P’s and Q’s” came from or don’t know when to use “i.e.” versus “e.g.”? You might just want to spend a minute or two reading some of these great tips. 4. We love to promote local businesses, and since we’re in Austin, Texas, we couldn’t wait to share Gudde. Their tagline is “Heirloom Quality. Handeman in Austin”, and that just about perfectly sums it up. Need a new cutting board? You may want to check these out. 5. Have some 2D or 3D files that have been sent your way and don’t have the proper software to open them? You can spend some time download the software needed….or...you can access it in an instant with Autodesk’s 360 file viewer. You can easily view 2D and 3D designs in over 50 file formats. Have an awesome tip or trick you want to share? Comment below so we can share with the Das Keyboard team. And, stay tuned for more tips and tricks to come. --- ### Custom Keycaps URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/custom-keycaps/ Published: 2015-07-06 15:41:26 Author: thedas Changing your keycaps to make your keyboard unique is cool, but designing your own custom keycaps is even cooler. That’s right. You don’t have to wait around for someone to create a set of keycaps that interests you. You can create your own. Why Design Your Own Keycaps Who doesn’t love getting exactly what he or she wants instead of trying to find the closest option? Custom gear is cool, and completely designing your own keycaps is badass.   Custom keycaps can be more satisfying than buying premade sets and can be tailored to your exact needs and desires. Instead of hoping a manufacturer will make a custom set that fits your exact specifications or settling for something less appealing than your dream, keycap lovers are designing their own sets. Though the process can be labor intensive, customizing keycaps is fairly popular. There’s even an active subreddit dedicated to keycap designers that discusses the process in detail, as well as serves as a community to share designs and ideas. How to Design Your Keycaps You’ll need to start by deciding which keys you want to replace, what your layout will be, and how your keys will look. Keyboard-layout-editor.com is a commonly used site to help designers plan their keycaps before investing time and money into production. If you’re designing your own images, you can create your own vector graphics that will allow you to utilize colors and typefaces in unique ways.   Your design will be best if you choose a theme you can design your keycaps around, such as a specific aesthetic or color scheme. Do some research to find images that are inspiring before you begin to help create a unified design. You may want to enlist the help of an artistic friend if rendering computer-based graphics isn’t a skill you’re comfortable with. Whatever you design is what will print on the keys, so you want to make sure the designs are high quality and matches to your likings before printing. Once you have a design, you need to do some research on which vendors have the best pricing, product quality, and customer service policies. Pricing It can be expensive to have a company print your own designs. If shelling out that much cash isn’t an option, you can try to interest others in your custom designs online and order the keycaps in a group to reduce costs. You can also sell keycap designs or offer discounts to others who may be interested in your designs when purchased in bulk.   If you plan to offer your keycaps to others, you may want to check before designing them for interest and feedback from potential buyers. If you haven’t found any keycap options that is appealing yet, consider designing your own. Not only will you love customized gear design, but you can totally make your friends jealous with your unique keyboard. Have you designed your own keycaps or plan to? What are your tips for beginners? --- ### A Look into What's to Come... URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/a-look-into-whats-to-come/ Published: 2015-03-04 16:49:22 Author: thedas Something new is about to launch, many have asked and now your wait is almost over. Want a hit? It's like candy for your _____________. How To Enter: Fill in the blank by posting your guess on Twitter or Facebook. Along with your guess, you have to tag us (@DasKeyboard) and use the hashtag #MechanicalKeyboard. The winner will receive the secret item and will be announced when we reveal our new product. --- ### New York Times Bestselling Author Types on a Das Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/customer-spotlight-george-beahm/ Published: 2015-02-19 16:56:40 Author: thedas New York Times Bestselling author George Beahm spends 14 hours a day typing on a keyboard. He says he is in "keyboard heaven." Here is his blog post. My Type of Keyboard by George Beahm Keyboards are such commonplace items that people tend to take them for granted, but I don’t. When I’m up against a deadline for a book project, I’m hammering away at a keyboard for eight, ten, twelve, even fourteen hours a day, until the project is done. That means my keyboard’s got to keep up with me–I’m a touch typist–and it also means typing comfort and reliability are essential. For those reasons, I use a Das Keyboard, and no other. Previously to owning a Das Keyboard, I tried virtually every third party keyboard, and every computer manufacturer’s keyboard, but when I discovered Das Keyboard, the search for the Holy Grail ended: Somehow, miraculously, the folks at Das Keyboard had intuited what I, and many others, wish for in a keyboard: sturdiness, reliability, and typing keys with an indefinable, exquisite “touch.” With Das Keyboard, I can type for hours on end without fatigue. I am in keyboard heaven. Whether it’s a quick e-mail, a letter, or a book-length manuscript, I’m able to concentrate on the writing, because Das Keyboard allows me to type quickly and accurately. My fingers fly over the keyboard, and the words on the screen march across the page with precision and accuracy. Das Keyboard is, simply, the best. It’s my type of keyboard, and after you try it, it’ll be yours, too. George Beahm is a New York Times bestselling author of I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words, and also Steve Jobs’ Life By Design: Lessons to be Learned from His Last Lecture (Palgrave Macmillan). His forthcoming book is The Stephen King Companion (St. Martin’s Press, 2015). View Check out some of George Beahm's work: - Steve Jobs' Life By Design: Lessons to be Learned from His Last Lecture - Unraveling the Mysteries of the Big Bang Theory - George Beahm's Website --- ### Type Like a Badass: Go Blank URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/type-like-a-badass-go-blank/ Published: 2014-12-29 13:32:28 Author: thedas When you’re learning to touch-type, the letters printed on your keycaps are kind of like the training wheels. Real proficiency in touch-typing means that you don’t have to look at the letter, because you rely on muscle memory to find the keys. If you want to dramatically improve your typing skills, it may be time to remove those training wheels and use blank keycaps. Why Use Blank Keycaps? First, if you’re typing correctly, those letters don’t really mean anything. You won’t be looking at your keyboard anyway. Typing without looking at the keys greatly improves your speed and accuracy. Letters on keys make it easy to peek. Removing the lettering removes the temptation and makes you really learn where the keys are. Even if you’re a skilled touch-typist, it can be tempting to look for those keys you don’t use often. When you don’t have the temptation to look, you eliminate time wasted hunting for keys and dramatically improve your WPM and your productivity. Blank keys also improve your skill as a gamer by eliminating the time wasted to think about which commands your keys correspond to. This technique will really help to learn your game controls and improves your overall gaming skill. Plus, let’s not forget that blank keycaps make your keyboard look really cool, and using them efficiently makes you look like a real badass. Nothing says professional like being too skilled to have letters on your keys. How to Transition It may be more efficient to start using blank keycaps right away. Self-titled learning expert Josh Kaufman suggests in his book about efficient learning techniques, The First 20 Hours, that learning to type without looking from the start is the quickest way to learn touch-typing. He even mentions that he ordered a Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate, which comes with blank keys, as a tool that helped him break himself of his habit of looking at keys as he learned to touch-type. Of course, there are options if you aren’t quite ready to fully commit to blank keycaps while you learn. If you’re purchasing a new keyboard that’s already blank, you can buy stickers that have letters printed on them and apply them to tricky keys until you learn them. A cheap, easy trick for a totally blank keyboard is to print a diagram of your keyboard layout and place it under your keyboard. Unlike stickers, it won’t be quickly accessible when you’re typing, you probably won’t reference it unless you’re really stuck and can’t find a character. If you aren’t investing in blank keycaps yet, another option is to buy a thin opaque cover called a keyboard skin that is made specifically to help you learn touch-typing faster without looking. It sits over your keyboard and coves the letters so you can’t peek when you’re working, and you can remove it when you’re done practicing. If you’re planning to replace your existing printed keycaps with blank ones in the future, you could go ahead and buy a blank set of keycaps and replace keys as you learn them. That way you can still peek on those tricky keys and slowly make the transition. And then of course, you don’t have to use blank keycaps if you like your keyboard the way it is, but come on, who doesn’t want a really cool looking keyboard and amazing typing skills? Do you use blank keycaps? Have they improved your typing speed? --- ### 4 Simple, Quick Fixes to Improve Your Typing Today URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/improve-your-typing/ Published: 2014-06-24 15:29:52 Author: thedas [caption id="attachment_5200" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Improve your typing[/caption] Sometimes there's nothing more frustrating than typing. Whether it's hitting the wrong key during an online game, constantly messing up that one piece of coding, or even taking for-ev-er to finish that presentation due tomorrow, you wish there was an easy way to get better at typing. Well, simply put, there is. Typing is a skill that can be improved the more you practice; you just have to make sure you fit that practice into your day. This doesn't have to be as hard as you think, either. Below are 5 simple and quick fixes to help you improve your typing one click at a time. Fix Your Posture A lot of times, typing errors stem from bad typing habits, including the way you sit at your computer. Ergonomics are often overlooked in favor of "cooler" ways to get better at typing. But don't underestimate their power to correct your typing mistakes (and make you have a more comfortable computer experience) with just a few small tweaks. Always keep your elbows bent so they form a 90-degree angle to your keyboard, and your wrists resting in as straight a line with the rest of your forearm as possible (i.e. don't bend them too far up or down).You can read about more ways to sit properly in this post. Correct Bad Habits In addition to your posture, you can have bad habits that come from the way you've used your fingers for typing in the past. For example, if you're used to using just one hand to type or game, it's time to break that habit. This can be done in a quick way: just learn where your fingers are actually supposed to go on the keyboard. You'll have to keep practicing with this hand layout for it to become familiar to you, but learning proper placement won't take you long at all and is one more step on the road to improved typing Play Typing Games That's right -- learning to improve your typing doesn't have to be all work. Playing typing games can help you improve your typing speed and efficiency in a way that's more fun than just practicing on a text document. Additionally, many of these games can be downloaded as apps for your phone so you can keep practicing on the go. Check out some of the most fun online typing games you can use to start practicing those keystrokes. Use Keyboard Shortcuts While it's all well and good to improve your typing as a whole, sometimes it's beneficial to know other ways around your device. Keyboard shortcuts, for example, are one way to use your keyboard that helps you get things done faster and more efficiently. And yet most people don't know how to use them (a recent study showed that most people don't even know how to search a web page or document using keyboard shortcut). Obviously, learning some simple shortcuts doesn't take much time, and can have a massive impact on the way you use your computer and how much time you spend on it. Your Turn... While improving your typing can take more time than you have, a little bit of practice each day goes a long way. Using any of the methods above, you'll find that in a few weeks' time you'll be typing faster and better than you ever have before. What's one thing you can do today to improve your typing? --- ### How to Increase PC Productivity (Hint: Learn Keyboard Shortcuts) URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/keyboard-shortcuts-for-productivity/ Published: 2014-04-23 10:07:44 Author: thedas These days, everything's about "hacking." Parents want to know how they can hack parenting, exercise buffs want to learn better fitness hacks, and pretty much everyone's curious about life hacking. But there's one life hack that many people overlook, and that's keyboard shortcuts. [caption id="attachment_5080" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo from arvindgrover via photopin cc[/caption] Keyboard shortcuts are one of the quickest ways to increase your PC productivity. Being able to simply click a button or two and get the results you need reduces your dependence on your mouse, which increases the amount of time you have to do what's most important. Doubtful this actually makes a difference? Then read on to see some pretty insane stats about why you should use keyboard shortcuts for productivity. Why Keyboard Shortcuts Are So Important Here's the deal: the majority of Americans who use the Internet don't know how to search for a word on a web page. The Atlantic reported a few years ago that 90% of U.S. internet users don't know the Ctrl/Command + F shortcut, which brings up a search bar that helps you find a particular word on that page. (If you didn't know this, now you do, and you're in the top 10% of enlightened keyboard shortcut internet folk.) While these stats may have changed over the years, assume they're still true for the sake of this discussion. Because now you have to pair that stat with another crazy one. When you learn keyboard shortcuts, you reduce your dependence on your mouse which actually gives you more time back than you might realize. An infographic by American Express Open Forum states that "an average person loses 2 seconds per minute of work" just by switching back and forth between the mouse to the keyboard. Overall, they say that this saves you 8 days a year. Doesn't seem like much, but think about it -- what would you do with basically an extra week's worth of free time? By learning keyboard shortcuts, you'd not only be in the top 10% of people who know how to search for a word on a webpage, but you'd also be working your way towards giving yourself a few extra days each year. How to Get Started With Keyboard Shortcuts Now that you can see the value that learning keyboard shortcuts can bring to your life, where do you start? First, you need to make sure that whatever you teach yourself is for the right computer and operating system (OS). While this post is mainly addressing PC shortcuts, note that many are different on Macs if you use one. Also, shortcuts can vary between OS's, too, so you need to know which one you're using. Next, start by learning the basic keyboard shortcuts that come built-in to the system. The link to the American Express infographic can help you get started there, but here are few more: - http://mashable.com/2011/07/06/keyboard-shortcuts-windows/ - http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/02/keyboard-shortcuts-infographic.html - http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/07/20/developers-alarm-200-hotkeys-to-boost-your-productivity/ Finally, once you're comfortable with these, you can start looking into programs that let you create your own shortcuts and mess with key mapping. Customization FTW! Keyboard shortcuts are one of the best life hacks you will invest time in. Learning them now will reap you productivity benefits that you'll be sad you hadn't experienced before! Do you think you'll start using keyboard shortcuts now? Tell us why (or why not) in the comments below. --- ### Why You Need to Learn Touch Typing URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/why-you-need-to-learn-touch-typing/ Published: 2014-04-16 07:12:40 Author: thedas For most people, typing's a breeze. You might have taken typing classes in school or just learned as you went, and you can keep writing or coding or gaming with little problem or mistake. But even if you're around your computer all the time, you still may not know how to use touch typing. This is nothing short of a travesty (okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration). Touch typing is one of the easiest ways to improve your typing efficiency and productivity. [caption id="attachment_5088" align="aligncenter" width="404"] Photo from woodleywonderworks via photopin cc[/caption] What Is Touch Typing? Touch typing is knowing how to type without relying on your sense of sight. While that's easy to understand, in practice there are thousands (if not millions) of people who still rely on sight to work on their computers. If you've ever seen a young child pushing one key at a time with only one or two fingers, you've experienced someone who hasn't yet learned the skill of touch typing (if you've seen otherwise, you found a super-genius baby). Now you may be thinking, "I don't need this. I know my way around a keyboard when I'm gaming." But think about when you're not doing something you enjoy or are comfortable with -- do you still type as quickly as you do in familiar settings? If not, you could learn the touch typing method to help improve your productivity. How Does it Help Me? There are a few different reasons why learning touch typing will help you out. For starters, when you learn to type without looking at the keys, you train your brain to memorize the key locations. This means you're not distracted by continually having to glance down at your hands to make sure you're pressing the right keys. What that translates to is that the better you know touch typing, the less distractions you'll have overall. You'll be able to pay more attention to what you really need to focus on, whether that be your gaming or that 3-page paper your teacher assigned you last week. Second, touch typing improves your speed. For example, the editor-in-chief of Productive! Magazine, Michael Sliwinski, found that when he stopped looking at the keys, he increased his typing speed by 300%. Check out the video of him explaining this transformation: Das Keyboard's very own Daniel Guermeur actually started this company because he wanted to improve his typing speed and accuracy by using keyboards with blank keys. So if you consider the fact that the average speed of computer typists is only 40 WPM, you can imagine how easy it is to go beyond that average if you keep at it. Need some ideas for practicing your typing? You can always Google "typing games," or check out some of the links we prefer. So What Will You Do About Touch Typing? Now that you know how this method of typing can help you have better gaming, typing, and overall computer experiences, it's time to go teach yourself. Set some goals that you'd like to reach, whether it's improving your speed or looking less often at the keys. Once you reach those goals, set new ones, and keep improving! How has touch typing affected your computer or gaming experiences? --- ### 3 Fun (& Helpful) Free Online Typing Games to Test Your Skills URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/free-online-typing-games/ Published: 2014-03-11 15:51:44 Author: thedas [caption id="attachment_4899" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo from Brian Lane Winfield Moore via photopin cc[/caption] We're not all about keyboards here at Das. We like other things, too. Like typing. Sure, it's still technically related to keyboards, but the world of typing is fascinating and has been around since the invention of the typewriter in the 1860's. Everyone wants to know how to type faster and better. Fortunately, there are lots of free online typing games that we 21st-century people can use. There are lots of games online for you to play, but not all of them are both fun and useful for improving your typing skills. We've picked out 4 of the best ones that succeed at both: KeyMan This typing games looks just like Pacman, which makes it awesome by default. The point of this game is, of course, to outrun the ghost. However, instead of just moving around the maze with your arrow keys, you need to move by typing the letter or punctuation mark that shows up in the direction you want to move. Why's this so hard? Because you're not spelling out any specific words; you're just typing random letters and marks, which really works your knowledge of key locations and makes this one of the best free online typing games around. Keyboard Ninja If you love ninjas, this could be one of your favorite free online typing games. In this game, you are training to become a master keyboard ninja, and you're in your final stage where you must slice all the fruit thrown your way by typing the letters that show above each piece. You can also slice ice cubes to help slow down the rate of the flying fruit. But you have to avoid the bombs your trainer is throwing at you, too, or the game's over. And did we mention you're a monkey? Ninja Cat and Zombie Dinosaurs Best. Title. Ever. (And yes, there's apparently a ninja theme going on here.) Instead of being a monkey like you were in the previous game, you're a half cat, half ninja (most likely a French one at that, because you start off fighting in various locations around France). Your goal is to save the world from zombie dinosaurs by typing the words that appear below them as they race to attack you. The words are pretty common, but the dinosaurs come at you quickly, so you need to know how to "defend" yourself. Be careful to not type the wrong thing, either, or your accuracy goes down. Bonus! There's no shortage of free online typing games, but these are just some of the more interesting, fun ones that users of any skill level can enjoy. And as an added bonus, you could try our typing game! It's called typrX, and the goal is for you to type as fast and as accurately as you can to move your car from start to finish. You can even compete against other players online to see who can type the fastest! Try out these games and have your friends play them to see who can get the highest scores. Which one was your favorite, and how well did you do? --- ### 3 Ways to Afford a New Computer and Keyboard for 2014 URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/3-ways-to-afford-a-new-computer-and-keyboard-for-2014/ Published: 2014-01-02 09:27:15 Author: thedas With the arrival of the new year, you're probably thinking of ways you can improve your life, career, and gaming in 2014 (maybe they're one in the same!) One of the ways you're considering doing this is updating that old computer of yours that freezes every time you're playing League of Legends and replacing your keyboard that has the stuck "w" button which has killed you numerous times in-game. But you don't have enough money and computers and peripherals can be expensive, especially the high-quality ones that will provide you the best gaming experience possible. What can you do to afford the setup of your dreams? Well, with the new year comes new opportunities to earn cash for that new computer and keyboard. Dare to give any of these suggestions a try? You might find you're purchasing that system sooner than you think. 1. Sell some stuff. Let's be honest -- there are games, books, furniture, possibly even clothes you didn't touch at all in 2013. Why not gather them all up and start selling on Craigslist? You can even bring your items over to a friend or relative's garage sale and have them sell the items for you. Also look through your collectibles and memorabilia. Sometimes these can sell for higher prices than you might think if you're willing to part with them. Keep in mind that some people are looking for cheap, "sale" items after the holidays, and may not want to pay you what you think your items are worth. In this case, try another way of earning money for your computer and keyboard, like... 2. Offering your services. Are you a gamer because you understand computers in and out? Guaranteed there are people in your life who need your expertise in this area who you could charge even $25 an hour for your work. Ask friends, family, church or organization members, teachers, etc., or consider putting up a few flyers around town with your contact information and the technical help you can offer. Not a computer genius? Offer another service you can do easily or are good at that other people may not want to do, like cooking, cleaning, or even taking down Christmas decorations. Hint: people like paying for services that offer extra value, so consider providing a free "computer consultation" or something similar and people will be more likely to hire you. 3. Work a few extra hours. If you already have a full- or part-time job, volunteer to work a few extra hours (or put in more if you're allowed) to help fund your computer and keyboard goals. This is an especially good idea if you work in retail or even food service. It's the best time of the year to snag a few extra hours of work when co-workers aren't wanting to go back to work after the holidays or deal with crazy, sale-obsessed customers. The list doesn't end here. You could use all your Christmas cash and gift cards towards your new purchases, or watch a friend's pets and house while they're out of town. Get creative with how you earn your cash, and you'll find that new computer and keyboard sitting on your desk sooner than you might think. How do you plan to buy your new computer setup for 2014? --- ### 5 Keyboard-Themed Gifts for the Computer Enthusiast in Your Life URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/keyboard-themed-gifts/ Published: 2013-12-04 08:38:49 Author: thedas Many of us know those relatives or friends who simply can't stay away from their computer keyboards, whether they're gaming, typing, coding, editing, or maybe even navigating because their mouse stopped working. Why not get them a gift that acknowledges that constant usage (and possible obsession)? Here are 5 keyboard-themed Christmas gift ideas to help you get started. 1. Magic Cube Virtual Keyboard As versatile as keyboards are, they can be a pain to travel with or use with something as small as a tablet. Fortunately, some creative minds have invented virtual keyboards, which can be synced with many different types of devices. Virtual keyboards are one of the easiest ways to type when you're on the go, as well. There are lots of different options on the market, but the Magic Cube seems to be one of your better options for the keyboard user in your life who needs a portable yet reliable alternative to the typical full-sized model keyboard users are used to. [caption id="attachment_4618" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Don't want to lug around a keyboard while traveling? No problem.[/caption] 2. Doormat Sometimes gifts for your PC friends don't have to be all digital or mechanical. For example, this keyboard doormat is a homey but still awesomely nerdy touch for the friend or relative who likes to entertain and host LAN parties. Yes, the letters are mixed up a bit, but that's not the point -- it's a cool doormat. Keystrokes won't matter here. If it's still going to bug you, look for the doormats that are the simple "Enter" key. [caption id="attachment_4619" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The perfect way to say "Welcome!" to your guests![/caption] 3. Ctrl + Alt + Del Pillows Speaking of gifts that don't need to be digital, here's another great option for the computer lover in your life who also has a flair for interior design. As seen on the show Two and a Half Men, these pillows make a blatant "I'm a keyboard user and proud of it" statement to all home visitors. A few different Etsy sellers make these pillows, but they're essentially the same idea. Just look around for the store/seller you prefer to purchase from. [caption id="attachment_4620" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Chic out your couch with Ctrl + Alt + Del.[/caption] 4. Keyboard Picture Frame So what happens to all those old keyboards that people throw away? Well, sometimes the more craft-sy people like to use what they can out of these devices to make things like this keyboard picture frame. Made from recycled keyboard keys, you know you'll be doing the environment a favor as well as making your relative or friend excited about their unique gift they can proudly display next to their monitor. [caption id="attachment_4621" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Putting those old keyboards to good use...[/caption] 5. "Beauty and the Geek" Pants Doesn't it seem like keyboards would be easier to deal with if they were on your pants? No? Well, the company Niewe Heren disagrees. They've created a set of denim jeans with a full keyboard, speakers, and wireless mouse embedded into the jean's structure, topped off with orange stitching to mimic the style of circuit boards. If you want these pants for future holiday gifts, make sure to contact the company as an official release date hasn't been announced yet. These Christmas gift ideas should help you get started when you're searching for that perfect "something" for the keyboard user (read: enthusiast) in your life. Oh, and if this relative or friend happens to be of the hipster type, you could consider this 1960s-style typewriter that's USB-enabled and hooks up to your computer. Which... is pretty awesome even if you're not a hipster. [caption id="attachment_4622" align="aligncenter" width="500"] If you don't think they're weird, they're a great gift idea.[/caption] --- ### The History of Thanksgiving-Era Writing Instruments URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/thanksgiving-era-writing-instruments/ Published: 2013-11-27 08:00:20 Author: thedas With Thanksgiving this week, our U.S. fans are preparing to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. Your email inbox is full of communications you've typed back and forth with them just trying to figure out the plans. But have you ever stopped to think that at the time of the first Thanksgiving, there were no keyboards? That's right - those devices you're so reliant on for communication in this modern era didn't even exist in the 1600s. This isn't shocking news to you, but you have to admit that you probably don't think much about the history of keyboards and writing devices when you're pounding away on yours. So to help you gain a better appreciation for your ability to communicate quickly and efficiently, here's a brief glimpse into the history of writing devices in the era of the first Thanksgiving. It All Starts With Bird Feathers... In the early 1600s, inventors were going crazy with cool new gadgets. An Italian physicist named Evangelista Torricelli was developing the barometer, Hans Lippershey invented the first telescope, and some Dutch eyeglass makers invented the microscope. Even though technology was developing all around these creators, their writing devices were nothing more than a quill pen and paper. All their notes were jotted down with bird feathers cut to the right shape and size that were then dipped in ink. These and many other writers had to live with bird feather quills for many years. Typewriters weren't invented until the early 1700s, and metal pens not until the early 1800s. But don't think that quills were worthless instruments; the "tech" of quill pens was pretty impressive. There's Power in the Pen Quill pens dominated writing history for over 1000 years. They were generally made from primary wing feathers whenever possible because they were the strongest, especially if taken from a live animal. Though some people believe that the left-wing feathers were desired because they didn't block the sight-line of a left-handed writer, this is thought to be a myth as quill pens weren't sold as "left" or "right-handed." They were just sold by their length and type of bird feather. Goose feathers were most common, but swan was more desirable (and more expensive) for making larger lettering. Quill users also discovered that crow's feathers worked well in creating fine lines, followed by feathers from eagle, owl, hawk, and turkey. No matter what type of feather you used, though, the cutting process (known as "dressing") was lengthy. Quill users needed a special knife to cut and shape the instruments and remove the barbs. Quills also needed sharpening when they got dull. Despite their problems, quills actually reached higher popularity in the 1600s (the time of the first Thanksgiving) because writing was starting to use less print and more calligraphy-style scripts, promoted by the "writing masters" of the day. Nowadays, you can just select a font in your word processor and type away! It may seem silly to be thankful for your keyboard this holiday season, but it's preferable to cutting, de-barbing, and sharpening a quill all the time, isn't it? Or do you sometimes wish you could write with a quill just for fun? Let us know! Shoot us a tweet @DasKeyboard or share with us on Facebook. --- ### Master of the Keyboard: How to Type Faster URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/how-to-type-faster/ Published: 2013-11-13 09:52:12 Author: thedas [caption id="attachment_4537" align="aligncenter" width="500"] This is not what your typing should look like.[/caption] If you've never stopped to think about how often your fingers touch your keyboard every day, do it now. Did you think about it? Good! Were you surprised by how often you touch those keys? Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Now imagine how much time you lose when you aren't typing quickly enough. Time is a precious commodity for many people, and if typing slow is a problem that you know wastes your valuable time, you need to learn to improve your speed. Here are a few key ways you can train your brain and fingers to type faster and become the master of your keyboard. Pay Attention to Physical Setup The first step in learning how to type faster is understanding your body and how it relates to your work space. The fancy term for this idea is ergonomics, and it's becoming more of a priority for people who want to maximize their computer skills while also keeping their bodies properly cared for. So what's the big deal with making sure you sit up straight, keep your shoulders back, and pay attention to your wrist posture? These things all effect your ability to type faster and effortlessly. Slumping and hunching screw up your back and shoulders, and letting your wrists fall over the edge of a desk will make them ache. You'll be focusing more on how your body hurts than on your typing, and you'll be more likely to make mistakes and lose productive time. Make sure you're following all proper ergonomic practices when you type. Purchase a comfortable chair that fits your body and a desk that lets your forearms rest at a comfortable 90-degree angle from your body when your fingers are on your keyboard. And of course, make sure you get a quality keyboard (that one's a given). You want one with keys that feel easy to press so you're able to focus on your typing instead of the stickiness of the keys. Learn Your Way Around the Keys Once you've got your setup configured, start paying attention to the keys themselves. This is because one of the most common issues with people who type slowly is that they're not used to where the keys are or keep looking at the symbols instead of the screen. It's like when you're trying to learn a second language, and you can't speak or read a sentence without having to reference a bilingual dictionary. In the same sense, the sooner you can type without resorting to looking down, the better your typing speed will be. This is known as touch typing. If you have problems looking at your keyboard while typing, try saying the names of the keys as you push them, which will help you memorize their location. Continue this practice as long as you need to before you're typing without any vocalization at all. You can also... Practice Your Butt Off Honestly, practice is what will eventually help you start feeling more confident around the keyboard (just like practicing a second language more will make you less uncomfortable trying to speak it fluently). You should set speed goals for yourself by the end of a few months or a year of practice. Pull up a blank word document every day and simply write for 5-10 minutes without stopping. Don't worry about errors - they'll become fewer and farther apart the more you practice. You can also look into typing tests and programs that are offered online (Metadot has a great typing app for you, especially if you like racing competitions!). Typing faster can be achieved in any number of ways, and these are of course just a few suggestions to get you started. Have you found other tactics that have helped you type faster? --- ### Das Keyboard Professional Media Sound Comparison Video URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-professional-media-sound-comparison-video-click-soft-quiet/ Published: 2013-05-22 14:52:50 Author: supercobra http://youtu.be/S7LDLy_PoVE Professional Media Sound Comparison Listen to the audible feedback of our Das Keyboard Professional Clicky, Soft and Quiet versions (in that order). Listen and compare its 3 distinct typing experiences:  Clicky  Blue MX - Clicky Typing Experience Clicky tactile feel with an audible response. This is the most clicky of the Das Keyboard line. Soft Brown MX - Soft Typing Experience The Soft Pressure Point switch technology makes the keyboard a little less clicky while still providing an awesome typing experience. Quiet  Red MX - Quiet key design Whisper quiet. This is the quietest model of the Das Keyboard range. Super awesome feel. Choose the one that fits your individual typing style and environment. --- ### Win a Das Keyboard at SXSW Interactive URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/win-a-das-keyboard-at-sxsw-interactive/ Published: 2013-03-04 17:14:17 Author: supercobra Think you're a bad ass typist? Prove it.  Visit the Das Keyboard team at our SXSW Interactive trade show booth for a chance to WIN a Das Keyboard. We're hosting daily typing races for contestants to compete for the fastest speed. The two fastest typists EVERY day win a Das Keyboard. We'll have fun prizes, giveaways, contests, live videos, demos and typing stations. Plus, come say hello to the team and have a drink with us at the Block Party on Tuesday night from 4-6PM. We'll have tasty snacks and beverages. Where: Booth #613, 615, 712 & 714 When: Sunday, March 10th through Wednesday, March 13th Time: Sunday -Tuesday from 11AM to 6PM and Wednesday 11AM to 4PM What: Typing contests, prizes, giveaways, discounts and live demos See you there! --- ### Das Keyboard’s List of Top 5 Really Bad Ass Typists URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboards-list-of-top-5-really-bad-ass-typists/ Published: 2013-02-18 17:16:04 Author: supercobra Typing /ˈtīpiNG/ - the action or skill of writing something by means of a typewriter or computer. According to Wikipedia, the average professional in America types at an average rate of 38-40 wmp (we know our avid Das Keyboard users rate much higher). Since efficient typing is what we’re all about we wanted to salute some notable typing record holders from around the world. 1. Barbara Blackburn - She holds the title of the World’s Fastest Typer for her ability to maintain a speed of 150 wpm for almost an hour and had a top record speed of 212 wpm. 2. Michael Shestov - He can type in more than 27 languages. Need we say more. 3. Neeta - In a minute and thirty-three seconds, this talented Indian woman typed a 103 character text with her nose. 4. Grace Pak - In 2012, she held the world record for the fastest smartphone typist for her astounding 280 character per minute text. Hope she has the unlimited plan. 5. Hank Torres - He lost all use of his arms and legs after a hang-gliding accident and still set the world record for the fastest hands-free typing. The most bad ass thing ever: Sean Wrona - He won the Ultimate Typing Championship at SXSW in 2010 for typing at an alarming rate of 163 words per minute. We’re curious....do you have an impressive typing talent? --- ### Das Keyboard Announces Sponsorship of IU LAN War XXIII URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-announces-sponsorship-of-iu-lan-war-xxiii/ Published: 2012-10-11 15:34:43 Author: supercobra Das Keyboard is proud to sponsor Indiana University’s LAN War XXIII again this Saturday and Sunday, October 13th-14th. This year, attendance is expected to be larger than in any years past, so it will be located off-campus at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. If you're in the area, make sure to reserve your spot at the IU Gaming LAN War Page. --- ### Das Keyboard Sponsors the 2012 TopCoder Open URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-sponsors-the-2012-topcoder-open/ Published: 2012-09-07 09:43:24 Author: supercobra Das Keyboard is now a proud sponsor of the 2012 TopCoder Open. TopCoder is also running a contest for its members to win a Das Keyboard here. --- ### Infographic - Get Time Back by Typing Faster URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/infographic-get-time-back-by-typing-faster/ Published: 2012-04-11 15:20:45 Author: supercobra For many people, learning to type faster equates to improving video game performance or typing documents faster, though increasing typing speed has the overall benefit of saving time. Want to know if the amount of time saved by typing faster is significant? We determined how many documents could be entered at a typing speed of 30wpm, 60 wpm, and 90 wpm and then how much time was saved at each speed increase. We found improving typing speed can have a dramatic impact on a person's productivity, thereby saving a surprisingly large amount of time each week. Check out our infographic and leave a comment about how much time you've gotten back from typing faster. --- ### Why a Keyboard and Mouse Provide a Better Gaming Experience URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/why-a-keyboard-and-mouse-provides-a-better-gaming-experience/ Published: 2012-04-03 08:45:56 Author: supercobra There is a great divide amongst gamers when it comes to console vs. PC gaming.  After much research and personal experience, we want to highlight how many games are better experienced with a keyboard and mouse than with a controller. While racing and fighting games are definitely easier to play with a controller, in general, first person shooters, role-playing games, real-time simulations and turn-based simulations provide a much better experience when the player is using a keyboard and mouse. One of the best arguments for using a keyboard and mouse came when Microsoft started a project that would’ve let PC and Xbox gamers face-off. They brought together console gamers to play PC gamers at the same time to test this system. The end result was the PC gamers crushed the console gamers every time. As you can imagine, this would’ve been devastating to the Xbox, and the project was quickly dropped. There are three major areas where the keyboard and mouse combo top controllers for gaming: precision aiming, keybinds/hotkeys, and macros. Precision aiming is one of the biggest reasons to use a keyboard and mouse. Try aiming at a small point with a controller and then with a mouse. The mouse is much more precise and a faster way to pinpoint a target than a controller stick. Even with auto-aim enabled for the controller, most gamers find a mouse aims much quicker. When playing competitively, this is truly an instance where every second counts. Keybinds or hotkeys are where the keyboard really shines in video games. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to controls, and which keys are most comfortable to use as action keys when gaming. This is evident in the typical use of the WASD keys to move characters in game. The keys are convenient and located in a way that the hand can strike each key with little movement. Some people prefer to use the ESDF keys for the same purpose. That’s what makes using a keyboard for gaming so great, it is easy to set up the keyboard the way you want it, which will always result in a better gaming experience. The final argument for keyboard and mouse gaming is macros. Macros are a more complex version of key binds where instead of just 1 action being bound to a key, the user programs multiple actions. Not all games handle macros, but the ones that do often enable gamers to complete a wealth of tasks with a simple key stroke. A perfect situation for using a macro is when entering battle. Most players use the same items or the same actions in the same order with every mob they fight. By creating a macro that performs these actions in a particular order, it is possible to save time and be more efficient. Macros take a little time to setup, but the payoff is huge. Anyone is going to be quicker than a controller when they can press one button and cause a series of actions to occur. We want to be clear that there are pluses and minuses to both console and PC gaming, much of which is dependent on the type of game and personal preference. How do you prefer to game? --- ### The Sound of Typing 155 WPM URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/the-sound-of-typing-155-wpm/ Published: 2012-02-01 15:58:35 Author: supercobra Being a keyboard company, we often come across videos of people typing and have even posted several of our own. While it's fun to see people using our keyboards, it's rare for us to find a video of someone typing incredibly fast. Which is why when we found someone typing 155 wpm on a Das Keyboard online, we knew we had to share it. When you consider the average professional typist types between 50-80 wpm with some advanced typists reaching 120 wpm, 155 wpm is definitely above average. The video is just sound, but if you have never heard someone type this fast, it's impressive. Check out tgfcoder typing like a maniac and share what you think in the comments section below. --- ### Das Keyboard Clicky vs Silent: The Video URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-clicky-vs-silent-the-video/ Published: 2012-01-24 15:58:00 Author: supercobra We previously posted a video comparing the clickity-clack of the IBM Model M vs the Das Keyboard Clicky model. Since then, we received requests for more comparisons and decided it was time to put the Das Keyboard Clicky model up against the Das Keyboard Silent. The Silent brown switches are definitely more muted than the Clicky blue switches, but still give awesome, though quieter, tactile feedback as expected from a mechanical keyboard. We've included the sound waves so you can not only hear, but also see the difference in sound. Check out the video below and decide which one you prefer. --- ### Typing Through Time: Chapter Three - The History and Evolution of Keyboard Layouts URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-through-time-chapter-three-the-history-and-evolution-of-keyboard-layouts/ Published: 2011-12-15 11:56:12 Author: supercobra In the next installment of Typing Through Time, The History and Evolution of Keyboard Layouts are explored. Did you know that some keys we take for granted didn't initially exist? Learn more about the history and evolution of keyboard layouts in the Third Chapter of the series, and let us know what you think. We'll be updating this series in the future with more chapters. Typing Through Time is in the format of a research paper, and focuses strictly on the history of typing devices. Please comment with your input, thoughts, and/or anything you feel we left out. Typing Through Time is a draft that we will continuously be adding to and are open to revisions, so please comment your feedback. --- ### Race Your Friends with typrX's New Private Race Feature URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/race-your-friends-with-typrxs-new-private-race-feature/ Published: 2011-12-07 09:48:43 Author: supercobra As much fun as it is to compete with strangers online, competing with your friends is even better. That’s why we are excited to announce the launch of typrX’s Private Race feature. If you've never tried typrX, you should check out our online, real-time typing race app. It's a great way to practice typing and now it is possible to create a private race and compete with your friends, all around the world. Once you have a typrX account, creating a private race is simple. Click the Create Private Race button on the front page and you’ll be taken to the private race page. From there, copy the track code URL and send it to the friends you want to join the race. If the count down clock starts ticking down and someone hasn’t made it to the race, simply click the Delay countdown button to add 10 seconds to the clock. You can add up to 60 seconds to the countdown clock to ensure everyone has a chance to log in before the race begins. Each time a private race is created a track code is also created. This is another way to invite your friends to join a private race. Just click the Join Private Race button on the front page of typrX and enter the track code to join the race. It's that simple. Click the My Profile link at the top of the page and you can upload a photo to be displayed each time you race. Make sure you follow us on Twitter as we’ll be hosting private races randomly throughout the week and announcing them from @daskeyboard. We’d love to see you online and can’t wait to leave you in the dust. Check out typrX now and compete with friends in a private race. --- ### Desk Ergonomics for Improved Posture and Typing Speed URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/desk-ergonomics-for-improved-posture-and-typing-speed/ Published: 2011-11-09 09:39:32 Author: supercobra Desk ergonomics are important to help prevent physical fatigue and the injuries that result from repetitive movements. Good ergonomics increase typing speed by achieving a more efficient positioning for typing movements that requires less motion to reach each key. Considering that the average person spends about 8 hours a day in front of a computer, making a few adjustments to a computer desk setup can have a huge impact on both physical comfort and typing speed. One of the most common injuries caused by improper ergonomics is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when compression at the wrist causes pressure on the median nerve. This can result in tingling, pricking, numbness, pain in the hands or wrists, and loss of grip strength. In some cases, the pain can even travel up the arm and into the shoulder. Treatments involve everything from splints to expensive surgery, and this is only one of the likely injuries to occur from poor posture and ergonomics. For a person who tends to slouch or lean towards the monitor, back and neck injuries are another concern. The easiest way to avoid these injuries is to design your workspace to be as ergonomic as possible and take regular breaks as you work to avoid repetitive movements. Desk Chair The best place to start is with the desk chair. The height should be adjusted so that a user’s arms are bent at a 90° angle or greater when sitting at the desk with both hands on the keyboard. Feet should be flat on the ground, or on a foot stool, with thighs parallel to the floor. This not only helps with back support, but stability as well. Allowing about 3 inches between the back of the knees and the front edge of the chair seat is ideal to help maintain proper circulation in the legs.A foot stool is very helpful when the feet don't quite reach the ground. It also helps lift the thighs slightly for better circulation and automatically tilts the body slightly away from the computer. Adjust the armrests so the lower arms rest parallel to the floor. It’s best that armrests only be used when not typing, to help maintain proper body alignment. Monitor The monitor should be adjusted so that the top of the screen is slightly below eye level. This results in a slight bend in the neck, which reduces the neck strain that can occur when a monitor is lower or higher. Position the monitor to avoid glare by placing it at a right angle to any light sources or windows and make sure there is at least a 20-inch distance between the computer screen and the user to avoid eye strain. Keyboard The keyboard should be placed slightly below the elbow and at a negative angle. This allow the wrists to remain straight while typing. Avoid using a wrist rest or armrest while actively typing as this can cause the wrists to bend, placing unnecessary strain on them. Keeping elbows close to the body can help with typing speed since it puts the arms in the most efficient position for reaching the keyboard. Posture One of the most important aspects of desk ergonomics is posture. Even with a perfect ergonomic setup, poor posture can result in a loss of the ergonomic benefits. The main thing to remember is to not slouch.Sit up straight, with the back placed at a 90 degree angle to the legs. Leaning back rather than towards the screen is very important to help avoid slouching. Slouching and leaning forward in the chair both contribute to both back and neck strain. Breaks Finally, take breaks and stretch. The 20/20 rule is a good rule to follow: take a 20 second break for every 20 minutes spent working on a computer. A few shoulder rolls, hugging yourself tightly, or even standing up and touching your toes can help loosen muscles and get those eyes away from the monitor. With these simple desk ergonomic adjustments, one can keep the body in proper alignment and avoid unnecessary strain. The added bonus is that perfect posture can significantly increase typing speed and efficiency. --- ### Typing Through Time: Chapter Two - The Computer Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-through-time-chapter-two-the-computer-keyboard/ Published: 2011-10-26 09:53:44 Author: supercobra The vast majority of people who use computers take using a keyboard for granted. It can raise the question, "How did this input device develop into what it is today?" In the next installment of  Typing Through Time,  The Development of the Computer Keyboard is detailed starting with a basic history of the first computers and how typing was used to communicate with these early computing machines.  The Development of the Computer Keyboard continues with the examination of keyboard typing through the transitional decades of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, where computers were starting to dominate the typewriter market with trailblazing innovations by IBM, Apple, Radio Shack and others. These innovations are what paved the way for the modern age of computer keyboard typists. Keyboards are far from what they were at their creation, and they continue to evolve. From futuristic laser keyboards, to pocket-sized keyboard devices, and the artistically hand-crafted mods of Doc at Datamancer, typists have more options than ever before. Read our Second Chapter in this series, and let us know what you think. Visit regularly for more chapters and updates. Typing Through Time is in the format of a research paper, and focuses strictly on the history of typing devices. Please comment with your input, thoughts, and/or anything you feel we left out. Typing Through Time is a draft that we will continuously be adding to and are open to revisions, so please comment your feedback. --- ### Ultimate Typing Champion Shares His Typing Secrets URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/ultimate-typing-champion-share-his-typing-secrets/ Published: 2011-10-20 07:33:36 Author: supercobra Sean Wrona wiped the competition out last year at the Ultimate Typing Championship. It’s not often that you see someone type 213 wpm at peak speed, under pressure, and with a crowd watching. With this in mind, we asked him a few questions to learn the secrets of his typing success. How does it feel to be the Ultimate Typing Champion? Sean: I'm a bit surprised how much attention I've received for this.  I'm getting a few Facebook friend requests every week from people all over the world as a result of my typing successes and have a growing number of subscribers to my YouTube account where I've recorded races on a variety of typing sites. I have developed almost all my better recent friendships among the online typing community in the past two or three years. I like the attention. Did you ever take a typing class? Sean: No, I never took a typing class.  I taught myself to type using an old DOS program called CPT Personal Touch-Typing when I was 3. I attained a speed of 83 wpm when I was 6 and 108 wpm when I was 10, then really didn't pay attention to my improvement after that until I gradually discovered the competitive typing community in 2008 and 2009. How much time do you spend typing each day? Sean: As much time as I spend on the computer generally, which lately has probably been as much as 12-14 hours a day.  I practice typing a small percentage of that time though. What do you type most? Sean: I run a php/MySQL database-driven auto racing statistics site at www.race-database.com and enter each weekend's major-league auto races.  Typing has been very helpful in that regard as at my peak I was able to enter entire MotoGP races in four minutes.  Collecting data has been one of my big hobbies in general for many years. [Typing] also can help me when chatting with friends on Facebook or a few message boards I post on. What keyboard are you currently using? Sean: Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent. What browser do you recommend for the best typing experience? Sean: The difference in browsers is significant because for some reason Google Chrome tends to register higher speeds for the same real speed than Firefox or Internet Explorer do. Do you find that music helps you type faster? If so, what type? Sean: I listen to YouTube videos very frequently when I'm playing typing games, but I haven't noticed any genre being associated with faster or slower typing than any other. Do you game? If so, do you feel your typing skills help with your gaming and what games do you prefer? Sean: I'm not really into video games.  I'm only into typing games and Scrabble, which I do frequently play online.  Typing speed only really helps you at Scrabble if you can analyze the best plays quickly, and there are many, many players who do that better than I do, although it can be helpful that I can enter my play the very instant I've decided on a play.  Once in a great while I've played old classics like Jumpman, Wizard of Wor, and Tetris and typing, which I suspect is connected with reaction time, can help. However, I haven't gotten obsessed with any video game to the point of wanting to master it. How often would you recommend people practice to improve their typing? Sean: Probably you would treat it as you would in terms of any other kind of exercise - three times a week a half hour each. How do you correct mistakes and maintain your typing speed? Sean: Shift+Home, then backspace is my preferred method of correcting typos on a competitive typing site such as TyprX.  I simply backspace to wherever I made the initial typo in everyday typing. How far ahead do you read while typing? Sean: I tend to read one word in advance in typing competitions. Having the next word always in mind prevents there from being any awkward pauses, and remembering more than one word in advance may be too much to process simultaneously. Do you read the words out loud or just focus on typing the characters? Sean: I never read words out loud; that would be a distraction that would cause me to be far slower.  I just type. What advice do you have for people wanting to type faster? Sean: If you want to increase your speed, do not type each word at uniform speed. Speed through the easier words and take a little more time on the harder words to ensure accuracy. Always focus on the word after the word you are currently typing so there are no unnatural pauses in your typing. I recommend using caps lock instead of shift to type capital letters to allow more flexibility in the hand that you would normally use shift with. I believe my biggest advantage in typing is that I do not necessarily use the same finger to type the same key. I use whichever finger is most comfortable, which can vary based on the context of the letters in the word. I tend to use whichever finger is closest based on the positioning of my hands typing the other letters in the word. We were definitely surprised by Sean's typing technique, as we expected something more akin to standard touch-typing. Some people must be born to type and Sean Wrona is one of them. --- ### See Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts in Action (VIDEO) URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/see-gmail-keyboard-shortcuts-in-action-video/ Published: 2011-10-07 11:05:27 Author: supercobra Between sorting spam and reading new messages, email can be a time-consuming endeavor. Gmail has a keyboard shortcuts feature that makes managing your inbox much easier as almost every action in Gmail can be done from the keyboard. In order to use keyboard shortcuts, the feature must be enabled. Go to the gear icon at the top right corner of the Gmail page and select Mail settings. From the settings menu, find the keyboard shortcuts section and turn it on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jj6m-wmQwA If you've never used keyboard shortcuts with an email application, here's a good way to start: use the k and j keys to move back and forth between the messages, the x key to select the messages to be deleted, and the # key to delete all the messages selected. See these shortcuts in action in the video and then check out the charts below for even more shortcuts to help you cut down on time spent in your inbox. Basic Navigation: *Keyboard shortcuts are case-sensitive. uReturns you to the Inbox.k / jMoves cursor to newer or older conversations (Google refers to each email message and its replies as a conversation).o or Opens a conversation. Also expands or collapses a message in Conversation View (This is when viewing an email message and its replies)p / nMove cursor to the previous or next message in the list when in Conversation View.cOpens a new message to compose./Moves cursor to the search box.qPlaces cursor in the chat search box.?Displays list of keyboard shortcuts. Jumping to Specific Sections: g then iReturns you to the Inbox.g then sGoes to the list of all starred conversations.g then tGoes to the list of sent mail.g then dGoes to the list of saved drafts.g then aGoes to the list of all mail that has been sent or received but not deleted.g then cGoes to the list of contacts.g then lMoves cursor to the search box with “label:” filled in for you to search specific labels. Selecting Conversations: * then aSelects all conversations.* then nDeselects all conversations.* then rSelects read conversations.* then uSelects unread conversations.* then sSelects starred conversations.* then tSelects unstarred conversations. Actions: All except “x” require you to select the conversation or message before applying these actions. xSelects and adds a check to a message or conversation. Once checked you can archive, apply a label, or choose an action from the drop-down menu to apply.sAdds or removes a star on a message or conversation.yHas a variety of effects, depending on where you are: Inbox: archives message or conversation. Trash: moves message or conversation to inbox. If message or conversation is starred will unstar it. If message or conversation is labelled will unlabel it. eArchives the message or conversation.mArchives the conversation and causes all future messages in conversation to skip the Inbox unless sent directly to you.!Marks message as spam and removes it from the Inbox.#Moves conversation or message to the trash.rReplies to the message sender.aReplies to all message recipients.fForwards a message. + nUpdates current conversation to include any new messages. then Sends message.Removes cursor from the current input.] / [Removes conversation from the current view and goes to the previous/next conversation.} / {Archives conversation from the current view and goes to the previous/next conversation.zUndoes last action..Displays the ‘More Actions’ drop-down menu. + iMarks message as read and skips to the next message. + uMarks message as unread. + sSaves draft.+ / =Marks message as important/unimportant --- ### Video Compares the Sound of Das Keyboard Model S: Clicky vs Silent URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/video-compares-the-sound-of-das-keyboard-model-s-clicky-vs-silent/ Published: 2011-09-23 10:11:17 Author: supercobra Ever wonder how the sound of the blue key switches in the Das Keyboard clicky models compare to the brown switches in the Das Keyboard Silent models? Thanks to ViciousXUSMC, you can now listen to how each keyboard sounds and then compare for yourself. He videotaped himself typing on both keyboards and then visualized wave forms for each, giving viewers the chance to fully compare the sound of the two keyboards. Check it out for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIzT20k8Ww4 --- ### Compete in Typing Races to Win Das Keyboard Goodies URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/compete-in-typing-races-to-win-das-keyboard-goodies/ Published: 2011-08-30 14:43:16 Author: supercobra It's time to give away some more Das Keyboard goodies. This time we're interested in seeing how fast you type. Don't worry, though, you don't have to be the fastest typist to win this contest. Just go to typrx.com and participate in a race. When you complete the race, your typing speed will display next to the racing car that represents you. Take your typing speed, replace it in the following sentence and tweet it for your chance to win. I typed 99wpm at typrx.com! Win Das Keyboard swag by racing & re-tweeting this with your speed. http://bit.ly/pTfV2T. We'll randomly select 2 winners each day from the previous days tweets. Make sure you are following us on Twitter as we notify winners by sending them a direct message on Twitter. Winners will receive a t-shirt, stickers, notepads, pens, and magnets. Get racing as this contest ends September 2nd, 2011. --- ### 10 Activities to Keep You Typing on Your Mechanical Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/10-activities-to-keep-you-typing-on-your-mechanical-keyboard/ Published: 2011-08-25 00:00:44 Author: supercobra I hear over and over from mechanical keyboard owners that they love their keyboard so much they wish they had more reasons to type on it. To save you some time, I did the research and came up with a list of activities that involve lots of typing. There’s something for everyone on this list, so find an activity and get typing. Video Games - if you aren’t playing Starcraft 2 or some other MMO, you’re missing out on some serious typing opportunities. Just use the keyboard shortcuts and not only will you be kicking serious butt, but you’ll be enjoying your mechanical keyboard with full N-Key Rollover and quicker key action times. Keyboard drumming. Yes, it’s a thing. Yes, you should see it. Get involved with Social Media by maintaining active Facebook and Twitter accounts. Find your friends, start talking about your life, and soon you’ll be typing non-stop! Be prepared, though, as to get the true typing potential, you’ll need to bare your soul and share every detail of your life. Two words: ASCII art. Use keyboard shortcuts for everything. Here's a site with several lists of shortcuts to get you started. TyprX typing races. Improve your typing speed, race against others, eventually become the Ultimate Typing Champion. Text-based games. Long ago, video games had no graphics, just text. I know, hard to believe, but we had to use our imaginations and find the best ways to interact with objects via words. Check out a few and see what fun it can be to game without a mouse, without graphics, and without sound. Start writing a novel, a book of poetry, or even the next great how-to book. Isn’t it said that everyone has a novel inside them? Sit at your mechanical keyboard and let the inspiration flow. Maybe you can be the next J.K. Rowling. In fact, November is National Novel Writing Month. The program encourages you to write a novel in 30 days. There are some special offers from sponsors to help you get your book published, making this a perfect opportunity to get started. If you have one of our Das Keyboard Ultimates (or a Professional--don't look at the keys), you can learn to use the Dvorak layout, which is a more efficient keyboard layout. If you already use the Dvorak layout, try learning the Colemak keyboard layout. Write a daily blog or keep a private online journal. This can be a great way to start  or end your day while organizing your thoughts, and enjoying your mechanical keyboard to it's full potential. --- ### Mechanical Keyboard Guide: Common Key Switch Types URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/mechanical-keyboard-guide-common-key-switch-types/ Published: 2011-08-19 14:24:16 Author: supercobra The one aspect of mechanical keyboards that confuses people most is the different types of key switches and how to decide which one is best for them. Most of the time, selecting a particular switch comes down to personal preference. While the Cherry MX Blue switches are considered the best for typing due being a very tactile switch, some people may find they type faster with Cherry MX Brown switches. It can help to seek out a few mechanical keyboards to feel for yourself what you prefer and to better understand how these switches differ. Check out Part Three of the Mechanical Keyboard Guide and learn more about the different key switch types and which ones might suit your purposes the best. --- ### Mechanical Keyboard Guide: Key Shapes and Key Printing URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/mechanical-keyboard-guide-key-shapes-and-key-printing/ Published: 2011-08-05 14:12:28 Author: supercobra Keyboards vary widely in their key cap design. Whether it’s the shape of the keys or how the letters are printed on them, these elements can have an impact on the durability and comfort of a keyboard. Today most desktop keyboards have either cylindrical or flat keys, but initially spherical keys were the standard. Key shapes and key printing are a matter of personal preference. The average keyboard user might not ever notice fading with a keyboard that has pad printing; however, serious typists or anyone using a keyboard for long periods of time might find the labels wear away resulting in faded letters or no letters at all. Learn more about both of key shape and printing options in Part Two of our Mechanical Keyboard Guide. --- ### Typing Through Time: Keyboard History URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-through-time-the-history-of-the-keyboard/ Published: 2011-07-22 15:51:44 Author: supercobra Typing Through Time : Keyboard History Keyboards and typing technology have come a long way over the past couple of centuries. The first typing devices were designed and patented in the 1700s while the first manufactured typing devices came about in the 1870s. These machines featured “blind typing” technology, where characters were printed on upside-down pages that remained unseen until completion. Since then, we have seen several updates in design, layout, technology, and function that are more efficient and user-friendly. The type-writer has changed shape dramatically over the years, eventually becoming electronic- then practically obsolete as we moved into the age of computers and the birth of the keyboard. The keyboard is the number one computer interface used around the world and an integral object for many of us that most people take for granted. This paper will explore the history of typing, detailing the innovations across time that have accumulated into the definition of today’s standard for the ultimate typing experience. Table of contents Chapter One: Design – The Evolution of the TypewriterChapter Two: Design – The Development of the Computer KeyboardChapter Three: Design – Computer Keyboard Layouts Chapter One: Design – The Evolution of the Typewriter To begin the exploration of the first keyboards, we must first examine the origins of typing and the first typing devices. What did the first typing machines look like? The first manufactured typewriters resembled sewing machines more than what most people imagine when they think of a “typewriter.” Remington, who manufactured the first typewriters, was also manufacturing sewing machines at the time, leading to this initial design atheistic. The first Remington typewriters, created by Sholes, Glidden, and Soule even came with a foot pedal (like a sewing machine) to control carriage returns. So how did we get to where we are now, in the high-tech age of computers and plastics? To move forward, it’s important to first move backward in time and see how these first commercially successful type-writers came to be. Remington’s First Sholes & Glidden Type-Writer 1867 Image source: from the Early Office Museum Technically the first documented typing devices predate the Remington’s Sholes & Glidden typewriter, though none of them were manufactured for commercial use. In 1714, the first patent for a typing machine was issued in London, England to Henry Mill. Though there is no evidence that the machine was constructed, or sold, all we know is that this typing device was intended to prepare legal documents in a manner that was neat, legible, and in a standardized format. Fast forward to 1808, another typing machine was patented to Pellegrino Turri in Italy. His machine was intended to allow the blind to “write.” With Pellegrino Turri’s typing device, also came the first Carbon Copy. Pellegrino’s invention of the carbon copy has made a lasting impact on the modern office (carbon copies are still regularly used on triplicate forms, phone messages and memo pads, sales receipts, etc.). In 1829 William Austin Burt also created a writing mechanism, a “Typowriter” that instead of keys, used dials to print characters, making this process slower than handwriting to produce words on a page, but it was a way to print legible uniform text. The typowriter was also created with the intended use for the blind. A later model of the typowriter, created by John Jones in 1852 is pictured below. None of these devices gained much public interest or commercial success. 1852 John Jones’ Mechanical TypographerImage source: Life photo archive From 1829 up until 1870 many other typing devices were patented along with the ones mentioned above, and like the previous devices, none of them went into commercial production or mainstream use. The only ones worth mentioning, for the sake of being extraordinary, were Father Francisco Jaâo de Azevado’s “homemade” typewriter made from wood and knives in Brasil (1861), and Denmark’s Hansen Writing Ball (1865), both pictured below. Father Azevado’s typewriter is arguably the first “typewriter” as the mechanism is the most similar to the commercial models that followed its inception. It was completely constructed of household materials which makes it particularly interesting and impressive. Brazilians argue that his invention should be credited as the First Typewriter. Moving across the globe to Denmark just a few years later, The Hansen Writing Ball was invented by Reverend Rasmus Malling-Hansen, in 1865. The half-sphere shape of the ball is unlike any other typing device before or after it, and regardless of visual appeal, The Hansen Writing Ball gained quite a bit of attention in Europe and England as a fully functional typing device. It is documented that Hansen Writing Balls could be found in operation up until 1909 in many offices and businesses in England and Europe. Because of the relative success of this product, Malling-Hansen released a few different versions of this invention. His first Writing Ball began as an electric device, but later he released the “Tall Model” in 1875- where no electricity was needed. The fact that it no longer required electricity resulted in a broader range of consumers in various rural and urban locales. Reproduction of 1861 Father Francisco Jaâo de Azevado Typewriter Image source: Wikimedia Commons 1870 Hansen Writing Ball. Created by Reverend Rasmus Malling-Hansen in Denmark. © 2011 by AUCTION TEAM BREKER, Cologne, Germany (www.Breker.com) Soon after the Hansen Writing Ball’s creation, Sholes (an Inventor), Glidden (a Mechanic), and the help of Soule (a Printer) came along with their 1867 type-writer that changed the world of typing as we know it. It is this “Type-Writer” that gave us the word typewriter, and is the model that is referred to as “The First Typewriter.” Interestingly enough, though this was the most successful typing device of that time, Sholes and Glidden were too frustrated by slow sales so they sold their patent to Densmore and Yost for $12,000. Machinist and clock-maker Matthais Schwalbach made the Sholes and Glidden typewriter in Milwaukee, and had Remington manufacture and sell it. Soon after this sewing machine-like model was created and sold, the foot pedal was removed with carriage returns being controlled on the typewriter itself. Following this change, a slightly smaller, desk-top version of the typewriter came to be (though still extremely heavy and full of metal), losing the sewing machine look and defining its look like a typewriter. By 1910 all typewriters were more or less standardized, sharing very similar resemblances across the board until the IBM Selectric was introduced in 1961. 1961 Selectric I Typewriter by IBM Image Source: Wikipedia The Selectric typewriter, no longer used type-bars that struck the page. The Selectrics used typeballs (resembling golf balls) that rolled, tilted, and printed the letters on the page without the typebars. This was huge because typewriter jams (when two typebars interlocked if you typed too fast) were no longer an issue. This increased typing speed, and efficiency. The other new element brought to the typewriter scene with the Selectrics was that the typeballs could easily be taken out, and replaced with others to change fonts quickly on the same document. This was also a major advancement in the industry. Though the Selectrics were still quite heavy, large, hunks of metal that were difficult to move around, the typeballs were small, easy to move, accessories that gave typists more freedom and accessibility. The Selectric Typewriter was produced up until the 1980s with three models that evolved over those decades: The Selectric I, The Selectric II, and The Selectric III. They were available in a variety of colors including vintage blue, mossy green, burnt red, beige, and black. Selectric Type Balls Image Source: Early Office Museum The typewriter has come a long way over the years, all leading into the age of computers and the most widely used input device: the computer keyboard. Though the first computers and computer keyboards were created before the Selectric, these power-house typewriters were so great at putting text on the page that they continued to be used alongside keyboards, as computers gained in popularity. Hunter S. Thompson was known to write on one, and some writers such as David Sedaris to this day still use and prefer their Selectric Typewriter. Typewriters have largely been replaced and taken over by the keyboard as the preferred, and most used typing device. A few years ago, rumors generated by the Daily Mail even went as far as to publish that the “Last Typewriter Factory Left in the World Close[d] its Doors” which as it turns out was an exaggeration, and false  (as confirmed by NPR). Though the age of typewriters has faded and they have become more of a novelty than a necessity, several government offices continue to use typewriters to produce legal documents, which has kept and will keep typewriters in production, at least for the time being. Chapter Two: Design – The Development of the Computer Keyboard While typewriters were widely used throughout the 1950s to the 1970s, computers were starting to emerge as a consumer-friendly product, beginning the age of the computer keyboard as a primary input device.  To understand the development of the computer keyboard, it’s important to understand the development and evolution of the computer. In 1946, the first computer, ENIAC was constructed and teletype was used to input data. As you can see below, the ENIAC computer took up an entire room, hundreds of times larger than the modern computer laptop. What was teletype and how is it different from modern computer keyboard input? Teletype and ENIAC computers used cards (similar in shape to index cards) that were inserted into the Teletype while a series of holes called keypunches would be punched into the cards according to which keys were pressed on the teletype machine. After the cards were keypunched by the computer, they were brought over to a card-reader that would analyze the deck of cards as data (tangible memory). Early Computer Punch card. Courtesy of the Computer History Museum. 1960 Keypunch Reader Courtesy of the Computer History Museum In 1948 the BINAC computer used a different input/output method, with an electromagnetically controlled teletype to input data and print results. The BINAC is what paved the way for the shape of computers and computer keyboards to come, though it would still take a few more decades to move away from the teletype/punchcard computers. Another punchcard computer popular at the time was the UNIVAC I, produced in 1951 and is also pictured below. 1940s ENIAC Keypunch Printer and Card Sorter in operation. Image Courtesy of the Computer History Museum 1960s UNIVAC Computer in Operation. Notice the Teletype Input Device to his left. Courtesy of the Computer History Museum In 1964, Bell Labs and M.I.T. created the MULTICS computer, a time-sharing, multi-user system with VDT, a video display terminal. The text was instantly visible on the screen as it was typed, which made communicating commands, programs, and controls to computers more efficient than previous teletype methods of input. By the late 1970s, all computers used VDT and electric keyboards. It was simply the most straightforward and user-friendly method of interacting with computers (no stack of cards to punch holes in and keep organized). The first keyboards that were sold in the 1970s were all built from scratch, piece by piece, and were heavy as they were fully mechanical. Since so much time and effort was needed to create these keyboards, and since the target market was primarily computer programmers and engineers, they were built for function and not for visual aesthetics. This meant there wasn’t a keyboard cover or cabinet, making the keyboard more or less exposed. 1970s Altiar Computer with Exposed Keyboard Courtesy of the Computer History Museum Some keyboards were built into personal computers at the time. In the mid-1970s Imsai and Altair created the first small PCs for consumer use, generally referred to as the S100 computer systems. These machines were built piece by piece and provided the bare essentials. There were no hard drives or floppy discs on these first machines, so there was no way to save data on them. The keyboard was located on the front panel of the computer, as a set of key switches. If users wanted a standard keyboard, IBM sold a converted electric typewriter, but as supplies were limited and the product wasn’t in high demand many users had to convert their electric typewriters if they wanted an easier to use a keyboard to enter programming code. Additionally, a second keyboard had to be connected for data entry. It wasn’t provided with purchase, requiring that users had to build their own. 1970s IMSAI Computer with front panel key switches 1970s Altair Home Office Desk Set-Up. Courtesy of the Computer History Museum. In the late 1970s Apple, Radio Shack, and Commodore all had the foresight to see the large market in computer keyboards and started manufacturing keyboards for their computers, paving the way for the modern assumption that all computers come with a keyboard and that keyboards are the primary, standard input device. Below is a 1970s Radio Shack commercial for the TRS-80. In 1981, IBM released its first PC. In 1986, it came equipped with the Model M keyboard. This computer keyboard was wildly successful because it was so easy to use, users didn’t have to convert their typewriters or provide their build of the keyboard to use as an input device for their computers. The Model M was a mechanical keyboard, and used the highest quality construction, giving typists the satisfaction of tactile feedback, acute accuracy, and comfort. The only drawback of this keyboard was that the “Shift” and “Enter” keys were reportedly too small for the majority of the user’s preferences. Because of this, IBM made and sold “Keytop Expanders” which fit over the shift and enter key switches to expand the keys. All of the keyboards at this time were limited in that they were only offered in two colors: beige and grey, until the late 1980s when black was introduced as an option. 1986 IBM Model M Keyboard Keytop Expanders Advertisement In the 1990s membrane switches began to replace the mechanical key switch, as it was quieter, weighed less, and suited the needs of the new laptop generation. This was also an advantage for the manufacturers because membrane keyboards were much cheaper to produce. Unfortunately, the quality of the keyboard significantly dropped as these superficial keyboard aesthetics dominated (slimmer, quieter, lighter weight, easier to be mobile with). The technology and mechanics of these keyboards will be detailed in future chapters, and mechanical keyboard information can be found here: in our Mechanical Keyboard Guide. Here’s a photo showing the dramatic difference between early Apple mechanical keyboards (1983), and decades later the modern non-mechanical Apple keyboards (2010). Apple-Keyboard-1983-vs-2010 Other changes in keyboard design, whether or not improving upon function, have included the folding keyboard, the water-proof (and washable) keyboard, the keyboard that also functions as a mouse, thumb-sized keyboards (for mobile devices and travel), and virtual touch-screen keyboards. True Touch Roll-up Keyboard Mouse and Keyboard Combo (The entire keyboard moves on the desk as a mouse) Mini Wireless Keyboard Device iPad and iPhone Virtual Touch-Screen Keyboards Over the years there have been several other designs that verge on science fiction- like the laser keyboard, the flying saucer keyboard, the jellyfish keyboard, and the fully-programmable, LCD-key display Optimus Maximus Keyboard. It’s mind-bending to see the evolution of keyboards in terms of where they started as teletype machines and typewriters- to where they’ve evolved into all the options we have quite literally at our fingertips. Laser Keyboard Altuq Toprak’s Flying Saucer keyboard Jellyfish Keyboard. Industrial Designer: Erik Campbell. Inventor: Doug Engelbart. Jellyfish Keyboard. Industrial Designer: Erik Campbell. Inventor: Doug Engelbart. Optimus Maximus Keyboard Keyboards come in all shapes, sizes, and colors these days, though it’s important to remember that without the original, simple,  powerhouse mechanical keyboards of IBM we wouldn’t be where we are today. With all of the design innovations being manufactured, there is no surprise that many creative keyboard aficionados have started to emerge with their inventive modifications to improve the typing experience and aesthetic. Richard “Doc” Nagy has taken his creativity, and craftsmanship to the next level in keyboard design and has built some very interesting and inventive keyboard mods that seem to have traveled back in time, with a paradoxically futuristic edge.  From steampunk and art deco-themed keyboards to keyboards with scrabble tiles for keys, Doc’s modified mechanical keyboards are true works of art (and fully functional). Visit Doc’s site, Datamancer.net for his complete gallery. The Alchemist Keyboard Courtesy of Doc at Datamancer The Alchemist Keyboard Detail Courtesy of Doc at Datamancer The Ergo Keyboard Courtesy of Doc at Datamancer The Streamline Keyboard Courtesy of Doc at Datamancer Chapter Three: Design – The History and Evolution of Keyboard Layouts QWERTY Layout The most widely used keyboard layout is QWERTY, named as such for the positioning of the keys in the top left row. Christopher Latham Sholes and Carlos Glidden produced the first typewriter featuring the QWERTY layout in 1874 and though there have been minor changes over the past centuries, for the most part, it has remained consistent. One of the differences between the original  QWERTY layout from the current version was its lack of a “1” key, and consequently “!” key. Instead of typing the numeral one, typists would use the lower-case L (l). To type an exclamation mark, typists would use a period (.), hit backspace, then type an apostrophe (‘) above it. Another key added in later versions was the “=” and “+” key. These symbols were used very infrequently on typewriters as it was generally assumed that Adding Machines were used to do all the mathematical notation. If typists wanted to produce a plus-sign, they would type a hyphen (-), hit backspace, then type a colon (:). When they wanted to type an equal sign, they would type a hyphen (-), hit backspace, and then type an underscore (_).   At the start of the QWERTY layout, typewriters were only able to print UPPER CASE letters, as the “shift key” had not yet been introduced. At the end of the 19th century in 1894, The Duplex full keyboard brought lower case letters to the typewriter by featuring separate keys for lower case and UPPER CASE letters. There were twice as many keys with this design which eventually lead to the invention of the “shift key.” The shift key allowed for a consolidated keyboard similar to the first models that only typed capital letters, as well as the use of both lower and uppercase characters with the same key. Additionally, having a shift key allowed the numerical keys to be shared with special characters such as the ampersand (&) and percent (%) signs for further keyboard consolidation. One problem that arose after the shift key was added was that holding down the shift key to type more than one letter at a time was particularly difficult on early typewriters. This led to the “SHIFT LOCK” key, later to be renamed “CAPS LOCK” by modern typists. Shift lock allowed typists to switch back and forth between lower and upper case characters, as well as numerical and special characters with ease. 1897, Jewett 4 Duplex typewriter – Courtesy of the Martin Howard Collection at antiquetypewriters.com QWERTY layouts were developed as a means to slow typists down. In the beginning stages of the typewriter, people typed so quickly, that they often jammed the keys as they flew up to hit the typewriter ribbon. To prevent this, QWERTY was born to decrease typing efficiency and speed. This is why, rather than placing the most commonly used letters in convenient, central, finger placements, they are instead found in awkward locations, like the “A” key under the left pinkie finger. Likewise, the less commonly used letters are placed in the prime areas of the layout. Notice, for example how the “J” and “K” keys are under the right pointer and middle fingers. With these inconvenient placements, more than 50% of keystrokes take place on the top row, and roughly 30% take place on the bottom row. That means that less than 20% of all keystrokes occur where your fingers are centrally placed, the row commonly referred to as the “home row.” So if this layout is so inefficient and awkward, why are we still using it today?   The QWERTY layout has stuck with us for the past century for two reasons: it was the first established layout that everyone grew accustomed to and accepted; and when computers began to come into play, the leaders in the computer keyboard industry opted to keep the QWERTY layout on their manufactured keyboards- effectively binding generations of typists to an inefficient layout. When IBM and the other major manufacturers chose to stick with QWERTY, everyone else followed their lead. Thus they established the standard in layout design for decades to come- regardless of how inefficient and outdated. Dvorak Simplified Layouts The QWERTY model keyboard is still used today by some of the world’s fastest typists, but imagine how much faster and more efficient typing could be if the keys we use most often were under the strongest of our fingers in the easiest to access areas. That’s where Dvorak comes in. The Dvorak simplified layout was introduced in 1936 by Dr. August Dvorak and offers a keyboard layout that is more intuitive and efficient for modern typists. Dr. Dvorak conducted extensive research on the English language (and other languages using the Roman alphabet) and studied the physiology of the hand. Dr. Dvorak’s research brought forth not only the Dvorak layout, but also two additional keyboard layouts designed for people with one hand: one keyboard for those with only one right hand, and the other for those with only a left. Dvorak’s keyboard for Left-Hand Only Dvorak’s keyboard for Right-Hand Only These single-handed keyboards allow one-handed typists to easily type 50 WPM. If he was able to design a keyboard easy for one-handed typists to use, imagine the functionality and efficiency possible for two-handed typists. On a Dvorak keyboard, all of the most commonly used characters fall under the “home row.” He placed the vowels: “A,” “O”, “E,” “U,” and “I,” under the left hand; and the letters: “D,” “H,” “T,” “N,” and “S,” under the right hand.   In addition to the awkward placement of common letters, the QWERTY design also requires the same finger to type common letter combinations, and the same hand to type common words. All of these elements aided in slowing down typists, to limiting typewriter jams. Dvorak noticed this speed bump and considered it for his simplified layout, where the same finger or hand isn’t required to type all of the characters in frequent letter combinations and words while the other fingers or hand sit idly.   The simplified Dvorak layout was slightly modified and adjusted over the years and finally solidified in 1982. The design requires less finger motion, which both increases typing speed and reduces finger strain. It is also supposedly much easier to learn since the characters fall in less awkward positions, and the most common letters are all lined up next to each other on the home row. Dvorak layouts never overcame the popularity of QWERTY layouts, even though Dvorak is compatible with almost all modern computer models (including Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux, and BSD-UNIX).   This goes to show the power and control that comes with simply being the first. In the eyes of the vast majority of the typing public, it’s “easier” to use the more difficult, and strain-inducing layout rather than start anew with something better. No matter how poorly QWERTY translates to modern typists, for many of us, it’s our “first language” and learning a new language takes a lot of time, dedication, and studying. Other Specialty Layouts and Novelties: Colemak The third most popular keyboard layout after QWERTY, then Dvorak, is the Colemak layout. Though this layout hasn’t reached as much of a fan base as the first two, it has gained some notoriety. Because only 17 keys differ from the QWERTY layout, this keyboard layout is fairly easy to relearn after years of QWERTY use. This has helped the Colemak layout to gain a following amongst typists who no longer want to adhere to an outdated QWERTY mode of typing, but are frustrated with the learning curve involved in readjusting to the Dvorak layout. Colemak is named after its creator, Shai Coleman, though Shai decided to match the last two letters to the Dvorak layout namesake (hence, Colemak), to perhaps appeal more to the alternative keyboard layout seeking community and draw some similarities between the two. This is the youngest of the three layouts discussed, though layout designs and updates continue to be tested and developed regularly. Due to the popularity of the three layouts discussed, all other options receive little to no recognition or public attention. The main focus of newer alternative keyboard layouts tends to be an emphasis on mixing the familiarity of QWERTY with the efficiency of Dvorak. Who knows what will evolve in the years to come, only time will tell. Do you have a suggestion for a topic you’d like us to cover? Thanks for reading! Please stay tuned for the next installment. --- ### Great Free Resources to Improve Your Typing Skills URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/great-free-resources-to-improve-your-typing-skills/ Published: 2011-07-08 10:12:50 Author: supercobra We all want to type faster than our current words per minute (wpm). Whether it’s just to get your ideas into the computer quickly or increasing your reaction time in an online video game, how fast you type can have a serious impact on your success with both. But what do we need to do to improve our typing speed? While our keyboards can help you to type faster, and they do-I went from an average of 80wpm to about 98wpm in 3 weeks, there are so many other ways to build your typing speed outside of a keyboard. If you are looking for some great resources to get your fingers flying, I have dug up a list that will get you started. I’m a firm believer of start at the beginning when learning a  new skill. First things are first, If you don’t know where to place your fingers on the keyboard, you are never going to get up to speed with typing. So, one of the first resources I found, Custom Typing, will show you the proper finger placement on the keyboard. What’s really nice is that the finger placement page is interactive, allowing you to type and see what fingers press each key. Believe it or not, you can save serious time by learning proper finger placement on the keyboard. If you want to continue learning about typing, including a review of finger placement, there are a few free online typing courses that will help you: Typing Web is a free online typing tutor that will help you learn to type with interactive lessons. The lessons give you feedback on your accuracy and wpm. You can even get your typing speed certified to show employers and friends you aren’t exaggerating about your amazing typing speed. Peter’s Online Typing Course offers a series of lessons to get you used to typing including several typing exercises. Once you’ve learned how to properly type and thrown the hunt and peck out the door, practice is the best way to increase your typing speed. You can always practice by typing a daily journal, writing a blog, or whatever you want to type. However, there is another alternative and that is typing games. One of my favorite is TyprX. You’ll get a blurb to type and compete against other typists or a computer bot. The site displays the highest speeds for the day on the front page and I am always working to put my name on this list. I love the competitive aspect of the game, whether I’m racing someone or attempting to beat one of my high scores. Fun to Type has a good variety of typing games for practice as well. They are all very nicely designed and even the simplest of them will help improve your touch typing skills. And finally, for those of you with children, the BBC has a typing program for kids called Dance Mat Typing. I’ve used it and I think it's a pretty fun way for kids of all ages to learn typing. It’s a great interactive tutorial that teaches typing with animated characters and game-like exercises. Nowadays it pays to learn to type early as it is definitely a life-long skill. Now that you’ve got several options for improving your typing skills, it's time to learn touch typing and improve your typing speed! Not only will it improve your productivity, but you might enjoy your keyboard even more. --- ### Keyboard Buzz: Nintendo Releases Pokémon Typing Tutor DS URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/keyboard-buzz-nintendo-releases-pokemon-typing-tutor-ds/ Published: 2011-04-18 09:54:32 Author: supercobra In only a few more days, Pokémon Typing Tutor DS is set to be released in Japan on the 21st. The game looks pretty cool (view trailer and commercial below). A game like this pretty much guarantees to improve typing speeds and accuracy for kids. The tried and true cast of beloved Pokémon characters are used to motivate young typists on through the various courses, paths, and roads that the game moves through with each correct key touched. The game-format is catchy and looks like it could easily become addictive- not just for kid typists, but for adults who also want to improve their typing efficiency. Personally speaking, I know I want to try it. Way to go Nintendo! View source here --- ### Das Keyboard Launches Das IronGeek at SXSW URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-launches-das-irongeek-at-sxsw/ Published: 2011-03-10 16:12:27 Author: supercobra This year again we will be at SXSW on March 14 - 17, 11am - 6pm. Come try out our keyboards, do some typing races and discover how fast you can type on a blank keyboard. There will be a daily draw to win our keyboards. We are also launching a new event: Das IronGeek Das IronGeek puts a set of 6 press and bloggers attending SXSW through a series of 5 fun, technology related challenges such as typing speed and accuracy test or assembling a server, all intended to test their geekiness - learn more. --- ### A Farewell to Handwriting on CBS URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/a-farewell-to-handwriting-on-cbs/ Published: 2011-02-14 15:16:43 Author: supercobra CBS has a piece where they argue that hand writing is dead, but some disagree. I personally still have a paper notebook where I jot down ideas and perform creative drawings of user interfaces or sketches of product ideas but obviously when ideas are clear, the work is then performed on the keyboard. How about you? Do you still use a pen? What for? Also check the video at 6'11 where the Das Keyboard Ultimate is presented with a hero perspective. Pretty cool. --- ### Why did old typewriters not have a number one key? URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/why-did-old-typewriters-not-have-a-number-one-key/ Published: 2010-09-24 17:12:35 Author: supercobra When looking at old typewriters, you'll notice the key for number one is missing. It's not because someone took it out or because it broke. Here is another one: So did you find out why the one key is missing? Here is the answer: the number one key was not implemented by design. Instead, the L key - l - in lowercase, was used in its lowercase form as a letter or a number, because a lowercase l looks like a one. That allowed manufacturers to save some space in the overcrowded area where hammers were located. --- ### Blazing a trail with the "Ultimate" daskeyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/blazing-a-trail-with-the-ultimate-daskeyboard/ Published: 2010-07-08 11:59:20 Author: admin Well, I Just started with Metadot (daskeyboard) and wanted to share my continuing saga using the Das Keyboard. To be blunt, my typing skills are dismal - I thought that I could type with a little speed, but in reality the mistakes that I make slow me down considerably. Interestingly, I always thought that I should be a good typist, having played classical piano for many years. My Quest? To learn to type the right way and achieve 60 words per minute. Actually, the bigger goal is to beat Daniel in a race - https://typrx.com/#. This won't be easy to achieve before the end of August but it should be fun to try. The Tools: To achieve these lofty goals, I will be using the Ultimate daskeyboard (self described as "Bad ass") and a Mavis Beacon typing DVD. The Baseline: Since I never learned to type, I am starting at the bottom - reflected in my first score on the typing race. I completed the race with my fingers in the proper typing position.I also used the daskeyboard (blank keys). I did score 23 wpm with my laptop banging away without proper finger positions. My odyssey is just beginning and I look forward to sharing my lows as well as my triumphs for your reading pleasure. See you soon Dre --- ### Video of Ultimate Typing Championship Final URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/video-of-ultimate-typing-championship-final/ Published: 2010-03-24 12:49:57 Author: supercobra Two of the fastest typists in the US came to SXSW for the Ultimate Typing Championship Final. Sean Wrona and Nate Bowen competed head to head to determine who is the fastest typist. Pay attention to the complexity of the text they typed during the second race... Sean Wrona won. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9EXEpjSDEw --- ### Wrona Wins the UTC Crown URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/wrona-wins-the-utc-crown/ Published: 2010-03-15 08:23:00 Author: supercobra Congratulations to Sean Wrona, our first Ultimate Typing Champion! During today’s UTC final round at SXSW Interactive, Wrona was simply EN FUEGO. He managed to type a 574-word text at a mind-blowing 163 words-per-minute. (The average professional adult types at about 40-50 words per minute.) Wrona captivated the audience in front of Das Keyboard’s SXSW booth with his blazing keyboard skills. He now heads back home to Ithaca a UTC typing champion, and $2,000 richer. Read some great hometown coverage of him in The Ithaca Journal. A round of applause as well to the UTC runner-up, Nate Bowen, who takes home $500 for his speedy keyboard abilities. Nate was eager to get out and experience some Austin nightlife after taking his share of punishment in the final round. “Congrats to Sean … he was definitely quite intimidating, and is very worthy of the UTC crown,” Nate shared afterwards. Thanks to everyone who participated in Das Keyboard’s Ultimate Typing Championship. Feel free to continue practicing your typing anytime at www.typrx.com. And one last ‘Way to Go’ to Sean Wrona – the country’s first Ultimate Typing Champion! --- ### Who will be the Country’s First Ultimate Typing Champion? URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/who-will-be-the-countrys-first-ultimate-typing-champion/ Published: 2010-03-08 10:49:30 Author: supercobra SXSW Interactive starts later this week (March 12-16), which means the final round of Das Keyboard’s Ultimate Typing Championship is finally here. Our two finalists, Sean Wrona and Nate Bowen, will be competing in-person at the event on Sunday March 14 for a chance to claim bragging rights as the country’s first UTC champion. Oh, and that $2,000 grand prize isn’t so bad either. Sean and Nate are truly among the country’s typing elite, and we look forward to their final keyboard face-off. Speaking of which … have you noticed that they’re both from New York? That’s why we’re dubbing our first UTC Finals as “The Lone Star State’s Empire State Showdown.” If you happen to be attending SXSW Interactive, be sure to stop by Das Keyboard’s booth -- #221,320. We’ll be offering 25% off and free shipping on our keyboards for any orders placed at our booth during the event. If you can type fast, you also may be able to win a keyboard. We’ll be conducting daily typing contests at our booth, and will be giving away Model S Keyboards to two individuals each day who log the fastest typing speeds. See you at SXSW Interactive … and good luck Sean and Nate! Official press release. Visiting SXSW? Join us at Interactive for the UTC Final Round. Sunday, March 14 at 4:30pm during the "Block Party."  Booth #221,320. --- ### Meet Your UTC Finalists URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/meet-your-utc-finalists/ Published: 2010-02-08 17:01:15 Author: supercobra So do you want to know more about the two individuals who will be competing for the right to be named the first ever Ultimate Typing Champion? Here’s a brief snapshot of our two UTC finalists – Sean Wrona and Nate Bowen. They’ll compete in-person, mano-a-mano during the upcoming SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. Meet Sean and Nate, two guys with really fast fingers on a keyboard! Sean Wrona Age: 25 Hometown: Ithaca, New York College education: Cornell University; BA Economics, 2007; MPS Applied Statistics, 2008 Occupation: Currently unemployed, but ideally seeking a statistical or programming position. Why I’m competing in the Ultimate Typing Championship One of my high school classmates played the "Typing Speed" game on Facebook, causing me to eventually discover the myriad typing tests online. I knew I was a faster typist than any student or teacher in my high school, but did not know I held up nationally until learning that I was frequently 20-30 wpm faster than all but a handful of other players there. Upon realizing this, I eventually decided to participate in the UTC, especially after I lost my job. How I’ve managed to become such a dang fast typist My mom has been disabled with multiple sclerosis since before I was born, so I spent a lot more time indoors than other kids. My parents encouraged my computer use from the age of about three-years-old. I discovered an old DOS typing game one of them had installed and practiced there before I was even in grade school. By about age ten I was typing 100 words per minute. WPM typing speed? On a short sprint: peak of 195-200 wpm, average of around 165 wpm On a longer passage: peak of 165-170 wpm, average of around 145-150 wpm How I’m preparing for the UTC Finals I practice on a number of different typing websites, which have a wide variety of different types of typing tests, and am probably practicing more than I did before the semi-final round. Hobbies and other interests I like collecting and entering data on just about any subject, most notably exemplified by my website www.race-database.com for which I am attempting to archive the complete history of every major auto racing series; I wrote all code, wrote all text, and entered all data myself. In high school, I was the statistician for the Mensa Scrabble-by-Mail SIG and became one of the top ten players in the group, despite being decades younger than most other members. I am also a member of the North American Scrabble Players' Association, but although I am friends with several top players in the group, I have not participated in a tournament yet. (Based on tournament players I have played online, I would be ranked around 800th-1000th in North America in Scrabble.) I have also in the past collected data on politics, demographics, music charts (including an Excel spreadsheet of every top ten hit on the Billboard chart, and another listing every gold or platinum-certified album), and many other things. Favorite movies Field of Dreams, Leap of Faith, The Breakfast Club, Trading Places, Coming to America, Little Shop of Horrors, Shrek, Apollo 13, Wayne's World, Spellbound Favorite books/authors "Hitchhiker's Trilogy" by Douglas Adams. "Word Freak" by StefanFatsis. "1984" by George Orwell. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. "The Seven Storey Mountain" by Thomas Merton. "A Separate Peace" byJohn Knowles. "Bimbos of the Death Sun" by Sharyn McCrumb. "Foundation Trilogy" by Isaac Asimov. "Hackers and Painters" by Paul Graham. Harry Potter 1-4 by J.K. Rowling. Favorite music/bands Aerosmith, Beatles, Boston, Cars, Eric Clapton, Cure, Peter Gabriel, Green Day, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Journey, Moody Blues, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Police, Queen, Queensryche, R.E.M., Rush, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Who, XTC Mac or PC? I use PCs, but I'm not the sort of person to pick fights about favorite operating systems. Video games I hardly play anything online besides typing games and Scrabble today, but in years past I liked racing simulators and old-school video games like Jumpman and Wizard of Wor. I was never as avid a gamer as most people in my generation though. Nate Bowen Age: 31 City: New York College Education: None, although I may have earned 3 credits at the Milwaukee School of Engineering studying AI. Occupation: Web and iPhone developer at Condé Nast Publications Why I’m competing in the Ultimate Typing Championship My manager dared me publicly. How I’ve managed to become such a dang fast typist I started early. My technique is far from proper touch-typing, but it's reached a decent pace after 25 years of practice. WPM typing speed I average in the mid-to-high 120s. I lose a lot of time to corrections, so with the right text I occasionally max out above 150. How I’m preparing for the UTC Finals I'm doing a little practicing on TyprX to keep tabs on my speed, but more important is using the Das Keyboard for daily typing. Hobbies and other interests Music (listening, performing, producing, DJing, karaoke), reading (fiction, news, social criticism/subversive literature), recreational software development. Favorite movies Synecdoche, Primer, Brazil, Dr. Strangelove, Kentucky Fried Movie, Angel's Dance, The Croupier, Paint Your Wagon, and Tron. Favorite authors Robert Anton Wilson, Milan Kundera, Henry Miller, Proust. Favorite music/bands Judging from play count in my current iTunes library: The Beatles, Sondre Lerche, Serge Gainsbourg, Chopin, Ben Godwin, Pernice Brothers, Triptik, Belle and Sebastian, Pauline Croze, Akufen, The Charlatans UK, Meat Beat Manifesto, and miscellaneous house DJ mixes. (For typing practice, though, it's Orbital, Underworld -- basically the "Hackers" soundtrack.) Mac or PC? I happily switched to a Mac a year-and-a-half ago after over 15 years of PCs. Prior to that I was a C64 kind of guy. Video Games I'm a reformed gamer; I think the last game I played avidly was Starcraft. --- ### Ultimate Typing Championship Semi Final Results URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/ultimate-typing-championship-semi-final-results/ Published: 2010-01-09 20:17:03 Author: supercobra 01.22.10 Update: Sean Wrona and Nate Bowen are our finalists. Dan Chen declined for personal reasons. Congratulations to Sean Wrona and Dan Chen Nate Bowen - finalists in the nation's first-ever Ultimate Typing Championship! Both competitors glided through the semi-final "Round of Six" which took place on Saturday afternoon. Sean received the highest point total after finishing 1st in each of the three semi-final typing races. Dan wasn't too far behind and finished in a strong 2nd place, though he claimed afterwards, "I've got quite a bit of practicing to do if I intend to have a chance against Sean in the final round." Sean and Dan each will receive a Das Keyboard Model S Professional keyboard to practice on prior to their March 14th head-to-head typing showdown during the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. The grand prize is $2,000, and of course bragging rights as the country's first Ultimate Typing Champion! Congrats as well to our other UTC semi-finalists. Nate Bowen finished in 3rd place, and will receive a free Model S Professional keyboard for his elite typing skills. Our three other semi-finalists - Noah Horn, Felice Kuan and Jack Aviado - each will receive a $50 voucher for use in Das Keyboard's Zazzle Store. Thanks to everyone who has participated in the Ultimate Typing Championship. We look forward to more competitions in the future. Sean and Dan, congrats again! We'll see you in Austin this March. Follow the UTC at www.ultimatetypingchampionship.com --- ### Time for Ultimate Typing Championship's "Round of Six" URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/time-for-ultimate-typing-championships-round-of-six/ Published: 2010-01-08 13:37:18 Author: supercobra After two months of fierce competition, we're now ready for the Ultimate Typing Championship's "Round of Six." How about a round of applause for our six semi-finalists: Sean Wrona, Noah Horn, Felice Kuan, Dan Chen, Nate Bown and Jack Aviado. Our goal with the Ultimate Typing Championship was to identify the country's fastest typists-and that we've done. Now it's time to move toward crowning our first UTC Champion. Our semi-final round happens this Saturday, 1/9, from which we'll select two finalists who will compete head-to-head during SXSW in March. Stay tuned and keep an eye on www.ultimatetypingchampionship.com. --- ### Will you be the Ultimate Typing Champion? URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/will-you-be-the-ultimate-typing-champion/ Published: 2009-11-11 10:44:13 Author: thedas How fast can you type? Do you think you’re fast enough to be the Ultimate Typing Champion? Now you can prove it. If the title isn’t enough for you, perhaps $2,000, a free trip to South by Southwest in Austin, TX, a free keyboard, or a few other prizes will entice you to compete. Today we launched the Ultimate Typing Championship. At its core is TyprX, a multi-player typing game that allows players to race in real time over the internet. The idea is to help you show off your mad typing skills and/or to increase your typing speed. TyprX will keep track of all your scores when you’re signed in and enter you in the Championship. Check it out at www.UltimateTypingChampionship.com. Good luck to everyone! --- ### Boost Productivity By Using Keyboard Shortcuts URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/boost-productivity-by-using-keyboard-shortcuts/ Published: 2009-09-17 12:58:31 Author: supercobra The two operating modes of your keyboard Your keyboard, as an input device, has two main functions called modes: one is the text entry mode to allow operators to input text in a document. The other is a command mode used to instruct the software or operating system to do things a certain way, e.g., alt-tab to cycle through open windows. The mouse also has these two functions: a command mode, such as double clicking on a file to open it, or clicking on a button to restart the computer, and an entry mode, like drawing a line when using drawing software. Many people use the keyboard mainly for text entry and use the mouse for the command mode. Unfortunately moving a hand from the keyboard to the mouse takes travel time and forces your eyes and brain to switch focus. This decreases efficiency. Consider the following experiment: Comparing the efficiency of the two modes Let's do a test to see how much more efficient you can be when using your keyboard to drive your software. On a Microsoft Windows-based computer, open a browser like Safari, Chrome or Firefox. Go to www.google.com or any other website. Move your two hands back to the keyboard on the home row. Test 1: use the mouse and keyboard to go to www.yahoo.com Use the mouse to open a new tab. Move the cursor to point on the navigation bar. Click in the URL field. Type http://www.yahoo.com and then press Enter. Move your hand back to the keyboard. Test 1 takes around four seconds in most cases. Test 2: Same test but using only the keyboard in content and command mode: Once you are setup as in test 1 type the following: Control-T Control-L yahoo Control-Enter Test 2 achieve the same result in less than a second. So you can see from this example, operating your computer software with the keyboard command mode by taking advantages of keyboard shortcuts can bring some great productivity gains. Some software makers design their products with this in mind while others do not. In another post we will compare Mac OS X Snow Leopard with Microsoft Windows 7 to see which one make their users more efficient. What keyboard shortcuts do you use the most? What actions do you wish had keyboard shortcuts? --- ### What are your tips for typing 100+ WPM? URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/what-are-your-tips-for-typing-100-wpm/ Published: 2009-09-04 11:53:29 Author: thedas As you can imagine, one of our passions here at Das Keyboard is for really fast typing. We love that Das Keyboard has helped so many people to improve the speed and accuracy of their typing skills and we're always looking for ways to help more. I came across a great post by David Turnbull with his 9 tips for How to Type 100+ Words Per Minute. These are quoted directly from his site: Feel the location of keys. If you can’t feel the location of keys whilst typing slowly then you won’t be able to type fast. Close your eyes and try to type out your full name. Go as slow as you need to. Repeat this exercise until you can identify every key by touch. Touch typing is the foundation of speed. Switch to DVORAK. Like most people I use the QWERTY keyboard setup, but this setup is actually designed to slow down typing (it goes back to the days of typewriters). DVORAK is meant to be the fastest keyboard layout to use and if you’re serious about typing fast you should definitely look into it. Some people claim making the switch doesn’t make a huge difference, but at the very least your fingers will be moving less and therefore less likely to strain. Use the DAS Keyboard Ultimate. Whilst it’s not available as a DVORAK keyboard, this is still a pretty nice looking piece of hardware. It claims to be the best keyboard for typing, which is obviously debatable, but the cool thing is, the keys aren’t labelled. They’re all just flat, black surfaces. This means you’re forced to memorise the location of keys. Play the piano. One of the first instruments I learned to play was the piano. I was never particularly brilliant at it, but the skills required are similar to that of typing on a computer keyboard: speed, accuracy and finding the location of keys. Sure, the most “pure” type of practice will be with a computer keyboard, but playing the piano will less likely induce boredom. Have something to type. The only times I type slowly are when I’m trying to tackle writer’s block. It’s my brain that’s moving slowly, not my fingers. Have something clear in your mind that you want to type before trying to clear 100+ words per minute. Beware of traditional typing tests. Tests that determine your typing speed have a major flaw: they require you to read. I’m certainly no speed reader, but I’m not slow either, yet it still takes me a second to “process” the sentences I read in a typing test, and then I have to regurgitate them on the keyboard. Typing tests 2.0. Back in high school, we’d occasionally be in the library where our teacher would dictate information we had to type into a Word document. I found this to be the best typing test available. There’s little thought required and, unlike in a traditional typing test, your thoughts aren’t jumping ahead to the words you have to write in the future (because you don’t know what they are). It’s a very “in the moment” test of typing speed. Practice with substance. Don’t try to improve your typing speed by typing out some lame sentence over and over again. Start a blog or novel that makes typing both interesting and engaging. There’s no single moment where I thought “wow, I can type fast!” I was simply always typing something that I found interesting and my speed progressed naturally. You don’t need to follow conventions. In primary school there was a chart on the wall that displayed where you should place your fingers on the keyboard. I ignored it. Whilst I’m sure these diagrams have value, I feel it’s best to just do what feels natural. If typing doesn’t feel natural for you at all then maybe use these types of diagrams as a starting point, but don’t feel constricted by them. Thanks to David for his tips above. I was, or course, both appreciative and honored that Das Keyboard made it in as number 3. But this also got me thinking; how many other tips are out there for improving your typing speed? So I wanted to ask you; what tips or tricks have you learned and/or used to increase your typing speed? Have you been able to get it over 100 WPM? --- ### SourceForge CEO Gets Enthusiastic Typing On Das Keyboard URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/sourceforge-ceo-gets-enthusiastic-typing-on-das-keyboard/ Published: 2009-08-31 13:31:03 Author: supercobra Scott Kauffman, CEO of SourceForge Inc. (the company behind Slashdot, SF, ThinkGeek and Freshmeat with the Nasdaq ticker LNUX) stopped by Metadot / Das Keyboard during his trip to Texas last week. We spent some time playing with the Das Keyboard and enumerated all the advantages of having an old-style IBM Model M tactile keyboard with mechanical key switches. I was happy to see Scott smile while his fingers were flying over the keyboard, making an addictive clicky sound, as he said. Scott types fast. Really fast. (Picture: Scott Kauffman typing on Das Keyboard) After lunch, while walking to his car in the scorching summer Texas sun (it was over 100F), he commented, "I don't know how you guys get used to this heat." Well, here is how it works: when I first came from Paris to Austin 11 years ago I had a very hard time with the heat. People told me, "you'll see, after a while you'll get used to it." Eleven years later I'm not used to it, and I don't know anybody who really is. That's how it works! --- ### Advice to Obama: Save $189B a Year by Teaching Touch-typing URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/advise-to-obama-save-189b-a-year-by-teaching-touch-typing/ Published: 2009-08-19 09:18:24 Author: supercobra For people spending most their working day on a computer, their typing speed has a direct impact on their productivity. The faster they type the more work gets done. Let's explore what kind of productivity gain could be achieved by someone typing at 80 wpm v.s. someone hunting and pecking at 30 wpm. Say Bill and Jacques work in the same company as support agents. They spend 8 hours a day on the computer answering customer questions. Bill is a touch typer born and raised in the USA. Bill types at 80 wpm. Jacques, born and raised in Paris, France, never learned to type and his two-finger typing style makes him plateau at 30 wpm. Jacques, the slow typer, answers 120 customer questions a day, i.e. one questions every 4 minutes. To answer a question, it takes 2 min and 30 sec of research for a solution then Jacques types it for 1 min and 30 sec in the computer. How many more cases can Bill, the fast typer, answer per day? Bill types 80 wpm v.s. Jacques 30. Bill types 2.6 times faster than Bill: 80 wpm / 30 wpm = 2.6 Bill takes 3'05” to answer one case v.s. 4 min for Jacques: 2'30 sec of research (constant) + 35 sec = 3'05” = 185 sec. Bill can process 155 cases per day v.s. 120 for Jacques: (8h*60*60)/(185sec) Bill answer 35 cases more than Jacques every day. This makes Bill 30% more productive than Jacques. What does this mean at country level? The US employs 145 million people (source). Say that 10% of the workforce spend most of their working time on a computer like Jacques and type on average at 30 wpm like Jacques. How much could businesses save (and reinvest in growth) if all the 30-wpm typers went to 80 wpm? Calculation Cost of 10% people working mostly on their computer assuming the average salary is $45K per year: 14M * $45k/y = $630 Billions per year With a 30% productivity gain it would only cost $441B ($630B * 70%). Savings: $189B per year ($630 - $441B). In summary, learning how to touch type can make you, your organisation, your industry and your country a lot more productive. Advice to Obama Make all schools teach touch typing and save the US a whooping $189B per year. --- ### Video: Das Keyboard Clicking Sound URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/video-das-keyboard-clicking-sound/ Published: 2009-08-14 12:00:38 Author: thedas Many thanks to yatpaysarchives on Youtube for his review; he compares 2 other keyboard to the Das; of course the Das Keyboard is louder, but better! If you have a review video for Das Keyboard, post the link below in the comments! --- ### Does the Das Keyboard Really Increase Your Typing Speed? URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/does-the-das-keyboard-really-increase-your-typing-speed/ Published: 2009-08-12 06:00:44 Author: thedas I came across the following article by Shaan Kirpalani as I was working my way through the internet. It was posted a while ago, but it still rings true. If you don't have time to read it now, the short answer is: yes. http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/das-keyboard-ultimate-doubles-typing-speed-20081022/ "After hearing about the Das Keyboard Ultimate, I found myself both impressed and slightly annoyed by the audacious keyboard. Its elegant appearance, characterless keys, and inclusion of gold plated, mechanical Cherry key switches impressed me while the notion that the marketplace has room for this kind of high-end, geekphernalia got my eyes rolling. Immediately, I equivocated it to the black MacBook or the newest golf driver: the apex of consumerism. The Das was however, very well received by the tech press–even winning the Computer Times’ Editors’ Choice Keyboard Award"...read more Thanks to Shaan for the post! --- ### Typing Speed Explained URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-speed-explained/ Published: 2009-08-04 16:37:37 Author: supercobra Most poeple know that typing speed on a computer keyboard is measured in words per minute (wpm). Since words are not all the same size it would not be fair to measure someone's typing speed counting the actual number of words taken randomly from a textbook. Consider the following sentences: I often drink coffee. I embrace serendipitous happenings. Sentence #1 has 4 words, 21 characters including 3 spaces and 1 period. Sentence #2 has 4 words as well but is much longer with 35 characters including 3 spaces and 1 period. Both sentences have 4 words and if you type them in one minute you type at 4 wpm. Right? No, this is wrong. Based on this calculation a person taking a typing test with lots of sentences like #1 will perform almost twice as fast as a person taking a test containing lots of sentences like #2, because the words in sentence #2 are much longer than the ones in #1. This is not correct obviously because sentence #1 contains 21 characters v.s. 35 for #2. To remedy this, in the definition of typing speed (source below) a word is defined as 5 characters, including punctuation signs and spaces. Therefore: I often drink coffee => Five 5-letter words. I embrace serendipitous happenings => Seven 5-letter words. With this definition the typing speed (wpm) is linked to the number of characters so it can be measured across different texts and languages. Quick facts about typing speed An average typing speed is considered to be between 50 to 70 wpm, and the fastest people can reach is 180 wpm and above. Two-finger typists (easily found in countries that do not have typing classes, like France, that did not figure out that computers are not going away anytime soon and still do not teach typing in schools) can type between 27 to 37 wpm for the fastest. Handwriting is usually between 22 and 31 wpm, and books on tape are recommended to be recorded around 150 wpm. (source for all these facts) In conclusion, touch typing is one of the fastest way to enter text into a machine. As opposed to using the mouse, some argue that using keyboard shortcuts is also the fastest way to operate a computer graphical interface. --- ### Meet Das Keyboard team for breakfast @ SXSW URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/meet-das-keybaord-team-for-breakfast-sxsw/ Published: 2009-03-11 11:15:21 Author: admin Taking place during this year’s South by Southwest is the first Das Keyboard Meet-n-Greet Breakfast. Here, we invite you to mingle with, and get to know the creators of Das Keyboard, as well as other Das Keyboard aficionados, will be at your disposal to answer your questions and listen to what you have to say about Das Keyboard, along with your ideas for future products. When: March 16, 2009 from 8am – 10am Where: Halycon Coffee www.halcyonaustin.com 218 W 4th St Austin, TX 78701 Phone: 512-472-9637 RSVP: birgit@daskeyboard.com To make sure that we have enough coffee and pastries, it would be great if you can RSVP us by responding to this e-mail by 3/11/2009. But even if you can’t, we look forward to meeting you. We will also be giving away some cool Das Keyboard T-Shirts, while supplies last of course, as well as special SXSW coupons for your next Das Keyboard purchase. So come and visit with us, it’ll be fun. Hope to see you on the 16th in Austin, Texas. Das Keyboard Team www.daskeyboard.com 512.346.0360 --- ### Finally a blog about typing productivity! URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/das-keyboard-gets-its-own-blog-finally/ Published: 2009-03-11 09:29:49 Author: admin Das Keyboard blog has always been part of the Metadot blog and the rising success of Das Keyboard as a product and the enthousiasm of our user community have created the need to have a blog specific to the topic of typing, and more generally about input devices and how they affect our daily productivity. So stay tuned for more news on these topics. --- ### It's The Click URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/its-the-click/ Published: 2009-02-10 08:13:00 Author: admin Zachary Gasiorowski, MyGamer.com, reviewed the Das Keyboard Professional and says: "Until I typed on a Das Keyboard keyboard, I didn't realize how satisfying hitting keys can be. With an incredibly satisfying "click" noise with every key tap, this keyboard is bound to make typing more accurate… and entertaining." --- ### BBC on Das Keyboard: fat finegrs URL: https://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/bbc-on-das-keyboard-fat-finegrs/ Published: 2006-01-07 19:55:00 Author: admin A simple typing error has triggered mayhem on the Tokyo stock exchange and cost one bank £190m. But in a world where almost everyone now is expected to type, how many of us really can? BBC article Das Keyboard – the blank keyboard ---