De-mystifying touch typing
- Pippa S
- Apr 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 23
In a world where technology evolves at a rapid pace, some may question the relevance of touch typing, expressing concerns about age, the education system, and the rise of AI and voice recognition. Read on to debunk these myths and explore why touch typing remains a timeless and invaluable skill for professionals of all ages….
“…but I’m too old to learn now”
Absolutely not! The new UK retirement age for anyone born after 1970 has just been announced as 71. So, unless you are already 70 and not planning to use a computer in retirement, you will still reap the benefits of learning to touch type.
It's true that old habits are harder to break, but with willingness and a time investment, you can build the muscle memory needed to touch type. The key is structured learning. A good course introduces just two keys at a time, so you are never overloaded with new information. Each new key position becomes automatic before the next one is introduced, which is far more effective than trying to learn the whole keyboard at once.
One thing to be aware of when starting out: your typing speed will initially decrease as you learn correct finger placement. This is completely normal and temporary. Accuracy comes before speed, and speed builds naturally once your fingers know where to go. Most adults find that within a few weeks of consistent practice, they are already faster than they were before.
“Surely kids learn to touch type at school these days …..”
No, they don’t! Bizarrely (in my opinion), touch typing is not on the UK national curriculum! It is on the curriculum in many other countries. I expect the UK education system will, at some point soon, realise this knowledge gap. Learning to touch type at school will become even more important as more examination boards, such as AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR have recently published information about their plans to introduce digital exam options for GCSEs and A-Levels within the next 1-6 years.
For students, this makes learning to touch type now a genuinely competitive advantage. Typed coursework, timed essays, and eventually digital exams will all be completed faster and more accurately by a student who can touch type without looking at the keyboard. A student averaging 40 words per minute produces significantly more in an hour than one averaging 20, and with greater accuracy too.
For students working towards The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, touch typing also counts as a qualifying skill for the Skills section, making it a practical and productive way to complete that part of the programme from home.
“Do we need to touch type with AI?”
In the age of Artificial Intelligence, touch typing is more relevant than ever, not less. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini require you to type prompts clearly and efficiently to get good results. The better and faster you can type, the more you get out of these tools. AI may automate certain tasks, but the interface between human and machine remains, for now, largely text-based.
Touch typing also supports the kind of focused, fluid thinking that good writing requires. When typing is effortless, your attention stays on the content rather than the keyboard, which produces better output whether you are drafting an email, writing a report, or prompting an AI tool.
“Do we need to touch type with voice recognition advancements?”
Voice recognition has undoubtedly advanced, offering a convenient way to interact with devices in certain contexts. However, it is not a universal solution. In shared offices, libraries, classrooms, on public transport, or in any situation where speaking aloud is impractical or disruptive, typing remains the only option.
There are also tasks that are simply better suited to typing: drafting emails, filling in forms, writing code, composing documents. Voice recognition struggles with formatting, punctuation, and accuracy on technical terms in a way that a confident touch typist does not.
Touch typing and voice recognition are complementary skills, not competing ones. The most productive professionals tend to use both.
Conclusion:
Touch typing is not a relic of the past. It is a foundational skill that makes you faster, more accurate, and more capable, whether you are a professional working with documents and data, a student preparing for exams, or anyone who spends time at a keyboard. The earlier you learn it, the longer you benefit from it, but it is never too late to start.
Typeify runs touch typing courses for professionals and students, including a 13-week DofE course, an 8-week flexi time course, and intensive holiday courses, all from home.
This article is great! I totally agree that touch typing is still relevant. Speaking of quick fingers, have you ever tried any typing practice tools? They can be surprisingly addictive and a fun way to test your speed!
Pippa, I really appreciated your point about age being no barrier to learning touch typing, especially with the focus on building muscle memory. It's a crucial aspect often overlooked; consistent, deliberate practice is far more effective than just mindlessly typing, reinforcing those correct finger placements over time. Once the fundamentals are solid and accuracy is established, many learners naturally want to see how their efforts translate into real-world efficiency. For anyone looking to track their progress and hone their skills further, having a reliable way to test and improve your typing speed can be incredibly motivating.