Typing Habits: Why Do Some People Type Loudly and Others Quietly?

[JasonRox]

Seriously, some people type on their keyboards so loud it is insane. I can't even think sitting next to some people.

I'm sitting next to one right now and I even tried to type loud and I can't. You waste so much energy typing so loud. Plus, it's slower. It looks almost like a caveman typing.

So, this topic is about... who types loud? And who types quietly?

Note: It's at school so we both have the same keyboard and I make maybe 1/20th of the noise.

 

[Redbelly98]

I'm sitting next to one right now and I even tried to type loud and I can't. You waste so much energy typing so loud. Plus, it's slower. It looks almost like a caveman typing.

That's weird, they are not disturbing me one bit.

 

[berkeman]

I was helping my 14 y/o son with his homework the other night, and he was typing on his Apple laptop (all students at his school have them). He was hammering on the keyboard very hard when typing. I thought about saying something, but we were busy with the subject matter, and I didn't want to distract him from that. I did notice a missing keycap in the middle of his keyboard, though. The school's laptop repair shop must be kept pretty busy with all those kids hammering away.

Me myself, I'm an average noise typer, and very fast. Wish I could get my kids to touch type more -- it's such a huge advantage in writing and in other work.

 

[moose]

If I am listening to music, I type a lot louder with the beat.

 

[dlgoff]

So, this topic is about... who types loud? And who types quietly?

Well, I think we need a way to quantify "loud". I know what you mean but there are degrees of loud typing. Then we might want to find out if there are any connections to the typers personality, etc. This is a science forum.

 

[tiny-tim]

Then we might want to find out if there are any connections to the typers personality, etc. This is a science forum.

I suspect that these are the sort of people who frown when they're thinking, and hunch over the keyboard …

they'd be better off relaxing, and leaning back!

 

[runner]

I think that whenever we use our limbs in any form of repetitive, pounding manner, be it typing or running or jogging, some of us are inclined to do so in a harder, less-controlled manner than others. Learning to type quieter, just like learning to run or jog without clomping the feet on the ground is something that can be learned with conscious awareness and practice. Once it's learned, it becomes an automatic thing.

 

[Santa1]

I've seen some gamers play starcraft, and the noise was almost unbearable. One said it helped him keep his fingers warm and keep a rhythm in the game (although he was local).

Personally I don't type hard, I find it unnecessary.

 

[JasonRox]

Well, I think we need a way to quantify "loud". I know what you mean but there are degrees of loud typing. Then we might want to find out if there are any connections to the typers personality, etc. This is a science forum.

I'm hearing impaired. So if I say loud, it's loud.

I can barely hear myself type. It's very quiet and I type really fast. I can do work on the computer with someone sleeping next to me and they wouldn't be disturbed.

 

[Proton Soup]

I'm hearing impaired. So if I say loud, it's loud.

I can barely hear myself type. It's very quiet and I type really fast. I can do work on the computer with someone sleeping next to me and they wouldn't be disturbed.

ah, i think we've found the problem. we all block out our own sounds and visual distractions. but the sounds and movements and smells of others are harder to block out.

 

[G01]

Every time my dad hits the trackpad button on his laptop I keep expecting him to crack the laptop casing. That's how hard he hits the keys. I think some people hate not having keystrokes register and overcompensate by hitting the keys super hard.

 

[turbo]

Every time my dad hits the trackpad button on his laptop I keep expecting him to crack the laptop casing. That's how hard he hits the keys. I think some people hate not having keystrokes register and overcompensate by hitting the keys super hard.

The old IBM keyboards used to have a little detent in the key-travel that would indicate when a key was depressed enough to register. It was easily felt on the finger-tips. My current Dell keyboard doesn't have that feature, so I tend to bottom out the keys, making "clacking" sounds.

 

[JasonRox]

The old IBM keyboards used to have a little detent in the key-travel that would indicate when a key was depressed enough to register. It was easily felt on the finger-tips. My current Dell keyboard doesn't have that feature, so I tend to bottom out the keys, making "clacking" sounds.

I don't think laptops have that anymore. Keys are so easily pressed nowadays that I have no idea how people still type like cavemen.

 

[SticksandStones]

I type loudly and quickly, so in which category do I fall in? Then again, I'm used to having to compensate for stuck keys on an old keyboard so maybe it's just habit.

 

[dlgoff]

I'm hearing impaired. So if I say loud, it's loud.

I hear that.

 

[jtbell]

I suspect that these are the sort of people who frown when they're thinking, and hunch over the keyboard …

they'd be better off relaxing, and leaning back!

http://www.berklee.edu/events/ncai/images/downloads/10-songbook.pianist.jpg

 

[Math Is Hard]

I have a couple of adding machines at work (left by my predecessor) and they make an awful racket. I once thought about taking one to a calculus exam just to be obnoxious - and to pay back a girl who sat behind me who crunched loud potato chips through every test.

 

[WhoWee]

Back in the late 80's we had a Mac Plus in the office...the machine wasn't loud...but the girl using it swore quite a lot - mostly at the floppy drive.

 

[Alfi]

I learned to type on a Underwood manual machine in the 60's. Talk about having to punch them keys! Especially with the carbon page and two sheets of paper.
Taptaptaptaptaptap bing! carrage return lever.

Now I tend to overcompensate and sometimes not touch the keys hard enough.