The Association between Computer Typing Style and Typing Speeds

Abstract

Typing styles vary among keyboard users; however few studies have investigated the association between typing style and typing speed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the differences in typing speed between typists who rarely assume extreme postures of the wrist, hands, and fingers with typists who often assume extreme postures. The paper also examines the association between other typing behaviors, such as using a wrist support, and typing speed. Forty computer users were videotaped while typing a standardized text. Their typing postures were rated using the Keyboard Personal Computer Style instrument (K-PeCS). One-way ANOVA's were used to compare typing speed between the rating levels of several items on the K-PeCS. Results suggest that those who frequently isolate their 5th digit are significantly faster than those who always isolate their 5th digit. Subjects who “float” their wrists, translate their wrist/hands, do not change pro-nation angles, use moderate to high force, and use more digits appear to type faster than those who do not.