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 I'm
glad you haven't overlooked the Ten Key Test Room. The ability to
use your numeric keypad on your keyboard by touch is vital to
the typist being paid based on speed, but important to anyone who'd
like to type more efficiently.
Many home business owners are
using laptops - which generally have smaller keyboards without
a numeric keypad. Also, in many cases, many of us were never taught
to use a keypad efficiently and resort to the numbers above the
letters across the top of a keyboard. This is a problem if typing
speed is important in your earnings. |
Here's why:
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Straight text typing, that
contains only the occasional number or very short strings of
numbers, is fine for the number/symbol keys. But in many cases
typing from various sources includes more numbers with long
character strings.
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When you use the number/symbol
keys, there is no way to tell if you have entered the number
accurately unless you look at the keyboard. This motion
of looking back and forth between the source you are typing from
and your keyboard - or the screen and your keyboard - or the
screen, your source and your keyboard - is very time
consuming!
-
This motion of double-checking
your source and your typing also results in more errors
because it is so much easier to lose your place or misread what
you are typing. And we all know that accuracy is
absolutely essential.
Try this:
Open Notepad or your word
processor. Type the following using the letter/symbol keys.
2946 15th Ave
Now, type it again using your
numeric keypad instead.
2946 15th Ave
How about invoice numbers, account
numbers, and phone numbers? Try the same exercise entering the
following phone number:
866-389-1572
It is far more efficient to use
the numeric keypad. Practice, practice, practice until you can type
ten-key by touch. This means not looking at your keyboard and
not looking at your hand.
Each number of the keypad has a
distinct feel. In addition, you can tell intrinsically when you've
made an error, and even correct that error without looking at what
you are doing.
I believe the best way to learn
the ten key numeric keypad is by pushing yourself over and over
again - going faster than you are comfortable - disregarding errors
at first but certainly trying your best not to make them.
You see, most people that I've
worked with personally are slow on the keypad because they are too
careful. They are afraid to make errors. But you can't learn the
feel of each key on the keypad or teach your subconscious to
instinctively feel errors if you are looking at the keypad or
your fingers.
In data entry - the faster you
key, the more you earn. Proficiency at the numeric keypad is
crucial. Read the article
Typing Speed and your Earnings for more information about
this important topic.
Take the following free 10 key
tests to see where you're at. Then do some practice drills on your
own. I've included a page of eight columns of random numbers you can
print out and practice with.
See how you do and don't be afraid to push
yourself
Free from: TypeOnline.com
Free
from: 10-key Tutor.com
Free from: Learn 2 Type.com
Free from: Mr Kent.com
Click here to print out a page of numbers, numbers, numbers!
Practice by not looking at the keypad or your hands
... go slow if you need to but do not peek!
Practice by pushing yourself as fast as you can go.
Then check to see how many errors you've made and keep improving.
Begin practicing by including the decimal point. Next
practice using the minus sign such as 12345-67890 and then
12345.12-98765.23
You can type up your own sheet of practice numbers
using a spreadsheet program such as Lotus or Excel. Or, grab your
checkbook register or the phone book. And keep practicing until
you're burning up the keyboard!
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