Using a good and correct keyboard is something that is very important in using a computer. The keyboard is your primary means of interacting with your computer, and you can perform a wide variety of functions using just the keyboard. Master the art of typing first, a skill that can significantly increase your productivity. See Step 1 below to get started.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Sitting Position
Step 1. Sit with good posture
To prevent strain on your hands, back, neck, and other joints, you must sit with good posture. Sit back slightly back in the chair, so the chair can support the lower back. Ideally, the elbows should be tilted down slightly to increase circulation. Feet should touch the floor firmly.
Standing desks that are now widely used often do not support good posture. The standing table should be parallel to or just slightly lower at the elbows. The monitor should be at eye level so you don't bend over too much, and it should be about two feet from your eyes
Step 2. Center the keyboard
When typing, the space bar should be centered in the body. This will help you not to twist to reach the buttons.
Step 3. Avoid placing your palms or wrists
Hands should hover over the keys while typing. You should reach the buttons by moving your hand instead of flexing your fingers. Placing your palm or wrist in front of the keyboard and stretching your fingers can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Step 4. Use a gentle touch
Most keyboards are quite sensitive and don't necessarily require a lot of keystrokes. Touching the keys lightly will help keep your fingers active and increase typing speed.
Keep your wrist straight while typing. Twisting the wrist can cause unnecessary discomfort and stress
Step 5. Rest your hands when not typing
When you're not actively typing, rest your hands. Hands that remain tense when not typing can increase stiffness and pain later.
Part 2 of 5: Learn to Type
Step 1. Open a word processor
Almost every computer has a word processor installed. Even basic text editors like Notepad can be used. This app will show what you typed while practicing.
Step 2. Find the position of the house with both hands
The home position is where the hand is when it will start typing, and when the fingers return after pressing the keys. Most keyboards have bumps on the F and J keys. These keys indicate where to place your index finger.
- With slightly arched fingers, place your fingers on the keys next to F and J.
- Left little finger rests on A, left ring finger on S, and left middle finger on D
- Right little finger rests on;, right ring finger on L, and right middle finger on K.
- Thumbs are placed in the space.
Step 3. Practice typing the home button
Get in the habit of pressing each key with the appropriate finger. Memorize the key where each finger rests by repeating it. Do the repetition to be able to remember the home button.
Step 4. Use the Shift key to enlarge the letters
You can enlarge a letter by holding down Shift and pressing the letter. Use your little finger to press and hold the Shift key, then press the letter you want to enlarge.
Step 5. Expand to the button around the home button
Once you have a good grip on the Home button, you can expand it to other buttons. Use the same repetition exercise to memorize other key locations. Use the nearest finger to reach the button.
If you keep your wrist high, you can easily reach buttons that are out of reach
Step 6. Practice typing basic sentences
Once you can reach some of the keys without looking, it's time to start typing sentences. Copy something else on the screen without looking at the keyboard. Sentences like "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" contain every letter of the alphabet, so you can practice all the keys.
Step 7. Know the position of punctuation marks and symbols
Punctuation marks such as.,;, and are located on the right side of the keyboard. You can reach these keys with your right little finger. Many symbols require the Shift key to be typed.
Symbols are located above each of the number keys along the top of the keyboard. You have to press Shift key to type it
Step 8. Focus on accuracy over speed
While typing fast is useful, it doesn't really matter if you make a lot of mistakes. Your speed will increase as you practice, so focus all your efforts on avoiding mistakes. You'll be typing faster without even realizing it.
Look for guides on Wikihow for tips on learning how to type
Step 9. Find a game or program to teach typing skills
There are many programs and games for all ages that teach typing skills through practice and games. Practicing typing will be a bit more fun, and is very useful for practicing accuracy and speed.
Part 3 of 5: Using the Navigation Keys
Step 1. Move up, down, left, and right
The arrow keys ← → are the main navigation keys on the keyboard. You can use it in a word processor to move around and between lines, use it to scroll through web pages, and in games to move around. Use your right hand to press the button.
Step 2. Scroll quickly to browse the pages
You can quickly browse documents or web pages with the Page Up and Page Down buttons. If you are using a word processor, this button will move your cursor one page up or down from the current cursor location. If you are viewing a web page, this button will scroll the page up or down one screen.
Step 3. Jump to the beginning or end of the line
You can move the cursor directly to the beginning or end of the line with Home and End. This button is very useful in word processing.
Step 4. Understand the difference between Delete and Backspace
The Backspace key deletes the character to the left of the cursor, while Delete deletes the character to the right of the cursor.
On web pages, you can also press Backspace to return to the previous page
Step 5. Use Insert to enable Insert mode
The Insert key changes the text input mode of the word processor. When Insert mode is enabled, each input character will replace the character to the right of the cursor. When Insert mode is disabled, existing characters will not be replaced.
Part 4 of 5: Mastering the Number Keys
Step 1. Open the calculator program
Using a calculator program is the best way to use the numeric keypad. You can use the number keys to perform calculations in the calculator program.
Step 2. Use NumLock to activate the numeric keypad
If the number pad is not activated, the 8, 4, 6, and 2 keys will act as arrow keys. Press NumLock to activate the numeric keypad.
Some laptop keyboards do not have a separate number pad. This key is usually activated using the Fn key, which changes the function of the keyboard
Step 3. Find the position of the house
Just like the main body of the keyboard, the number keys have a home position. Key 5 also has a bulge similar to the F and J keys. Place your right middle finger on key 5, then place your right index finger on key 4. Place your right ring finger on key 6, and your right thumb on key 0. Your pinky rests on key. Enter key.
Step 4. Enter the numbers
Use your finger to press the number keys. You will see the numbers appear in the calculator program. Use repetition to memorize number placements and which finger you used to press them.
Step 5. Perform calculations
Around the edges of the number keys you will see the basic arithmetic keys. You can do division (/), multiplication (*), subtraction (-) and addition (+). Use this button to perform calculations.
Part 5 of 5: Get Used to Shortcuts
Windows
Step 1. The operating system has shortcuts
You can use the keyboard to quickly perform various tasks in Windows. These are called keyboard shortcuts, and they are present in almost every operating system and program. This is especially useful if you can't use a mouse or to save time using menus. Here are some of the most common shortcuts:
- Alt+Tab: Switch between windows
- Win+D: Minimize or restore all windows
- Alt+F4: Close the active program or window
- Ctrl+C: Copy the selected item or text
- Ctrl+X: Cut the selected item or text
- Ctrl+V: Paste copied item or text
- Win+E: Opens Windows Explorer
- Win+F: Open Search
- Win+R: Displays the Run dialog box
- Win+Pause: Displays the System Properties dialog box
- Win+L: Lock the computer
- Win: Opens the Start menu/Start screen
- Win+L: Switch User
- Win+P: Change the active view
- Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Escape: Opens Task Manager
Step 2. The word processor has shortcuts
Most apps have their own shortcuts. The available shortcuts vary by program, but processors usually have the same basic shortcuts. Here are some of the most common:
- Ctrl+A: Select all text
- Ctrl+B: Bold selected text
- Ctrl+I: Italicize the selected text
- Ctrl+S: Save the document
- Ctrl+P: Print
- Ctrl+E: Align center
- Ctrl+Z: Undo changes
- Ctrl+N: Create a new document
- Ctrl+F: Search for text in the document
Mac
Step 1. The operating system has shortcuts
You can use the keyboard to quickly perform various tasks in Mac OS X. These are called keyboard shortcuts, and they are present in almost every operating system and program. This is especially useful if you can't use a mouse or to save time using menus. Here are some of the most common shortcuts:
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+A: Opens the Applications folder
- Cmd+C: Copy selected item/text to clipboard
- Cmd+X: Cut
- Cmd+V: Paste
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+C: Opens a Computer window
- Cmd+D: Duplicates the selected item
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+D: Open desktop folder
- Cmd+E: Throw
- Cmd+F: Search for matching attributes in Spotlight
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+F: Search for a suitable filename in Spotlight
- Option+⌘ Cmd+F: Navigate to the search field in an already open Spotlight window
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+G: Go to Folder
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+H: Opens the current user's Home folder
- Option+⌘ Cmd+M: Minimize all windows
- Cmd+N: New Finder window
- Shift+⌘ Cmd+N: Create a new folder
- Option+⌘ Cmd+Esc Opens the Force Quit window
Step 2. The word processor has shortcuts
Most apps have their own shortcuts. The available shortcuts vary by program, but processors usually have the same basic shortcuts. Here are some of the most common:
- Cmd+A: Select all text
- Cmd+B: Bold selected text
- Cmd+I: Italicize the selected text
- Cmd+S: Save the document
- Cmd+P: Print
- Cmd+E: Center align
- Cmd+Z: Undo changes
- Cmd+N: Create a new document
- Cmd+F: Search for text in the document
