Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone
Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone
I can type fairly quickly on my iPhone, at least in landscape mode -- I average about 30 - 35 words per minute compared to around 77 WPM on a standard keyboard -- but the guy in the video above has gone to plaid with his typing speed. Using an app called iTextSpeed [US$0.99, iTunes Link], this anonymous texting speed demon reaches an incredible 56 words per minute on his iPhone in portrait mode. I have no idea how he does it, particularly in portrait mode; I make an average of one mistake every other word unless I'm in landscape, but the guy in the video, whose thumbs look even bigger than mine, only screws up one word during the entire timed sequence.
A few people grouse about the iPhone's lack of a physical keyboard, but the cyborg-thumbed guy in this video proves that for some of us, it's not an issue whatsoever.
[Via Macenstein]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tyler Price said 5:12PM on 2-09-2010
Having temporarily gone back to a BlackBerry...the iPhone keyboard is a thing of beauty. Having mastered it, I am way more proficient at sliding over a screen than having to bang on the pencil tip sized buttons.
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george said 5:29PM on 2-09-2010
Lol I just downloaded it...managed 65 words per minute on my first try in portrait mode. Then again, I have 80,000 texts saved on this thing. People are amazed, I don't even have to look at the keyboard. Surely I can get a prize for this lol
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JamesG007 said 5:31PM on 2-09-2010
I can type about 35-40 WPM on an iPhone 3G and about 50 WPM on an iPhone 3GS. It's a shame that the 3G actually limits my typing speed since it is so freaking slow and hangs all the time. I type over 100 WPM on the computer.
Holding out for iPhone 4G!
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Matthew said 5:34PM on 2-09-2010
I've never understood what the big deal about the landscape keyboard is. I can type quicker on the portrait and it's easier to do with both thumbs. I've never been able to type on the landscape keyboard with any sort of accuracy compared to portrait :S
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AGS said 5:46PM on 2-09-2010
yea same here, and i type 35 wpm but its been awhile since i checked
Cy Starkman said 3:30AM on 2-10-2010
Yeah I'm with you, portrait all the way. I'm not sure about the hunt and peck stories either.
I got the app mentioned, I averaged bout 45wpm. Though I have always found typing tests a bit slow, transcribing isn't what I do so much. I reckon I hit 50+ on the iPhone when writing what's in my mind
Mark D said 6:03PM on 2-09-2010
If you think about it, it makes sense that you can type faster in portrait mode because the letters are closer together than they are in landscape. Accuracy, meanwhile, that's a slightly different situation, but speed I'd totally expect to be worse in landscape.
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Mark D said 6:05PM on 2-09-2010
Also, is the video not showing up for anybody else....because...I'm not seeing it, just a big white box?
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Stephen said 6:07PM on 2-09-2010
Same here. No vid.
Matt Rix said 2:53PM on 2-10-2010
Welcome to the iPad internet experience ;)
Zach said 6:13PM on 2-09-2010
Yeah, it's not showing up. The same video is here on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBk0rDLdTvE
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guuud said 6:14PM on 2-09-2010
I don't get it. What is all your problem with the typing. I am FASTER on the iPhone than on a normal keyboard. Why? Because of the Autocorrection. I never correct while typing and get it mostly right in the first place. Then I correct the remaining typos. When I'm writing on the normal keyboard (2-3 fingers) I made many more mistakes that I have to correct.
I wonder how anybody could be so slow on the iPhone. You all start correcting while typing. Right?
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Zach said 6:36PM on 2-09-2010
I agree. People really underestimate both the power of virtual keyboards and auto-correction.
Average White Boy said 10:02AM on 2-10-2010
If you're a keyboardist and you want to type fast wherever you go, you learn to adjust. You don't set up a mental block saying that "I can't use this keyboard efficiently", you just practice until you get it pat. I used to temp on word processing jobs and used all types of keyboards starting with manual typewriters and moving to various maker's keyboards. Some are mushy, some have poor feedback, some have slightly longer strokes. You sit down and adjust. Human's fingers and it's touch capabilities are magnificent at making adjustments. You just need to want to do it. I realize that not everyone has the same dexterity, but most of the problems are due to mental blocks. You have to be willing to adapt and adjust to be proficient at anything.
This BS about virtual keyboards being next to useless is absurd. Changing over from buttons to a flat display takes time to adjust, but with practice you can achieve nearly the same speed and accuracy because your fingers will gradually know where they're at with practice and repetition. It has to do with some muscle location persistence.
Everyone is entitled to choice of using either a physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard, but one having any huge edge over another on accuracy and speed under normal temperature conditions is pure crap.
ryanc said 7:30PM on 2-09-2010
i type about 1000% faster in portrait mode than landscape....
am I the only one?
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Eric said 7:52PM on 2-09-2010
I always seem to type faster in portrait mode, as I think the keys are too spread apart in landscape. I type faster and edit faster on my computer, but my itouch is infinitely easier to use in the car with a history book
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Masson said 8:04PM on 2-09-2010
The iPhone keyboard is incredible. I just got 72 WPM on my 3G and I type 125 WPM on the computer.
Good app!
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Frederico said 9:25PM on 2-09-2010
What I don't get is all these people who, one, can type with just their thumbs to begin with, and, two, think that's how they will type on the iPad, and are worried it will suck.
Especially for true touch-typists, I can't imagine why going to one hand holding and 2-3 finger's of the dominant hand typing couldn't possibly be the better choice.
I TRIED and TRIED to learn to type with my thumbs; I guess I'm just 'all thumbs', because I am LOUSY at it.
And while I am nothing close to a touch typist -- I use only the first three fingers of each had and only my right thumb for the spacebar -- , I can still rock out at 120WPM free-thought when I am perfectly ergo-correct with my old Apple ADB split (ergo) Adjustable Keyboard; I can only work out about 80-85 on any standard 104 keyboard, before I start making >5% mistakes.
I, too, can only work about 30-35WPM on a first gen iPhone, due to hangs and lags causing mistakes >15%; whereas on a 3GS or touch I can cruise well over 50WPM in portrait, and over 65WPM in landscape, with
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Josh said 10:15AM on 2-10-2010
TUAW just made my day with the SpaceBalls reference.
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tabaks said 10:42AM on 2-10-2010
One word is not a "reference". Well, technically it is two words, however, only one is "unique". There is no similar context, no innuendo. So, you are seeing what you like to see (I love the movie, too). It is not there, though. Just in our minds.