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Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone

by Chris Rawson Feb 9th 2010 at 5:00PM




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]



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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...
 

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windex

I downloaded that app. Hitting 45-52 wpm typically in portrait mode, one thumb. 1-2 errors per 30s trial. And I don't consider myself a serial texter. I just type comfortably on the iPhone. (iPhone user of 2.5 years).

February 10 2010 at 4:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh

TUAW just made my day with the SpaceBalls reference.

February 10 2010 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frederico

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

February 09 2010 at 9:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Masson

The iPhone keyboard is incredible. I just got 72 WPM on my 3G and I type 125 WPM on the computer.

Good app!

February 09 2010 at 8:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric

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

February 09 2010 at 7:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ryanc

i type about 1000% faster in portrait mode than landscape....

am I the only one?

February 09 2010 at 7:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
guuud

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?

February 09 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to guuud's comment
Zach

I agree. People really underestimate both the power of virtual keyboards and auto-correction.

February 09 2010 at 6:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Average White Boy

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.

February 10 2010 at 10:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zach

Yeah, it's not showing up. The same video is here on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBk0rDLdTvE

February 09 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark D

Also, is the video not showing up for anybody else....because...I'm not seeing it, just a big white box?

February 09 2010 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Mark D's comment
Stephen

Same here. No vid.

February 09 2010 at 6:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt Rix

Welcome to the iPad internet experience ;)

February 09 2010 at 10:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark D

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.

February 09 2010 at 6:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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