In the digital age, we spend more time than ever typing away on our computers and phones. But shockingly, less than 1 in 3 people in the US can actually touch type when it comes to typing on a computer keyboard. But what is touch typing? Let’s put it simply as follows: Touch Typing stands for the skill of typing on a keyboard using all fingers without looking down at the keys.

Ironically, in the Digital Age, a basic skill such as typing is still available to only a fraction of the computer users. Typing is a complex skill, involving a number of complex processes in our head, which help convert our thoughts into words, and then triggering the movements of our fingers. Scientists refer to such activity as the Fine Motor movements. It is all complicated by the fact, that typing is not a natural skill. Although typing started to become popular nearly 150 years ago – typing is still not a natural skill. Just like the presence of bicycles has not led to a well defined Cycling Gene – the same way it is everyone’s responsibility to become good at typing, if we want to use computers efficiently.

Although typing ability might differ across various age groups, there is clear evidence that the abundance of computers around us cannot solve the problem of learning touch typing on its own.

Key Findings from 6 Years of Research

• Touch typing mastery peaks between ages 18-30. Surveys found that less 48% of young adults in the US have successfully conquered proficiency at typing and use all 10-fingers during typing without the need to peek at the keys.
• Among 18-30 year olds, every other person cannot touch type fluently. For those above 30 years old, the percentage of touch typists is lower.
• Overall, a dismal 60-70% of people in the US still “hunt and peck” type using only a limited number of fingers and needing to peek at the keyboard at least several times a minute.

But why do so few adults graduate from sloppy hunting and pecking?

After interviewing hundreds of typists, I uncovered the key factors that make touch typing so difficult to master:

Insufficient training. Some people are never formally taught 10-finger touch typing. Without the basic knowledge and some training on touch typing less than 10% of people master healthy typing habit.

1. Underdeveloped finger dexterity. Touch typing requires building coordination and agility in all 10 fingers. If some fingers are far weaker, people default to just using their dominant fingers. Targeted finger strengthening exercises are key.
2. Lack of motivation. Many don’t realize the time savings touch typing offers. Typing just 5 hours a week with the hunt-and-peck method could waste between $2,000 – $18,000 yearly in lost productivity compared to touch typing.
3. Doubting ability to learn. Some believe touch typing mastery is an innate skill you either have or don’t. In reality, dedicated training and tools like proprioceptive keyboards can help nearly anyone learn to type efficiently. But overcoming self-doubt is critical.

The good news is, it’s never too late to get those typing fingers moving. With the right training and commitment, anyone can join the touch typing elite. However, the later we develop touch typing skills, the harder it will be to achieve excellence at typing. Find out more on the role of the age in learning typing in a previous post.