What are the advantages of the Direct Reach method over the Home Keys technique?

The Direct Reach method eliminates the many hours of boring nonsense drills that cause faulty mind-mapping. The awkward keystrokes are eliminated, decreasing learning time and reducing risk of injury. The Direct Reach method is used by expert typists, so why not learn that method from the start? T...

What are the main differences between typeSmart and traditional typing teaching methods?

TypeSmart teaches Direct Reaching to the Key-Finger Groups, whereas the traditional typing typewriter method is based on the Home Keys. Direct Reach is the method used by expert typists. Research by leading typing researcher Leonard West in the 1980s concluded that this was the most efficient metho...

What are the Key-Finger Groups?

The 8 Key-Finger Groups are the groups of keys used by expert typists, and the typeSmart, that correspond to your 8 fingers. The Home Keys are ASDF-JKL; of the second row, on the industry standard QWERTY keyboard. The Key-Finger Groups are the basis of typeSmart, and are clearly indica...

Are there any disadvantages to the Direct Reach method compared with the Home Keys technique?

No, none at all. However, we find that those who have learned some typing using the old-fashioned Home Keys technique are concerned that they will not know how to place their hands relative to the keyboard. They think they HAVE to rest their fingers on the Home Keys. With due respect, this is a ...

Where do I place my fingers when they are not typing?

Part of the key to ergonomic typing methods is to be natural and relaxed while maintaining good posture at all times. It is not necessary to rest your fingers in any particular place when they are not being used. Dr Leonard West, a prominent typing researcher in the 1970s and 80s, recommended: &ld...