From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.0 required=5.0 tests=MAILING_LIST_MULTI, MIME_QP_LONG_LINE,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Received: (qmail 8902 invoked from network); 8 Feb 2021 05:23:36 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (45.79.103.53) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTPUTF8; 8 Feb 2021 05:23:36 -0000 Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 88D449C912; Mon, 8 Feb 2021 15:23:32 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8B97A9BA66; Mon, 8 Feb 2021 15:23:01 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 625E59BA66; Mon, 8 Feb 2021 15:22:57 +1000 (AEST) X-Greylist: delayed 423 seconds by postgrey-1.36 at minnie.tuhs.org; Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:22:56 AEST Received: from cesium.clock.org (cesium.clock.org [157.22.10.65]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 477549BA42 for ; Mon, 8 Feb 2021 15:22:56 +1000 (AEST) Received: from cesium.clock.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by cesium.clock.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 85150CBFAF; Sun, 7 Feb 2021 21:15:47 -0800 (PST) From: "Erik E. Fair" In-reply-to: References: , <10619.1491461840@cesium.clock.org> To: Henry Bent Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2021 21:15:47 -0800 Message-ID: <17353.1612761347@cesium.clock.org> Subject: Re: [TUHS] Typing tutors X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: The Unix Hysterical Society Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" The first Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) keyboard was for the Apple IIgs: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_Desktop_Bus_Keyboard and that lead to the same keyboard layout for the Mac II ADB keyboards (the = Mac 128K, Fat Mac, and Mac Plus did not use ADB for their keyboards): https://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0116 That was the last Apple keyboard with the Control and Escape keys in the = correct positions, particularly for those of us using Macs as terminals = to Unix systems. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Keyboard (a reasonably full history). I took a typing class in 7th grade (early 1970s) on heavy, manual Smith-Corona = typewriters, more or less contemporaneously with learning to program in BASIC = on a DG Nova batch system, using non-punched Hollerith cards - we marked them = with #2 pencils, and woe is you if you didn't fill in the dots well enough for your cards to be read by the card reader: correct your cards, and back of = the batch queue for you! After that, it was years pounding TTY ASR-33s (interactive BASIC, rather than = batch), Hazeltine h1500, LSI ADM-3a, Heathkit h19, HP 2621, the occasional = DEC VT100 or VT102 ... after being hired in July 1988 by Apple, I've typed on = basically nothing but Apple keyboards, with very occasional flirtations with = third-party ADB or USB keyboards. I had a bad bout of repetitive strain injury (specifically, ulnar nerve = syndrome - a cousin of carpal tunnel syndrome) in my left hand in the early = 1990s, partly from pounding keyboards too hard for too long, and partly (I = think) from wearing a Casio digital watch with the watchband cinched too tight = (I hate floppy watch). I made three changes, after a month of PT and silly = amounts of ibuprofen: velcro watch band/strap for near-infinite fine adjustment = of fit (so as not to constrict my wrist), neoprene wrist rests in front of my = keyboards, and training myself not to pound the keys so hard. I still have a small stock of Apple M0116 keyboards, though I've capitulated = to the IBM PC "typist" keyboard layout with Control in the incorrect position; = I've been using the Apple A1243 (US) Aluminum USB extended keyboard (with some = replacement stock) since its introduction in 2007, and I'm moderately happy = with it: thin keyboard, no wrist rest required, light touch - no key pounding = required. The A1843 (optionally wireless USB keyboard with "lightning" port = and no USB hub) is an OK replacement, but I use it strictly wired. Laptop = keyboards also want a lighter touch these days. I'm glad I took the typing course, but I'm hardly a full touch typist. However, = I'm fast enough that I prefer vi to emacs, as I've previously described. I'm = not perfect, but that's what the backspace or DEL key is for (and, with a = properly programmed tty line discipline: ^W (word erase)). Very glad I was = already conversant with computers when it came time to write essays for UCB = freshman English classes. That was also impetus to learn nroff. Erik