Caring HeartMar 6, 2023
Jennifer Johnson

Edit: silly me, a shortened the link of the poll and reset the counters. It was 92.5% to 7.5%.

I asked: Computer keyboards have little bumps or ridges on the F and J keys, as a key for touch typing, did you know these existed?

An adult with a PhD, said they didn’t know keyboard bumps existed.

I believed this to be established knowledge.

#keyboards #typing #computers
#ParadigmShift #BeCurioua

I like this Ted Lasso scene about assumptions.

https://youtu.be/7V6x-qmhzm0

Keyboards have bumps?
5.6%
I use them all the time!
94.4%
Poll ended at .
'Be curious, not judgmental' Walt Whitman. Ted Lesso S01E08

YouTube
Mar 6, 2023 at 4:39amWeb
Show threadSpace Catitude 🚀Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer
I know they are there on many keyboards and what they are for, but I don't use them, and my current keyboard doesn't have them.
Show threadCraig FroehleMar 6, 2023
@TerryHancock Same. Learned to type in the 80s, so know about the "home" keys, but my current keyboard has so many keys that I have to visually center my hands before they have any hope of getting to the right spot by feel.
Show threadWilliam Lewis IIIMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer

I can't type without them and they were part of how I was taught to type a lifetime ago on IBM Selectrics. I do miss the type balls as a fast and easy way to change a font ;)

Show threadTim SerongMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer the ridges on my fifteen+ year old MS natural keyboard have almost worn off now...
Show threadMichael RawdonMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Can’t vote for either one, because I knew they exist but I’m not a touch-typist so I don’t use them.
Show threadFlominatorMar 6, 2023
@mrawdon @SimplyJennifer same here
Show threadHikerMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Yes sure, this is the basic position for the two index fingers.
Show threadDan McDonaldMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer

Early Apple Mac keyboards (think 68k models, maybe some PPC) had the bumps on D and K because the middle finger would touch it first.

It was weird switching over once I started working at Sun, where they were already on F and J.

Show threadVictoriaMar 6, 2023
@danmcd @SimplyJennifer
I did not know this factoid. How interesting. Thank you!
Show threadRuben van de VijverMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I knew it, but I don’t actually use them.
Show threadKit BashirMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer @mattcen using a keyboard without them, or with them on the d/k keys instead is like nails on blackboard for me. I’ve had to glue little beads to the f/j keys on some machines to be able to type on them at all.
Show threadOlaf BohlenMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I used to have typing lessons in school (on mechanical typewriters and later electrical ones), these indicators were the first things we got teached ;)
Show threadViraptorMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I touch them all the time, because it feels good. Does self-simulation count as using them all the time?
Show threadDocOwerMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I learned typing on a real typewriter back in the 90s, and we learned to always place the index fingers on those little bumps for alignment :)
Show threadLime Green GnomeMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer

I don't use them but I knew they were there, & their purpose.

Show threadcoldclimateMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I knew they existed but I've never used them.
Show threadShambolic MatterMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer In the early 90s there were some keyboards that had the pips on the D and K keys. They were super weird to type on.
For whatever reason I tend to wear the pip off the J key before the F key. Once the pips are gone I can't orient my hands any more and I need to replace the keyboard (or possibly the entire laptop)
Show threadErzbetMar 6, 2023
@xorn @SimplyJennifer I just noticed the one on my J key is almost worn off. My F key is still ok. Now I need to know if everyone wears the J off first. lol.
Show threadStevenMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I know they're there but I wouldn't say I use them. I never did learn to type correctly without looking. So I just kind of have my own thing going on, I guess. lol
Show threadAlexSeanchaiMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer I learned touch typing on keyboards with unmarked opaque plastic dust covers. the keyboard layout was on a sign above and behind each computer lab monitor, until it wasn't. finding the home keys by feel was lesson one.

admittedly this was 2001. touchscreens cannot do the thing.

Show threadJessMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Maybe it's my age, but I was trained to find those two ridges blindly with my index fingers to align my hands for typing. I'm fairly certain I can't use a keyboard without them.
Show threadAbi SutherlandMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer @Shunra

Neither? I know they have them, but I don’t use them.

Show threadari Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Why is there no "I know these exist, but I don't use them" option?
Show threadfunny display nameMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I don't "use them all the time" (or at all) but I've always been aware they exist
Show threadstill aetios anywayMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer These are called homing keys and some apple keyboards actually have them on D and K which is highly confusing 
Show threadAndrea DahnbergMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I knew they existed but I never use them
Show threadanniethebruceMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I knew about them for a long time but only recently started using them consistently. They never seemed to help much, but since switching to a mechanical keyboard I think I was just using keyboards so bad that no assistive feature could help the situation.
Show threadtntMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Heh I answer "I use them all the time" even though I don't because the stated question was "did you know these existed?" and yes, I did know. I don't use them, but I knew they were there and of the two options, I picked the one I thought was closer to real answer.
Show threadTommy ÞMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I can't answer either as I known about the home row indicator keys for many decades, but my main keyboard doesn't have, being custom and Dvorak, but on this laptop, I have them and I unconsciously use them.
Show threadChristie DudleyMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Two options you definitely should have had: 1) I knew they were there, but they've been rubbed down already, along with all the text on my keys; and 2) I've theoretically known they were there, but I can never seem to find them when I need them.
Show threadGiliellMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer There's an option missing: I knew, but I don't care.
Show threadPaul Graham RavenMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Went with the second answer, as it was closest to the truth, which is that I always knew they were there, but never learned to touch-type, so don't really "use" them in any active, trained or conscious way.
Show threadDavidB🍥Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Yes, I knew they existed, always have. No, I never use them, because I have no idea what they're for.
Show threadⅅasⓦarⓚeinℍuhnMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer i knew but i don't use them
Show threadNarusiteMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I use them since I switched from azerty to bépo (more or less an enhanced dvorak version for French). Before that I knew it existed but they weren’t useful.
Show threaddomingoMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer
I love keyboards which just have a slightly deeper cup on F and J. So elegant.
Show threadJeri DanskyMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I knew about the bumps, but I don't use them.
Show threadkouhai, of the health issuesMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer "yes, but I don't use them because as an former pianist I simply place my hands in the correct position"
Show threadBunRab Is Old And TiredMar 6, 2023
@kouhai @SimplyJennifer I'm also a lifelong amateur musician, multiple instruments, and my hands automatically go to thr right position; I've never noticed bumps, and now that I check, my current keyboard doesn't have them.
Show threadMoeMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer whoever doesn't know that probably just doesn't touch type. Baiscally those who type on phones or like to talk
Show thread🦇Anthra🦇Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer until i found the bumps on the keys in a hurry, i already found the keys.
Show threadHarriet MonkhouseMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Option 3 - knew about them (I was taught to touch-type), don't use them.
Show threadperigosoMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer bad poll lol
Yes I know about them, but don't really use them
Show threadAlina YossimouseMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I'm missing the option "I know what they're for but they're not useful for me"
Show threadClaudius (legacy account)Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Additionally, I rely heavily on the one that marks the number-keypad "5"
Couldn't use a keyboard without these three tiny features.
Show threadaaronMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer @salocin I use the ones on F and J all the time, but just learned that the 5 on the numpad also has one!
Show threadSalocinMar 6, 2023
@aaronk6 @SimplyJennifer not just on computer numpads, the 5️⃣ also has a bump on physical phone keypads and I think in ATMs as well.
Show threadMiari printanière 🌸🐦🌱Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer third option : I know about them, but I don't use them
Show thread✨ déménagement era ✨Mar 6, 2023
@Miari @SimplyJennifer same
Show thread⛧⛧⛧J.d.B.⛧⛧⛧Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Bought a fancy mechanical keyboard to the office, which _did not have these bumps_. Replaced all the keycaps a few weeks later...
Show thread@[email protected]Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Hm, I think I knew about them before? At least I've noticed them both on my present keyboard and others, but I don't think I've used them very much to orient my hands. Usually I just start typing and then reposition if nu wirds cine iyt scranbked
Show threadKatzentratschenMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Option 3: I do know them, but I don't use them, as I'm not very skilled at touch-typing. 😬
Show threadf♯ a♯ ∞Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer this poll miss the option "i know about them but never use them anyway" 😅
Show threadNartagnan ⏚Mar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer

I knew, but never used them, so I can't answer 😅

Show threadTinyrabbit ✅Mar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer When they became worn down on one of my keyboards after 7 years of use I even replaced them with a drop of glue
Show threadEd DaviesMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer Didn't vote as I wanted “I knew of their existence but I don't use them”. Had to actually feel my current keyboards to see if they have them (they all do).
Show threadTor LillqvistMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer I need a third alternative "yes I know they are there, but I don't think I use them, I am not an expert touch typist".
Show threadNorm Tovey-WalshMar 6, 2023
@SimplyJennifer If I had to name one, single skill that has been of the most profound and persistent benefit to my programming career, I would be sorely tempted to say "touch typing." My $DEITY it was an awful chore to learn though.
Show threadD2Mar 7, 2023
@ndw @SimplyJennifer I took typing, couldn’t get 40wpm without 5 errors, was doomed to fail 2nd semester. Transferred into a sci fi class (much groveling). Fell in love with computers, and 5 yrs later likely could have outtyped 90% of the class. Still fly along between 90-125wpm… admittedly, plenty of those keystrokes are still me hitting backspace.
Show threadKnitronomiconMar 6, 2023

@SimplyJennifer Technically, I don't 'use them all the time', because my laptop has a clear plastic keyboard cover, and you can't feel the bumps through it! But I've known about them since the early days of computer use.

Also, on keyboards with a separate number pad, there's a pip/bump/line on the '5' key. That was VERY useful when I was doing a lot of numeric data entry!