Time to relearn touch typing? (Is this a Emacs / VIM thing?)

Question

As a kid, I learned to type on a German keyboard¹?. And even though my mom tried to make me use a "learn how to type with ten fingers" program I never did. My hands have their very own muscle memory about how to type. I found out that I use the index fingers most to reach many characters, while my hands are moving over the keyboard.

Now, here's the kicker (no flame intended!): I use and used emacs a lot and I've never really had an issue with the way I type, or at least it never felt too awkward. From time to time I like to explore VIM (and other editors) to see what has changed and which features are the new and hot features.

I came to the conclusion that, while my fingers /rest close/ to the home row, my hands move a lot and the default keyboard command layout in vim seems to prefere the fingers resting on the home row with little movement of the hands.

I don't consider myself to be a slow touch typist, but could a formal touch type education increase speed and accuracy? Furthermore is this a Emacs / VIM thing?

UPDATE: I headed over to http://typeracer.com/ :)

¹: These days I type on US keyboards while switching between different layouts as needed.

Answer 1

Yes, you're a keyboard worker, learn to use a keyboard properly. No, it's not an Emacs / Vim thing.

Answer 2

If you are using emacs, makeing Caps_Lock another Ctrl key will ease strain on your little finger, when your hands are "locked" in the home row position.

for ubuntu

System->Preferences->Keyboard->
-->Layouts->Layout-Options-Ctrl key position->Make CapsLock an additional Ctrl

or for windows

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,1d,00,3a,00,00,00,00,00 

Answer 3

You don't need a formal education, but a lot of discipline, concentration, dedication and hard work will make you a touch typist in a few months.

Touch typing will greatly assist you in your life, if you plan to work with computers as your day job.

Force yourself to move your hands as little as possible and use all of your fingers all of your time.

Rest your left fingers on ASDF, your right fingers on HJKL and start typing. While typing, optimize your reach for every key pressed.

If you plan to be a computer professional, touch typing should be a rite of passage, although it isn't required. But just imagine what would it look like if a master pianist didn't know all keys on piano by heart?