3D 89 QWERTY - GENERAL Instructions
Conversion Exercise from SHOLES QWERTY TO Maltron QWERTY
General instructions for working through the exercises.
Final Notes...
These exercises could be keyed for up to two hours at one time. On no account should this be done without very frequently relaxing the arms, preferably at the end of rows. In addition time should also be taken to get up and walk about, say three or four times an hour.
The exercises have been printed with extra space between some of the letters, phrases and groups of letters. This is for ease of reading and one space only need ever be keyed.
It is essential to key the number of rows given in the instructions to each exercise. Experience has shown that less keying leads to slower learning, slower keying and to more errors.
Exercises are keyed in blocks of three rows at a time. The first row is used to develop the kinaesthetic reach and distance to each key. So key this row carefully with great concentration. The second row should also be keyed with great concentration but faster. The third row should be keyed easily.
Exercise 1 uses alpha letters on the left hand only. The right hand thumb is used for Space and the Return key and the little finger is used on the Semicolon. These keys are used to keep the right hand in balance.
In exercise 2 the right hand is used mainly.
It is always important to avoid overtiring the fingers and hands especially when using one hand. Take time frequently, at the end of rows, to shake the arms, wrists and fingers, from the shoulders down to the fingertips to avoid any strain at all.
The separation of hand learning enables the right and left sides of the brain to develop neural pathways at different times so that there will not be any neural confusion to cause keying errors. The linking of the two sides of the brain is carefully done from Exercise 3 on. This stresses the importance of doing all the exercises in the given sequence.
(Note: When your hands are already on the keyboard the tab key and the return key are often quicker than the mouse for moving around forms, but it does take some practice. The tab key works differently in word processing work from the way it does in most forms.)
Always: KEY EACH LINE TO THE EXACT LENGTH AND USE NEW LINE KEY AT THE END OF EACH LINE. ie. Key each word or phrase as many times as it instructed by the text for the exercise. Never key for more than two hours at a time.
Always: CONCENTRATE THROUGH YOUR EYES ON TO THE COPY. If your concentration flags, stop keying, blink your eyes, then concentrate on to the copy again.
Finger position: Keep each finger on its home key (home keys are described later in these instructions).
Finger Movement: Move only one finger at a time and use small mini finger movements. Allow fingers to relax into the MALTRON shape.
Wrists and Arms: Keep wrists and arms quite still, do not rest palms or wrists on the keyboard while keying, nor just after keying. The underside of the wrist is an important channel for a good blood supply to the hand and also for some nerves and tendons. Resting the weight of your hand on the underside of the wrist can make things worse. If you have had an RSI injury it is especially important not to overwork yourself and to stop BEFORE you get tired.
Key touch: MALTRON keys do NOT need to be hit hard nor fast to work. Hitting the keys harder than the minimum does not make the keys work better; soft or hard makes little difference to the keys' working, but it can overuse your hand. Relax, gently does it!
General instructions for working through the exercises.
Final Notes...
These exercises could be keyed for up to two hours at one time. On no account should this be done without very frequently relaxing the arms, preferably at the end of rows. In addition time should also be taken to get up and walk about, say three or four times an hour.
The exercises have been printed with extra space between some of the letters, phrases and groups of letters. This is for ease of reading and one space only need ever be keyed.
It is essential to key the number of rows given in the instructions to each exercise. Experience has shown that less keying leads to slower learning, slower keying and to more errors.
Exercises are keyed in blocks of three rows at a time. The first row is used to develop the kinaesthetic reach and distance to each key. So key this row carefully with great concentration. The second row should also be keyed with great concentration but faster. The third row should be keyed easily.
Exercise 1 uses alpha letters on the left hand only. The right hand thumb is used for Space and the Return key and the little finger is used on the Semicolon. These keys are used to keep the right hand in balance.
In exercise 2 the right hand is used mainly.
It is always important to avoid overtiring the fingers and hands especially when using one hand. Take time frequently, at the end of rows, to shake the arms, wrists and fingers, from the shoulders down to the fingertips to avoid any strain at all.
The separation of hand learning enables the right and left sides of the brain to develop neural pathways at different times so that there will not be any neural confusion to cause keying errors. The linking of the two sides of the brain is carefully done from Exercise 3 on. This stresses the importance of doing all the exercises in the given sequence.
(Note: When your hands are already on the keyboard the tab key and the return key are often quicker than the mouse for moving around forms, but it does take some practice. The tab key works differently in word processing work from the way it does in most forms.)
Always: KEY EACH LINE TO THE EXACT LENGTH AND USE NEW LINE KEY AT THE END OF EACH LINE. ie. Key each word or phrase as many times as it instructed by the text for the exercise. Never key for more than two hours at a time.
Always: CONCENTRATE THROUGH YOUR EYES ON TO THE COPY. If your concentration flags, stop keying, blink your eyes, then concentrate on to the copy again.
Finger position: Keep each finger on its home key (home keys are described later in these instructions).
Finger Movement: Move only one finger at a time and use small mini finger movements. Allow fingers to relax into the MALTRON shape.
Wrists and Arms: Keep wrists and arms quite still, do not rest palms or wrists on the keyboard while keying, nor just after keying. The underside of the wrist is an important channel for a good blood supply to the hand and also for some nerves and tendons. Resting the weight of your hand on the underside of the wrist can make things worse. If you have had an RSI injury it is especially important not to overwork yourself and to stop BEFORE you get tired.
Key touch: MALTRON keys do NOT need to be hit hard nor fast to work. Hitting the keys harder than the minimum does not make the keys work better; soft or hard makes little difference to the keys' working, but it can overuse your hand. Relax, gently does it!