I type on a keyboard with only my two middle fingers. This was likely more efficient for my tiny hands at five years old than methods urged by the typing CD-ROMs we had at that time. However as I grew more proportional to a standard keyboard, this early typing style has persisted. I have no idea where to even begin changing this now as it’s been deeply ingrained by decades of habit. Anybody have experience with changing a muscle memory based habit like this?
Look at these kids with their fancy keyboards with dimples on f and j. Hahahahah
When I started to repair typewriters as a hobby I was mildly surprised to see that they did not have dimples.
Hows your backpain? You must be going way back on equipment. Everything I have had from 85 on has had a dimple or raised dash.
Now I’m curious about when the dimples were introduced and what was the first device to use them, I just took a look to my collection of typewriters and none of them have dimples.
I assume once key caps were molded plastic
Chatgpt says 1950s. But who knows if that is accurate
I don’t think so, unless one single brand used them and no one else for the next 40 years.
Electric IBM typewriters from the 90s with keyboards that we would recognise today as a computer keyboard still didn’t have dimples.
I asked a friend with a bigger collection of typewriters to let me know if he notices the bumps on any of them.
Totally unsure if this is accurate, but chatgpt is 100% confident LOL. Brand/Model Approximate Introduction Year Homing Nubs on F and J Keys IBM Selectric 1961 Yes Royal Quiet Deluxe 1939 Yes Hermes 3000 1958 Yes Olivetti Lettera 22 1950 Yes Underwood Standard 1929 Yes
Couldn’t find images showing these. Looks like on computers their is info about it starting in 83
The lettera 22 I can assure you doesn’t have the bump because I have one, the same goes for any other Olivetti I have.
The most modern typewriter I can think of is the IBM wheelwriter, in the pictures I can’t see any bump but I can’t find pictures with high enough resolution to be sure.
Same here, I saw one picture of the IBM that looked like it could have bumps, but the pixelation also meant it could just be reflections due to the convex shape. Also if you have old typewriters, its a faux pas not to share pictures LOL
Here is a detail of the F key
I don’t know if the images will load properly, I’m in Spain and the internet connection is still patchy.
I learned on manual typewriters in middle school (late 70’s, early 80’s). We learned to look for our home row, then pay attention to copy or dictation.