Who’d have thunk, way back in the 80’s that typing would become such an essential skill as it is now. When I chose to do typing as a subject in grade 9 it was more to do with avoiding history or chemistry rather than a premonition of the future. I know I certainly didn’t intend on becoming a secretary (for this was the main career option of typists) but with my friends, we enjoyed discussing the hair-styles of our teacher, the lovely Mrs Lowrie. Our grade 8 typing teacher had been a huge contrast, a MAN! - who taught us to type on old manual typewriters to the rhythm of classical music. Tap, tap, tap, tap, ding! and we would all reach to pull on the carriage return lever for a new line of typing.

Those old, clunky machines were all we used in our first year of high school, and the few electric typewriters were reserved for older students who knew what they were doing. As we moved into grade 9 it was our delight to use them and save our worn out fingers. ‘Touch typing’ really was that, with just a delicate touch on the key to create a mark on the paper. What amazing technology!

Things certainly have developed since the first commercially produced ‘typewriter’ of 1870, the Hansen Writing Ball. Many variations of a typing machine were made until the creation of what we recognise now as a typewriter. But now we have the computer, that uses, quite clearly, some form of crazy, new-age magic to create letters on the screen as we tap on its corresponding keyboard.  

Now, typing is used in almost every job situation – collating data, doing stock-takes, creating sales invoices, keeping farm records, creating letters, essays, reports, labels, lists and so on. I am so glad I can type, but of course these days kids learn typing in primary school on their computers. Not so much a specialised skill, but an essential one - like learning how to write the old fashioned way, with a pencil.

I’m surprised that my teenaged daughter types so fast. You’d think she was sending out a press release about the latest on the war in Iraq, with the urgency and passion she invests in this activity. “Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has just returned from talks at the UN, discussing possible peace agreements between all factions.” I actually look over her shoulder sometimes as she Facebooks, and chats, and who knows what. Her real typing output? “cant believe she said that :o but IMHO shes like that cos of that thing with Sammo LOL”

Startled, I look again. I didn’t realise she knew a foreign language. But there it is, in black and white. It’s a language that has no punctuation at all. (Well, there is punctuation, but only used to create cute little faces. Now, more than ever, people can differentiate between a colon and a semi-colon, purely for the sort of eyes you want to portray.) I have no idea what she has written but she was very fervent to say whatever it was she said, because she typed it so fast… oh, so fast. (I wonder if she could work so quickly on an old Chinese or Japanese typing machine, which has over 2000 keys.) If only that speed could be used for good, and not for evil. Whenever I ask her to do something like get sticks for the fire, or wipe up the dishes, her brain is stuck in low range and her feet move ever so slowly, like an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Far be it for me to judge though, as I am in the habit of showering quickly whereas many people enjoy a long hot shower. On the other hand, an activity that should be to some degree fast, ie jogging, often moves me in a slower pace than someone walking. I didn’t think that was possible, but there you have it.

Comments (0)