Email: qrhetoric@yahoo.com (email only if you like the software! :)
Web Site: http://www.qcalculus.com
This program needs no more than a basic Windows computer with a keyboard. An uninstall file is included. You can reach both the program and the uninstall through Start --> Programs --> Bruce's Typing Tutor and you can reach the program from a shortcut on your desktop. To play the game however, a sound card and speakers would be nice. You can disable sound, for whatever reason, by clicking on the "sound" checkbox.
Windows 95 computers and a few Windows 98 computers will need to download the version I made for Windows 95. If they use the regular version, they will get an error message upon starting, stating that they require MSVBM60.DLL. If this is the case for you, go to:
http://www.qcalculus.com/typing_tutor.htm and find the appropriate link in the list.
This program is free, but if you're feeling overly generous, you can send money to my qrhetoric@yahoo.com account with Paypal. I'll even give you honorable mention in the next version of the program, according to the size of your generous donation to this cause. No one has done this yet. :)
Introduction
It is probably clear to you that this program is supposed to help you learn how to type. There are several aspects a typing program can focus on, and I think I've made it my business to focus on all of them. If you have no previous experience in full hand typing, you will start off with the lessons, which should, hopefully, quickly bring you into the main section, where you can type freely. The purpose of the lessons is mainly to familiarize you with the layout of the keyboard, so that you do not have to look down while you type. This will enable you to gain much higher speeds later on.
The next layer of the program is the main section. Many people have some practice typing, and will want to start here. It has the simple approach of practice makes perfect. But be forewarned that if the only typing you do is inside this program, you will eventually have trouble moving up in speed. The reason is that there is a slight difference between typing in the program and outside it. Inside, you always know what to type by looking at the letters. In reality, most of the time you will have to do two things at once: You will first figure out what letter needs to be typed, and then type it. For some reason, doing that enhances speed more quickly. Another strategy which I have found effective is to type a half hour to an hour a day for a week or two, lay off heavy typing in the program for two weeks to a month, and repeat. This method built me up quite well. I would also recommend getting rid of all the text that I provided for you to type, and pasting in text of your own from any document on your computer. This way you can type something you feel comfortable with. You can do this by clicking "Editor" in the main window.
The last layer is the game. Bruce's Typing Game is not original in its concept. I have seen variations of the letter/word falling all over the place. What is original is the system of when the game ends, and how the levels, and scoring work. I designed it several ways until I hit on the one that maximizes skill and minimizes the element of luck. The purpose of this game is to learn to recall letter positions very quickly. That is why I did not put in words, or Caps. The game was designed to complement the holes in the typing section. Typing sentences allows you to learn common letter combinations. Playing the game allows you to be ready for any letter, at any time. As you progress, this will become obvious.
How to Use the Program
Upon entering the program, you will come to a user screen. The instructions are right next to the different user fields; I don't have to elaborate more here. Just be aware that each box is a separate user, and information is stored for the box. If you put the same name in a different box, the stored info will not carry over. If you change a name, nothing is lost.
You will then be in the main typing window. If you would like to start your lessons, press "Lessons" on the bottom. Upon pressing this button, it will say "Free Type". To type freely, you will press it. The program will remember if you were last on free typing, or lessons, and either way it will store which sentence and lesson you are up to.
To begin typing, press "Begin", or hit <space> or <enter> when the main window opens. When you press "Begin", the program will prepare your sentence for you, but it will not start time. Time is started when you hit the first letter. The end of every sentence is a space. Do NOT hit <enter>! When you press the final <space>, it will jump to the next sentence automatically. Also, never press <backspace>; it is disabled.
To view more statistics, press "More Stats". This will give you a breakdown of your percentage accuracy for each letter, for the current session only. The individual letter stats are not stored from session to session. The next section contains your TOTAL accuracy, speed in terms of words per minute typed (WPM), and time spent typing. This includes all past sessions for the current user. You can also get a printout of your statistics here.
Press "Game" to play the game. It is mostly self evident. During the game, you can press <spacebar> to Pause/Unpause. (Spacebar will activate the "Pause" button.) the game begins by default on Level 1. You can choose to start it on any level up to 10 by typing the number in the small box beneath the buttons. However the default before each game will revert to Level 1.
Learning to Type
On your keyboard, you should find notches on the F and J keys. These are where your pointing fingers go. Thus, in standard typing position, A, S, D, F, and J, K, L, ; are covered. A, S, D, F are the first letters you will memorize. J, K, L, ; are next. The lessons will come in sections, and at the end of each section, you will be given the opportunity to move on. Use this if you would like to review, or skip ahead. At each new section, I will open with a small explanation of what to do.
Regarding capital letters: I will introduce them a few lessons in, and you should know that generally you should capitalize a letter using the shift button of the hand that is not typing the letter being capitalized. Both pinkies should become fluent with the shift keys. The spacebar will be much easier to use, as in almost all cases you can use the thumb of your preference.
There will be times when you will have to type numbers. Do not expect to be as fluent with these as with the letters. Look down if you have to. When you are typing numbers among letters, you will use the keys above the letters. Switching over to the keypad on the right is a waste of time.
In the page with additional statistics, I have an overall speed and accuracy for all of your history. This does NOT include lessons! Lesson statistics are not stored from one session to the next.
Rules of my Typing System
You click "Begin", or hit <enter>, and the program will prepare your sentence.
The program does not start measuring progress until you type your first letter.
This will be true for the beginning of every sentence. You can always rest before starting.
Every sentence should end with a <space>.
Backspacing is not allowed.
Words per minute (WPM) is calculated based on the standard average of 5 letters per word.
The first time you use the program, reset which change your starting position. Afterward, it will simply stop time.
If you hit "Reset", the program will continue to display your past statistics until you begin anew.
"Reset" will not change your users history. If you want to delete your user, use the startup form.
The program will keep track of what sentence you are up to for when you come back.
The program will keep track of what lesson section you are up to.
Click "More Stats" for more stats. Or did you figure that out?
Rules of my Typing Game
As I have just mentioned above in How to Use the Program: During the game, you can press space to Pause/Unpause. (Space will activate the "Pause" button.) the game begins by default on Level 1. You can choose to start it on any level up to 10 by typing the number in the small box beneath the buttons. However the default before each game will be Level 1.
The rules of the game itself are written quite clearly in the game help button. But to elaborate on them here:
All letters are LOWERCASE!
Points are added by typing correct letters. The number of points gained is equal to the current level.
Points are lost by typing incorrect letters. The number of points lost is equal to the current level.
Points are added at the end of a level according to accuracy.
Formula for bonus: y = x^2/(32 - z) + x (y = Points, x = Level, z = LetterHits)
The game ends when a letter piles over the line.
Intelligence is based on something.
How to Edit the Sentences
Bruce's Typing Tutor uses a text file to store the typing material. Do not edit these files manually. If you want to change the stuff you type, do so from the editor within my program. Press "Editor" in the main program window.
You have a maximum of 350 paragraphs allowed in the editor that the program will read. Each paragraph, I think, should be not much longer than 750 letters. When I say a paragraph, I mean up to a manual line break, done by pressing <enter> after a sentence. The text will wrap around in the editor when the paragraph is longer than one line, and this wrapping of the text to the next line is not a manual line break.
Each line will be broken up into sentences in the following way. It will either begin a new sentence after 71 letters, or it will come across (.),(!), or (?) and break off a sentence there. According to this system, a paragraph in the editor can hold up to about 11 sentences, and with 350 lines, that's plenty. I started you off with 80 paragraphs filled.
If you have changed the sentences, and want to restore the original, you can always press "Reset". If you changed the data but have not pressed "Save" it will not save.
Credits
1) Credits go primarily to myself, thank you, for making the program single-handedly.
2) HowStuffWorks.com, for supplying me with typing material.
3) Mati and Raisy, for some useful troubleshooting.
