Is there a 'genetic limit' to one's typing speed?

By dylantypes - updated: 1 year, 5 months ago - 12 messages

By greenolive - posted: 1 year, 10 months ago

homie I have no idea. I doubt it. But naturally people are going to plateau in there skill around 60-70 wmp. We can assume people with nimble hands will be faster at typing but who is to say that is genetic or developed. If you practice accuracy and not speed you will definitely get better.
By user649851 - posted: 1 year, 10 months ago

There is a "genetic" limit as to how fast one could type, just like there is a limit to how long you could hold your breath, or how fast you can run. No-one is ever going to 100m in under 6 seconds, for example, even though cheetahs can run that fast (unless you somehow strap a rocket onto a person, but that doesn't seem very safe). However, I sincerely doubt that you have reached your limit when it comes to typing. It's like worrying about whether you would be able to beat the world record for a marathon when you haven't even completed one before, a somewhat pointless thought experiment. (Although I don't know whether you can type at like 200WPM or not, so maybe this is a legitimate worry for you, but I'd wager that's probably not the case for you)
Updated 1 year, 10 months ago
By mjmizu - posted: 1 year, 9 months ago

I like to think the current world record for typing is the current genetic limit, but as we evolve, that ceiling will keep breaking. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're world record level for typing though.
By sababa_chu - posted: 1 year, 8 months ago

I think what you mean is physical limit? There is no genetics that can help you break physical speeds. It's like asking athletes that have good genetics to run 100m in 5s (impossible).
By mindmaster - posted: 1 year, 6 months ago

Nonsense, though I'd imagine that people with smaller hands might benefit from using small/narrow keytops.

Most people can easily get to 40-60wpm, but after that takes a hell of a lot of work. Also there isn't much advantage to typing faster than 120WPM just on the practical side. Most people take breaks to think about what they're writing and while they're thinking there is plenty of 'rest' for the hands. It takes a lot of work to go from 100-120WPM though. Probably years of typing in that regard, honestly.
By _kookie - posted: 1 year, 6 months ago

It's possible but I don't need to know.
By luvuranjeet - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

I'm sure there is a human limit, although I have no idea what that is. I personally believe anyone can achieve at least 90 wpm on a typing test with proper technique. You'd be surprised how slowly you can go to reach 90 provided you have 100% accuracy.
By doughth - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

Yeah, but no one would ever be skilled enough to reach it. Nor would we ever really know what that is tbh. It's not something that will be "pushed" as someone has said, as the "human limit" doesn't refer to skill, (muscle mem., etc), but genetics, and only including the best specimen who probably isn't into typing. Typing speed isn't really progressed by genetic factors, it's a mental technique like singing.
By user871724 - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

Limit exists only for the person who think it exists.
By mindmaster - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

There is definitely a limit. Realistically, on QWERTY you're going to max around 120-130wpm and there is nothing you can do about it. You will have to use differently layouts to go faster than that. (Workman, Colemak) That said even switching layout you're not going to go much faster. (It's maybe going to buy you another 10-20 WPM, not to mention the time lost familiarizing yourself with the new layout.) The insane typing speeds you see on here like in the 200wpm range are either people cheating with scripts or people who are using stenography machines. :D

But, I'm not salty about their cheat-y booties just making you aware there are some hard limits to how fast you can type.
Updated 1 year, 5 months ago
By abuhurairah - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

It's rare but some people really can type in the 200wpm range with QWERTY. For example, search on YouTube "Sean Wrona" or "slekap".
By mindmaster - posted: 1 year, 5 months ago

I'm sure there are a couple of extremely high speed typists around, but it's very unlikely for anyone is using QWERTY to do it. It's easy to burst type at about 200 WPM, but in passages that you will take longer than 60 seconds on the speed drops down to 150 WPM that's why I said that. It's unlikely you are typing at this break-neck speed consistently. No one really is...

Personally, after typing for years if you don't want to have carpal tunnel switch to anything but QWERTY. There are valid arguments to DVORAK (it is supported EVERYWHERE) or Colemak. (More optimal). Skip Workman though it really isn't better than Colemak and sort of falling out of style/people are dropping support. DVORAK will never make you faster, in fact, I am slower on it, but my hands hurt way less. :D