Zone Dactylo / Typing Zone

Hey Andrei, you're basically dead even with me and I expect you would beat me in most languages by significantly more than I beat you in English. And I expect you to surpass that English mark, sometime. You're definitely faster with the more universal ones (the alphabet and the digits of pi), which probably more accurately reflect true typing talent. I know the guy who set the Guinness record was typing a series of numbers in order in a five minute period; it had nothing to do with typing passages. But there probably aren't many faster than me with regard to typing passages...

Damz, I have no musical background at all, and typing is basically the ONLY notable gross or fine motor skill I have.

arenasnow wrote: the guy who set the Guinness record

michael shestov?

Hey, Aron Ewans,

I wasn't bragging about my superior innate dexterity (which may or may not be a fact, given my background as a piano player - thanks Damz for bringing it up, I tend to forget that sometimes ). I acknowledge there are faster people, you included, but in order to keep myself motivated, I sometimes need to reassess my position as a contender, not as a defending champion, because staying on top for too long usually tends to dull people's fighting spirit. To be honest, I'd rather stay number 2 forever and keep chasing somebody's tail, than put on lackluster performances, and still dominate my opponents. As they say in all sports, there is no such thing as stagnation, there's only progress or decline

That's the right spirit, Andrei!

As for Anne Worsa (to continue with the anagrams - sorry about this one being a female name ) I asked about the piano background because through reading some typing forums it appears many of the very fast typists have played the piano when they were younger (or still play). Those who have not, invariably, started typing at a young age. The point is, it seems like the finger dexterity/independance has to be acquired at an early age for one's typing potential to truly blossom.

In sum, it's the old debate of nature vs nurture, and it seems like nurture plays a way larger role. Well, it's nothing too surprising, it's the same in sports, music, languages, maths, chess, etc.

Oh and by the way Andrei, I'm still waiting for you to post a new piano vid to motivate me to do another one too

Speaking of Intersteno, what do we have to do to sign up?

In first, you can see here : http://org.intersteno.it/page.php/id_pr ... -francese/
To find the right url of your intersteno federation.

To subscrive, contact the reponsable (in the website of your federation)
I think, they can have better answer to subscire for the intersteno contest by internet

Whoa! Either Dan or Sean dropped out of UTC! I could be going to Austin in March if I hadn't made so many damn typos.. all's well, though, it will let me focus on my studies and finish up schoolwork for this last semester.
Which one of you couldn't go to the championship?

Noah: who told you that?

But, guys, explain me something: what kind of organization "Ultimate Typing Championship" is? Is it a company who just proposes a typing competition? Who will give the 2,000 $ to the winner? ...

Do they work with Typeracer?
Why have they copied Typeracer's system of races?

The competition is being sponsored by the makers of Das keyboard (http://www.daskeyboard.com/). They're the ones paying the $2000, and paying for the plane tickets to Austin, etc.

They don't work with Typeracer. They copied his format, apparently without permission (http://groups.google.com/group/typerace ... 4b12063ef9 -- the Typeracer creator is Alex).

I can't speak for Dan, but I eventually committed. I had some reservations because I'm presently unemployed and have no income yet they're only paying for transportation; I might even have trouble affording to pay for food there especially because it's at a conference and all and I'm sure they'll be gouging. On the flip side, if I do get a job, it would be unlikely I think that they'd let me have time off so quickly, for a three-day weekend. I also had reservations about it being Saturday through Monday when the contest seems to be really short (only a couple hours on Sunday afternoon), having no clue what else I would do there, and not wanting to leave my mom, who is disabled with multiple sclerosis, at home alone, etc... I'm also concerned that they don't seem to have reserved hotels yet and are working on that now, only two months before a giant conference when I'd imagine many, many hotels are already booked, especially those close to the convention. Despite this, I NEED the money and I did commit.

As for Dan, maybe he wasn't able to get the weekend off at work? I know from the semifinals that he has a very demanding job (80+ hours or something) and I can see him ultimately turning it down, especially how quickly these guys were wanting us to commit. I still hope it's him, seeing as how I still know nothing at all about Nate...

I have no idea how Noah would know anything unless he was informed as an alternate because they had concerns about whether both Dan and I would actually show.

arenasnow wrote:I can't speak for Dan, but I eventually committed. I had some reservations because I'm presently unemployed and have no income yet they're only paying for transportation; I might even have trouble affording to pay for food there... Despite this, I NEED the money and I did commit.

I am in a job for 3 years and I've passed a lot of different stages (difficult ones most of the time because I started my job with some pathetic amount of money). Some of guys here know what my job is, some don't (not important too much). What I know is that you need to find a sponsor/donator (for example some company who makes keyboards and computer equpiment and you should be their "protected face" or better to say "protected fingers". I think it would be interesting to see you in some commercials how you type on some specific keyboard. People believe in that and all you need to say is "I learned to type on this keyboard, it's the best one you can buy it on the market". With only one commercial I believe, that in U.S.A. you can live 3 months. Try to do something like that if you didn't try it since now.

http://www.ultimatetypingchampionship.com/

Indeed, it's Dan who declined the finals.

Motsak wrote: and Czechs are crazy fast.
Some amazing typists (who are Czechs)

how come we don't see so fast Czechs around here?

Sean,

You're an Ivy League alumnus, yet you find it tough to earn a living ? What has become of American education ?

Please forgive my rudeness, my remark was only meant as a joke.
On a serious note, now:
$2k is still good money, no matter how you look at it, so I'm glad you didn't withdraw. I'm sure you can have a friend lend you some bucks - after all, if your fingers were listed on NYSE, you'd be a blue chip!! As for your mother, I'm really sorry to hear about her condition, I used to have a good (girl)friend whose mom suffered from a similar illness. It's tough... but the more it should motivate you to make a difference, right?

fingers crossed