the keyboard playground - free online typing games» Free Typing Games | Online Typing Tests – The Keyboard Playground

Learn to Touch-Type

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:52 +0000

Whether you are new to typing or an experienced computer user who never learned to type properly, taking the time to learn touch-typing can go a long way to saving you time and minimizing strain on your hands. This learning process takes some time, but it is well worth the effort and it is rewarding to see how much you improve. Back in the ol’ days, there were limited options for learning this art, but now with the explosion of the internet, there are all sorts of useful utilities for developing touch-typing skills, from regimented tutorials/lessons to activities/games. Here is a list of the very best the web has to offer in this department:

Online Typing Tutors
Typing Web
Typing Adventure
Good Typing

Typing Software
TypeMaster
Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor

Online Typing Games
The Keyboard Playground
FreeTypingGame.net
OnlyTypingGames.com

As far as I am concerned, those are the best of the best, but for a more thorough list of resources, be sure to check out the typing directory.

new additions to the site

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:37:13 +0000

Hi folks, just a quick note to let you know that I have added all sorts of new content to the site for you to enjoy. Here’s a quick summary:

Two new typing tests, one based on an essay by Mark Twain and the other a poem by Langston Hughes.
A new typing game called Fast Typer
Several new additions to the Typing Tutor section of the Keyboarding Directory
An article with tips on how to improve your typing speed

That’s it for now, enjoy!

Fast Typer

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:35:50 +0000

This is a very quick and straight-forward little typing exercise in which you have 30 seconds to try and type as many words as you can. At the end you get a report on how many words you typed and your typing accuracy. Nice graphics and sound make this a catchy little typing game.

Tips to Improve Typing Speed

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:54:33 +0000

Typing speed is something which most of us don’t really care about in the beginning. But when we see someone typing really fast on the computer keyboard, we feel that ‘I wish I could type like this person’. The average typing speed of any normal english speaking person is most likely to be between 30-35 words per minute which is decent enough. After all accuracy also matters a lot. You can find out your own typing speed by indulging in some online typing tests which are pretty much accurate. They give you both words per minute and accuracy.

If you don’t score well, I am sure that you will wish to type on the keyboard without looking at it. Imagine sitting in the dark and chatting with someone on IM, will you be able to do it? Thats the question you should ponder about. To start with, make a mental map of the keyboard’s keys. The QWERTY keyboard layout is the most used layout. The first tip is to avoid looking at the keys and start typing. It will be very difficult in the beginning but you will catch on.

Always maintain proper posture while typing. Do not slouch. You should have a proper arm rest and both your hands should be parallel to the ground when you type on the keyboard. Fingers should be slightly raised up while typing. If you can buy an ergonomic keyboard, it will help you better. The keys are arranged in such a way that it helps you type better and also avoid carpal tunnel syndrome problem.

Initially when you practice, do not worry about the mistakes you are making because that is part of the learning process. Instead focus on the task on hand. If you are copying some handwritten text to the computer, read sentences at a time instead of individual words. This will also help you type faster as you don’t have to see the text again and again.

Finally, take some online typing tests which are specifically designed to help you improve your wpm count. Fast typing is a skill which develops with sufficient practice and experience. All the best.

Read more
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Also, here is another article with more tips on typing speed.

WPM Typing Test #6

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:24:52 +0000

Clear the text from the screen by typing it as quickly (yet carefully) as you can. Words will disappear as you type them. After you complete the test, you will see a results screen that will provide you with your WPM (words per minute) typing speed.

The text for this test is from Langston Hughes’ moving poem A Dream Deferred.

WPM Typing Test #5

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:56:49 +0000

Type the text as quickly (yet carefully) as you can. The word wills disappear as you type them. After you complete the test, you will see a results screen that shows your typing speed in wpm (words per minute).

The text for this test is excerpted from Mark Twain’s famous essay on New England weather. There are three different excerpts, so feel free to test yourself multiple times.

More Typing Games for Kids

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:49:28 +0000

I just came across an excellent post today which covers various different games/tutors that are appropriate for children learning how to type. The post (Reverting to Type) covers 5 valuable tools and provides links at the end to access even more. Several of the games / touch-typing tutors highlighted have already been mentioned on this blog, but a couple of them were new to me so I figured I would pass them on to you.

Keyboard Climber
This is a very simple but effective game in which you need to help the monkey climb up towards the sky by pressing the correct letters. Incorrect keystrokes cause you to tumble down and require you to restart the level. Simple yet effective with graphics and sound sure to be catchy to your average 6 year old.

keyboard climber game

First Keys

first keys typing tutor

And here’s another excellent resource for finding some typing games for children, with over 20 games listed!

That’s it for now, happy typing!

The Typing Directory

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:20:06 +0000

Typing is very important for most people using a computer. At any given time, their are millions of people learning to type or working to improve existing typing skills, and as a result their are over 10 million typing-related search queries each month. Yet, in spite of all the interest in keyboarding, there are relatively few quality sites on the topic, and the good ones out there are sometimes hard to find. At least that’s how it was until last week before the release of the Typing Directory by The Keyboard Playground and A Playground for the Mind.

With links to over 100 of the best typing tutors, typing games, typing speed tests and other resources, the Typing Directory is the most comprehensive and well-organized compilation of keyboarding resources around. Divided into 8 different categories including tutors, games, WPM tests, articles, hardware and mobile, the links represent the best the web has to offer in the realm of typing and keyboarding, all in one place.

It’s a great tool for educators looking to incorporate typing practice in their curriculum, as teachers can use the directory to find the right lessons, tutorials and games for their students. It’s also valuable for professionals looking to improve their typing speed to increase productivity or land a job. Finally, the directory can be used for casual games players looking to pit their typing skills against others; one of the features of the directory is a compilation of all the typing games on the web.

The directory is a result of webmaster Alex Colket’s realization that no one had yet fully cataloged the numerous keyboarding resources on the internet. What began four months ago as a short list of potential link partners has evolved into a collection of all the highest-quality and most useful websites in the realm of typing. Additions to the directory are still being made and webmasters or users aware of any quality sites not yet listed are encouraged to make suggestions through the online form.

In adding the Typing Directory, The Keyboard Playground takes another step towards becoming a preeminent destination for typists. With over 20 typing games (including a dozen originals), 5 typing tests, a typing competition, and droves of information about keyboards, typing practice and touch-typing lessons, The Keyboard Playground is an invaluable resource for all looking to practice their typing.

Finger Frenzy

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:27:32 +0000

This is a very basic typing game – hardly even a game actually, more of an exercise – where you need to type the letters of the alphabet in order as fast as you can. That’s it. Compete for high scores and try to improve on your own best times.

Key Hero Typing Test

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:03:27 +0000

I just became aware of an excellent new typing test that recently appeared on the scene. It’s called Key Hero and it features some very detailed reporting on your typing performance. At the same time though, it’s simple to use and understand, making it pretty much one of the best all-around WPM typing tests to be found on the web.

Here are a couple of screenshots. It’s a little embarrassing to post my results, as you might think I would be a little better typist considering that I run this website. But alas, I my touch-typing skills are not what they could or should be: