Seeing people hunt for keys with one or two index fingers - not when writing something profound, requiring of thought, but simply filling out forms - is incredibly frustrating. I'm going to argue they can't type when they're still using the keyboard as if it's the first day they saw one.
A day or two spent learning to type would pay itself back with dividends.
I put in the ground work for touch typing at school on the good old typewriters; it was certainly the best extra curriculum subject I've ever done.
I've seen plenty of people in the middle that didn't get formal training, but instead developed patterns based around clusters of keys. They may use more than two fingers, but they have no concept of the home row. In fact, I've been asked by people who type fairly often what the little bumps on the 'f' and 'j' keys are, which tells me that they most likely didn't learn to type properly.
My 5yo can "type" by hunting and pecking, and he's actually getting good enough that he doesn't get frustrated trying to type simple words (he likes looking up words at the library computers). My 2yo, however, knows his letters, but I don't think he really understands how keyboards work.
Personally, I'd say that someone can type if they can use a keyboard productively and have some means of speeding up entry besides looking at every key until they find the one they want (most people know vaguely where there keys are, even if they can't touch type).
If you are not at a keyboard often a few days spent learning to touch type is wasted: your brain will quickly forget and you are back to looking. You need to practice ANYTHING to retain the ability to do it (some things are easier than others which is why you can ride a bike after years of not touching one).
If you are going to use a keyboard often, then the time spent to learn a keyboard is well worth it. However if your day job doesn't require a keyboard those classes won't be helpful.
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Seeing people hunt for keys with one or two index fingers - not when writing something profound, requiring of thought, but simply filling out forms - is incredibly frustrating. I'm going to argue they can't type when they're still using the keyboard as if it's the first day they saw one.
A day or two spent learning to type would pay itself back with dividends.
I put in the ground work for touch typing at school on the good old typewriters; it was certainly the best extra curriculum subject I've ever done.
They push the buttons and letters appear on screen. That's typing - everything else is optimisation :P
I've seen plenty of people in the middle that didn't get formal training, but instead developed patterns based around clusters of keys. They may use more than two fingers, but they have no concept of the home row. In fact, I've been asked by people who type fairly often what the little bumps on the 'f' and 'j' keys are, which tells me that they most likely didn't learn to type properly.
My 5yo can "type" by hunting and pecking, and he's actually getting good enough that he doesn't get frustrated trying to type simple words (he likes looking up words at the library computers). My 2yo, however, knows his letters, but I don't think he really understands how keyboards work.
Personally, I'd say that someone can type if they can use a keyboard productively and have some means of speeding up entry besides looking at every key until they find the one they want (most people know vaguely where there keys are, even if they can't touch type).
If you are not at a keyboard often a few days spent learning to touch type is wasted: your brain will quickly forget and you are back to looking. You need to practice ANYTHING to retain the ability to do it (some things are easier than others which is why you can ride a bike after years of not touching one).
If you are going to use a keyboard often, then the time spent to learn a keyboard is well worth it. However if your day job doesn't require a keyboard those classes won't be helpful.