# can tou type with your eyes closed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133 "2005-04-19T21:40:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/41 "2005-04-19T23:30:05Z")
no. i som t thoml o ca, erm, apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/42 "2005-04-19T23:31:40Z")
But of course. (The trick is to avoid tabbing out of the damn window and into the address field). I’m generally pretty goode at it, an dcan also do it while carrying on a conversation with someone else. Laptop keyboard (PowerBook “Wallstreet”) at the moment). … did I open parentheses before stating that clause…?? ::looks:: not bad 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/43 "2005-04-19T23:38:59Z")
Home keys? I don’t need no stinkin’ home keys! (hm, nown I’m nervous about opening my eyes.) Not bad – check out that punctuation, you sissies!) ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/44 "2005-04-19T23:39:14Z")
Hey dudes, I am typinh wuth my eyes closed, on a laptop which isn’t mine. I don’t have a laptop. This is my boyfriend’s laptop and I can’t even type on it with my eyes open@ _eyes open_ Heh, that’s not bad actually. Maybe I should type with my eyes closed all the time. I’m glad I wasn’t using the other computer, though. It has a broken L key which is the hugest pain in the ass. Actually, I only like to pretend it’s a pain in the ass and bring it up all the time, but I’m secretly really amused by it. I made so many mistakes typing this paragraph, I just went back and fixed them. I really did do a better job with my eyes closed. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/45 "2005-04-19T23:41:11Z")
Just ibe nire oist ti see giw giid U an wutg ny kaotio jeybiat wgucg us a kit garder ti yse abyway Translation:Just one more post to see how good I am with my laptop keyboar which is a lot harder to use anyway. PROOF! ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/46 "2005-04-19T23:46:26Z")
Typing with ones eyes closed is easy compared to reading with them closed. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/47 "2005-04-19T23:49:44Z")
YEah, I frequebtly find myself typiing while looking away from the screen, such as when my secretary comes in the office and we chat about some prokect orother while I’ve neen on a roll with whatever I’m writing and don’t want to interrupt my strea, of conssciousness. [Open] Hmm. The thing is apparently not my typing, but my inability to correct mistakes. I frequently transponse letters when one letter is far and the other is directly under my hand. –Ciffy ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/48 "2005-04-19T23:56:19Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Typing with ones eyes closed is easy compared to reading with them closed. Yeah, like comparing cats with telephones. ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/49 "2005-04-19T23:59:39Z")
It’s fun typing with your eyes closed. The teachers at my school forced us to learn keyboarding for two fricking years, so we’ve had “formal” training. Plus all the time I spent on MSN MEssenger. I can also type while looking at something else other than the keyboard, or while reading. Hee. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/50 "2005-04-20T00:00:11Z")
yes i cspn yrfpe 2wf-j Aw, just fuck it. I can’t type with my eyes closed. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/51 "2005-04-20T00:01:47Z")
Yeah, I can type with my eyes cosed, although it’s a bit harder with a laptop, as I don’t always use this type of keyboard. Plus, it’s really harder to touch type when the keys aren’t on different levels. Makes it a bitch. And, yes, I’m typing with my eyes closed throughout this post. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/52 "2005-04-20T00:17:01Z")
I can’t type looking at the keyboard, so typing with my eyes closed is a breeze. My only problem is I get going so fast I start swapping letters. Sometimes it bothers my wife because I wll continue typing while talking to her. Shoot, missed the i in will. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/53 "2005-04-20T00:20:18Z")
Another go on the laptop/// One of the other posters reminded me of my old driving in (fif I midd that 's’s) tructor, who would snap at me if I looked at the gearstick. He was good too. got me every time. (open) Ahh, much better! second time’s the charm! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/54 "2005-04-20T00:27:16Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > > [@askeptic](#): > > > > Typing with ones eyes closed is easy compared to reading with them closed. > > Yeah, like comparing cats with telephones. Apparently I don’t read too good with my eyes _open_! I first read your post (several times) as… “Typing with ones eyes closed is easily comparable to reading with them closed.” Hence my utterly inappropriate reply. (sorry). Now that I know what you really said - I tend to agree. Although I don’t seem to do a whole lot better with my eyes open. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/55 "2005-04-20T00:29:30Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > can tou type with your eyes closed? Yeah, I can type with my eyes closed. It’s because I have excellent muscle memory when it comes to typing. I just need to get my left hand into position, and then I can just bang away. The trick, for me, was learning to use the keyboard shortcuts – Ctrl=Backspace and all of that for erasing mistakes and starting over. _opens eyes_ Well, not all of them. Heh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/56 "2005-04-20T00:30:03Z")
It’s all about the being able to type with your eyes closed, like this. Comes from playing online games, mostly. Also extremely helpful in other areas, and I’m pretty convinced it helps more generally with speed too - easier to get well up into the 100+ wpm range if you aren’t looking, just doing. Will check to see if I made any mistakes after this sentence and immediately before I submit, but that all “felt” right. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/57 "2005-04-20T00:58:59Z")
I don’t get something: all of you who can’t type so well with your eyes closed; do you normally look at the keyboard all the time while you are typing? It bothers me to look at the keyboard when I’m typing. I take notes sometimes for my boss (who can’t type or use a computer at all) and I have to look out the window while I’m typing. He’s always asking what I’m looking at. I typed this with my eyes closed, on a laptop that is on my lap while I’m sitting on a little footstool. I did take typoing lessons in high school and did extremely well; within a few weeks I was at 60 wpm. The teacher thought I must have already learned but I hadn’t ever typed prior to the class. (Opens eyes) One mistake. And how ironic, considering what it is. 😉 Hitting the “60” on one try was pure luck. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/58 "2005-04-20T01:04:07Z")
In answering your post missbunny I will try to remember what my eyes do… They don’t look down much at all, but they are watching what I type and as soon as they see a mistake they correct it, still without looking down… But I strongly suspect the subconscious is making good use of the peripheral vision to make sure the hands are in the right position, and memory to type fast. I think that when we close our eyes (the quick typers at least) all we are losing is the advantage peripheral vision gives our subconscious. On that last ‘s’ I changed the window focus somehow. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/59 "2005-04-20T01:05:42Z")
Yep. I spend a huge amount of my freetime writing, and I’m one of those darn kids today who can’t write with a pen and paper. So, I type. A lot. Laptop, regular keyboard, makes no difference. I’m just that amazingly good. And fast, too. Average of about 80 WPM. (that should be 70 WPM - numbers, not so adept at.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133/60 "2005-04-20T01:11:30Z")
Let’s give it a shot We;kk catcg a okabe ti Bew Tirj abd a cav giubg diwb]] Cross the bridges and tunnels straight into town When the postman calls we’ll be miles away’ On a nother continent and another day LOL! Guess I wasn’t quite aligned for the first one… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-tou-type-with-your-eyes-closed/300133.md?page=4)