The other day, my index finger was shaking and I wondered why. I figured out it was because I was using it to type and swipe n my phone. That’s a lot of work for one finger sometimes.
When I watch TV shows, when people are on their smartphone typing, they’re using both hands and typing with their thumbs very quickly. I tried it, but am largely unsuccessful since my thumbs are even bigger and clumsier than my index finger.
I cannot imagine how people type with thumbs. My index finger covers 3 or 4 keys and which is pressed is almost random. My thumbs cover 6 or 7 keys each. And I’m small as men go.
Generally, I hold my phone (Galaxy S7 Edge) with my right hand and type with my right thumb. Sometimes I might hold it between both hands and use my left thumb, too, especially if I’m working in landscape mode.
For those who type with other fingers, are you holding it with your non-dominant hand and typing with your dominant index finger, or vice versa? Do you use more than just your index finger?
I like to hold my phone in landscape mode to type, and use both thumbs. I have a big phone (Pixel 2 XL). On the new Discourse site, I can’t see what I’m typing in landscape. When I turn to portrait, which I hate, I type with my no dominant index finger (right), but I’m pretty ambidextrous, so it’s not difficult. I’m not sure why I use my right, but I’m guessing it’s because something is set up to favor the right.
The backspace and return key are always set on the right, favouring righties. It’s a bit of a reach To do leftie in portrait, impossible to do In landscape.
Just for fun, I tried now to use both thumbs. It’s doable but I just use my left thumb.
I just flipped to portrait, and I do type with two thumbs that way too, sometimes, but it’s cramped and less accurate. I use sort of the corner of my thumb, not the whole pad. But I also have to correct a lot, and rely on autocomplete more.
Off-topic, but my iPhone autocorrects to English and French, without any pattern I can see. That was supposed to be « Precision! » in my reply to LSLGuy.
I hold my phone with my left (non-dominant) hand [which has been stiff lately because of it] and type with my right index finger.
I’m really intrigued by people who use one thumb to type. I thought people use their thumbs because they’re holding the phone with the rest of their hand. If you’re holding the phone with one hand, wouldn’t it be more accurate to use a finger to type because they’re smaller? Do people have smaller thumbs?
ETA: I also use the autosuggestion box on the keyboard for most of everything. For what I’m typing on my phone, the phone has become pretty accurate in predicting what I’m trying to type. Without that, I might have given up trying to blog from my phone.
My 20-something friend nags me to switch to thumbs, but like others here, my thumb covers too many keys. Turning the phone to portrait mode makes the keyboard uncomfortably wide and just doesn’t feel right. So I poke at the letters with my index finger.
I’m a noob to this. I’ve only had my phone since February of this year. Perhaps I’ll change my style if my hands and/or fingers get too tired doing it with one finger. Thanks for the explanation of how you’re doing it.
As a general aside, in early voting, if I’m reading it right, there are several people like me who use their index finger to type. [Whew!] I thought I was the only one. In TV shows and movies and even when I’m standing in line to get something, I would often see people typing with their thumbs. I have rarely seen someone typing with their finger except with a swiping motion.
My preferred way to text is to set the phone down on a flat surface, or in a pinch, on my knee when seated and use the middle finger of both hands. This method makes for the fastest, and least typo-ey way to text.
Failing that, holding the thing with my left hand, and texting with my right middle or index finger. It’s kinda’ slow. “I’m good. Thanks. I’ll call you later. Let me know a good time to” would take about a full minute to type out. Pathetic, yeah.
Tried the thumbs thing. Utter failure. Too big and not agile enough. May as well be wearing boxing gloves.
