One of the coolest things we see in movies is where software engineers and other busy professionals hammer away at the keyboard while looking at the screen, I did a bit of research and found out that the ability to type without looking at the keyboard is called touch typing (something my friend Trust Inonse says is one of the perks of being visually impaired, in his defence, he plays a lot and claims to be on a quest to make visual impairment attractive 😂).
MUSCLE MEMORY AND IT'S ACHILLES HEEL
Touch typing as well as the ability to professionally play instruments or handle tools without necessarily looking at them shows what is perhaps the pinnacle of muscle memory and it's something the average person would find impressive. However, I decided to evaluate the consequences of touch typing, especially when done over a long period of time. There are two conditions that those really cool software engineers and professionals are likely to have; Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).
A RELATABLE EXPLANATION
Virtually everything has its consequences and this dexterity has some very painful consequences, Research posits that most people hit their keyboard 400% harder than they need to, sometimes 800% harder than they need to, if people can hear you type then you're going too hard. Want to hear something funny? I'm also on this table I'm shaking, A colleague asked me "Bayo are you fighting with your keyboard?" while I was typing this very post 🤣. When one is used to hammering away at the keyboard it can be a tough habit to break.
THE COLD, HARD NUMBERS!
Research posits that if you're making 6,000 keystrokes every hour, seven hours a day for five days, you're likely exerting 20 tons of force on your fingers 😰. I got my Grammarly insights yesterday and found out that I have typed over 1.7 million words on PC in less than two years and I'm certain that I'm not an outlier. While I'm learning to type gently (except I get carried away 😅), I must say that every professional (touch typist or not) may have to be prepared for a reality where they may suffer from pain in their hands, wrists, backs and neck 😟.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SOURCES OF PAIN
Another cause for concern is our smartphone(s), while keyboards absorb some of the impacts of typing, our smartphone screens are less accommodating and most of us type on our smartphone(s), some things add up without our knowledge and this is one of them. I read a couple of articles on RSI and CTS, advice like checking and changing one's posture from time to time, resting regularly, taking short walks among other tips might help, however, one of the most impactful tips is reducing how much force we apply in typing.
FINALLY
A lot of us (myself included 😓) wouldn't need to replace keyboards frequently if we type nice and quietly, two of the hardest-hit keys are the "Enter" key and the spacebar, it's like we get a sense of satisfaction when we tap them till we hear sounds 😂. A lot of people underestimate how much work hazard they're at risk to just by sitting in a chair and attending to their daily responsibilities. So the next time you see someone typing at breakneck speed watch how much force they're applying and help them 😊.