From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: adamsonj@email.unc.edu (Joel J. Adamson) Newsgroups: gmane.emacs.help Subject: Re: How to type when using Emacs? Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:01:14 -0400 Message-ID: <87ej5x1yew.fsf@edna.homeunix.org> References: <03a7c17e-9187-422b-be26-092e15d552be@k30g2000hse.googlegroups.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Trace: ger.gmane.org 1215970713 16664 80.91.229.12 (13 Jul 2008 17:38:33 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:38:33 +0000 (UTC) Cc: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org To: Xah Original-X-From: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sun Jul 13 19:39:19 2008 Return-path: Envelope-to: geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from lists.gnu.org ([199.232.76.165]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1KI5XY-0001nq-SV for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:39:17 +0200 Original-Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:45375 helo=lists.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1KI5Wh-0002ub-2m for geh-help-gnu-emacs@m.gmane.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:23 -0400 Original-Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1KI5WP-0002u6-Qa for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:05 -0400 Original-Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1KI5WP-0002th-37 for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:05 -0400 Original-Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=59683 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1KI5WO-0002td-RJ for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:04 -0400 Original-Received: from smtpsrv1.isis.unc.edu ([152.2.1.140]:42916 helo=smtp.unc.edu) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1KI5WO-0003rq-7B for help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:04 -0400 Original-Received: from edna (cpe-066-026-057-245.nc.res.rr.com [66.26.57.245]) (authenticated bits=0) by smtp.unc.edu (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id m6DHbuGX002153; Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:38:00 -0400 (EDT) User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/23.0.60 (gnu/linux) X-detected-kernel: by monty-python.gnu.org: Solaris 9 X-BeenThere: help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Users list for the GNU Emacs text editor List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: help-gnu-emacs-bounces+geh-help-gnu-emacs=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.emacs.help:55509 Archived-At: Xah writes: > On Jul 10, 12:45 pm, adams...@email.unc.edu (Joel J. Adamson) wrote: >> I do recommend making the key to the left of "A" a control key; it has >> saved me a lot of motion and increased my speed while using Emacs. >> However, it's hard to remember that for my wife's desktop, it's still >> Caps Lock, and sometimes I end up repeating my typing. > > Turning the Cap Lock key into the Control key is one of the bad advice > in keyboarding. It's one of the myth that perpetuate bad practice. > > =E2=80=A2 It is one of the difficult key to press on the keyboard, presse= d by > the pinky. Utter nonsense: it is as easy to press as any other key on the keyboard. This will obviously depend on your model of keyboard. > =E2=80=A2 It puts all stress on the left pinky. I don't feel any more stress than when I press any key. I use a Logitech EX 110 wireless keyboard, a keyboard designed for Windows. With my .Xmodmap, everything is very comfortable. > =E2=80=A2 It forces the left hand to cram into spider legs positions, and= or > the rigth hand flies about wildly. More nonsense: This is all dependent on a typist's technique, not an externally imposed force of nature. > =E2=80=A2 It renders many Control-=E2=80=B9key=E2=80=BA spots void, since= now with only one > pinky many otherwise good Ctrl-=E2=80=B9key=E2=80=BA spots are hard to us= e. Evan more nonsense: I have two control keys; nothing in my .Xmodmap configuration removes the right control key. > =E2=80=A2 The left hand now constantly shift from home position. No more than my right hand does when I depress the apostrophe key (directly to the right of ";" > Here's good tips: > > =E2=80=A2 buy a keyboard with Control on both sides of keyboard. Not hard. > =E2=80=A2 Press modifier keys using both hands, like how Shift key is pre= ssed > in touch typing rules. Duh. If you're following touch-typing, then you are doing this by definiti= on. > =E2=80=A2 On most fullsized PC keyboard, it's very easy to use palm or se= mi- > fist to press Control key. Do this and save Pinky. That sounds to me like it would move the hand out of home position ... Do you hold your wrists up when you type? If you do then none of this advice is necessary. Joel --=20 Joel J. Adamson (303) 880-3109 Public key: http://pgp.mit.edu http://www.unc.edu/~adamsonj http://trashbird1240.blogspot.com