Poll ... do you use your thumbs to type on the keyboard, or just one finger, or ?

[megapopular]

my method...

What helped me the most was practicing how the iphone expands the touch input surface while you type... it shrinks or expands the area around certain buttons while you start typing each word... example: typing the word "hello", the input area around the letter "o" will be expanded, making it easier to not press the letter "p" or "i", even though it would correct you if you did based on the previous letters you typed. It makes sense within a day or two of average use.


Expanding Touch Areas
Another seemingly clever feature in the virtual keyboard seems to be the expandable touch area. This means that the area with which a certain key on the keyboard can be pressed expands, when surrounding keys would not form a word with the current input. In the video the user writes the word ‘tim’ and because there are no correct words to be formed with a following ‘w’ or ‘r’, the touch area of the ‘e’ is expanded.

(from this link: http://v1.jeroenmulder.com/weblog/2007/06/iphone_keyboard_trying_too_hard.php )

 

[Pandora01]

Right now I use one finger, but after reading this thread, I'm ashamed! LOL. I guess I should start practicing with 2 thumbs. I've been resisting, because it feels awkward and it doesn't seem as accurate to me, but I suppose I'll get used to it after a while. I'm going to try.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I hold my iPhone in my left hand and use my right index finger to type.

 

[sanPietro98]

Typically... one thumb.

 

[cellocello]

Two thumbs.

Unless I'm walking around or otherwise can't distract myself too much - then one thumb.

 

[Col127]

Some of my friends can hold their phone and type really fast with just their two thumbs. It's never worked for me! The accuracy just isn't there. If I try to type with my thumbs, it never registers the key that I intend to touch. So, I just use my pointer finger instead. I can type faster that way.

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS if you know a way to help me out here! I am NOT a large person, with fat thumbs. I am very much average size. Is this one of those things, like when we first learned how to type on a computer, that is awkward and tedious at first, but is much more efficient once we get in the habit of it? Is anyone else struggling with this problem?

The thumbs of the person in the right photo look UNUSUALLY skinny. (compare shape of your right thumb).

i'm kind of variable with it. i use two thumbs most of the time, but my accuracy isnt' all that great.

 

[Niiro13]

Left thumb and right first finger.

 

[Rybold]

i'm kind of variable with it. i use two thumbs most of the time, but my accuracy isnt' all that great.

I used to use one finger only, all the time. About a week ago, I switched to typing with two thumbs, and since then, my accuracy with my thumbs has improved so much that I will never go back. Only in some rare circumstances, will I use one finger. Two finger thumb typing is MUCH faster and more efficient - just remember to proof read though.

 

[mikd]

I like typing with two thumbs especially in landscape mode. I can be really fast with one thumb too. I'm very comfortable with real keyboards and I trust the autocompletion so I think that helps me a lot with speed, whether I'm using a thumb or two

 

[abercrombie]

i've used two thumbs to type on my Moto Q (Windows Mobile) with a physical keyboard but i find myself typing with one index finger on my iphone. i guess i haven't been able to type accurately as of yet. i just got my iPhone last week but have been doing the same on my Touch the past 4 months.

 

[Acronym]

i mostly use my thumbs but if one hand is occupied ill use one thumb and if both thumbs are dirty ill use one of my other fingers.

 

[tvp]

If I'm driving (yeah I know not good) I use one thumb, but usually two thumbs.

 

[Benguitar]

Two thumbs for me.

Is it just me or has anyone else typed so fast that your iPhone lags and you can see the phone typing the letters after you have already finished? (1st Gen iPhone did it A LOT more than the 3G)

 

[jackryan57]

Depending on the situation..

Two thumbs

Or left thumb and right index finger

I use the right thumb and the left index finger - seems to work well for me.

 

[Mintin8]

Two thumbs all thw way!

 

[bigmouth]

Pointer and index fingers, though I've experimented with thumbs.

 

[divabimbers]

One thumb here, and I still type at a decent clip. I've tried using two thumbs but for some reason it always felt awkward to me. Maybe if I had stayed with it longer but as it is, typing with one thumb frees up my other hand so I haven't bothered to switch typing methods.

 

[Apple iKid]

I barely ever use one finger. Occasionally I will use one thumb, but generally I always use two thumbs.

 

[jeremykyle]

My two thumbs work amazingly. I have rather thick thumbs, but it still seems to work so flawlessly. I have spent a lot of time texting and typing on the iPhone though, so that may be a factor in the ease of use.

 

[Exley]

for something short (ok, thanks, i'm on my way) ill use the thumb of the hand I'm holding the phone in. Anything longer than a sentence or two i use both thumbs.

 

[iPhoneNYC]

I'm a one finger person and I wish I could have a slightly bigger keypad!

 

[lftrghtparadigm]

IMO, everyone is more than capable of typing extremely well on an iPhone using 2 thumbs and auto correct. If you would only try to learn.

I didn't assume I'd be a typing wiz on the iPhone immediately upon picking it up. I saw it as a new, revolutionary keyboard interface that had a learning curve (as anything of quality should). I got into it, did as Apple suggested and "trust the auto correct," and viola! I can type better/faster/cleaner with the iPhone than any other mobile device.

Period. If you can't, its because you haven't tried hard enough. I know, because I couldn't until I tried (and learned) and now can. Simple Simple.

 

[lftrghtparadigm]

I'm a one finger person and I wish I could have a slightly bigger keypad!

Slightly bigger? No problem, rotate your device 90 degrees
Oh wait, thats 3.0

 

[gigapocket1]

I dont c how people can type with their point finger. i cant do that at all! to slow and to much movie of the entire hand.. Most of the time.. I type two thumbs. Very easily, very fast.. I can even type without looking with very very few mistakes.. if i dont do the two finger method. Lets say im driving.. I either use one thumb... or i drive with my leg and use two thumbs lol.. depends on how much i have to type

 

[michael.lauden]

i have very large hands and do not find it a problem to type on the keyboard with both thumbs. AutoCorrect has gotten really good at fixing my problems when i touch type - the software really is ingenious.

both thumbs ftw