How Low Can You Go?

Devantè · 2006-11-05 00:09:40

http://www.offthewrist.com/index.jsp?id=ff

It's a game with a rather basic concept. How fast can you type the alphabet on your keyboard? You may make mistakes as often as you wish, but just get it done in the time limit.

The lowest time I have managed to get is 2.334 seconds (yes, 2 seconds!). It can build up your typing skills if you have a lot of accuracy.

You may submit your score, but you may have noticed that I haven't submitted my 2.334 time because the game is a little glitchy and occasionally disallows you from submitting your score.

I quite like this game because it shows just how well-designed the keyboard is and how well-placed the letters are on it. 2.334 seconds is a possible time, it just takes a lot of practise. Don't play it for too long; It can get addictive, and you may end up with sore wrists.

I'm not sure if this belongs in 'This Is Cool', however, since it isn't cool and has nothing to do with math or science in simple terms.

Toast · 2006-11-05 00:24:57

Heh, I've played this before; it's awesome.
W00TW00T 1.662 seconds and Ranked 144.
I am doing it on a laptop, though, and I must say it's a lot easier than on a desktop, as you can slide between the keys with your fingers.

Last edited by Toast (2006-11-05 01:10:48)

Patrick · 2006-11-05 00:25:52

veru funny game! Gonna try it again later

MathsIsFun · 2006-11-05 00:34:24

(Moved to Games)

I can't get anywhere NEAR 2 seconds, that is awesome.

Patrick · 2006-11-05 02:04:09

3,7 so far.. I'm trying to hit the keys a bit slower, but keeping misses at a minimum. So when I try to go even faster, I won't get slowed by hitting the wrong key.

All_Is_Number · 2006-11-05 03:10:15

Devanté wrote:

I quite like this game because it shows just how well-designed the keyboard is and how well-placed the letters are on it.

What keyboard are you using? The standard QWERTY arrangement found in the US was intentionally designed to be inefficient, so that even fast typists could not type faster than the old mechanical typewriters could operate. I'm actually quite surprised a better layout has not been adopted since computers don't have the same limitations.

Devantè · 2006-11-05 06:22:01

I'm using the standard QWERTY keyboard.

I wonder what the world record for the fastest LPM (average letters per minute) is.

I will try to improve on my 2.334 on a laptop.

Devantè · 2006-11-05 08:52:08

We can all type the alphabet quickly with ease.

But can we do it backwards?

http://www.offthewrist.com/index.jsp?id=ff2

Zhylliolom · 2006-11-05 09:17:55

Why was the QWERTY keyboard intentionally designed to be inefficient?

I am not able to get under 3 seconds, but pretty close. My problem is that I am one of those two-finger typers. Yes, I refuse to learn how to "really" type.

Devantè · 2006-11-05 09:28:32

Another tip; A, B and C can all be press at once. Place your fingers on A, B, C, D and E before playing to get a faster time.

In my opinion, I think the QWERTY keyboard is very efficient.

Patrick · 2006-11-05 09:47:45

I agree with Devanté, the letters are actually very accessible; when you're trying to write the alphabet that is.

luca-deltodesco · 2006-11-05 10:22:13

i got 3.48 seconds, i tend to use most of my fingers while typing, but when writing something i hardly ever use my thumbs which apparently you're supposed to use for the space bar instead of another finger.

Zhylliolom · 2006-11-05 13:38:10

I tried again and got 2.5 seconds, I am the Django Reinhardt of typing.

Devantè · 2006-11-05 19:10:28

I have gotten a 2.34x on a laptop. To me it doesn't seem like there's much of a difference. :\

Toast · 2006-11-05 19:32:49

Well, i've been typing for a very long time (since grade 5), and it's very helpful if you learn the proper technique (and chat a lot in real-time games )
You should always start slowly and then once you've practiced enough and think you are ready, go all out. (W00T 1.462)

Last edited by Toast (2006-11-05 19:44:05)

Devantè · 2006-11-07 20:30:08

Devanté wrote:

We can all type the alphabet quickly with ease.
But can we do it backwards?
http://www.offthewrist.com/index.jsp?id=ff2

I got 2.915 in this game; Easy when you can say the alphabet backwards beforehand.

Proof: http://offthewrist.com/index.jsp?id=ff2_hs&name=Devante&cachebuster=1162971681581

Rank: 601

Also, is it actually possible to get a time like 1.001 seconds? There are several people here who say they have such a time, but it seems quite improbable.

New time: 2.844: http://offthewrist.com/index.jsp?id=ff2_hs&name=Devante&cachebuster=1162982534977

Last edited by Devanté (2006-11-07 22:43:13)

Toast · 2006-11-08 02:45:52

Wether I'm typing back to front or front to back I always seem to miss the 'f'. >_<

All_Is_Number · 2006-11-08 08:02:46

Zhylliolom wrote:

Why was the QWERTY keyboard intentionally designed to be inefficient?
I am not able to get under 3 seconds, but pretty close. My problem is that I am one of those two-finger typers. Yes, I refuse to learn how to "really" type.

An efficient design would have the "e" at either the current j or f position. The home keys should be where the most often used letters are located.

There are other layouts available that are designed more efficiently.

Early typewriter would jam if keys were pressed too quickly in succession, hence the need to slow down typists. This is not an issue with computers, but the same inefficient key layout still prevails.

Zhylliolom · 2006-11-08 09:56:39

Interesting and reasonable, All_Is_Number.

My friend, who is an internet legend, claimed to get 0.999, but the server conveniently was "having trouble," as you guys mentioned sometimes happened, and thus his score wasn't recorded. I've seen him type many times and he is insanely fast, but the alphabet in one second seems pretty extraordinary.

Toast · 2006-11-08 19:17:06

The jump from W to X takes far too long, should I be using the same finger?

Devantè · 2006-11-08 20:03:17

When doing it backwards, no, you should not be using the same finger.

Devantè · 2007-03-18 05:06:48

Update. Roughly 2.1-ish in the backwards alphabet game.

justlookingforthemoment · 2007-03-18 19:34:26

Devante wrote:

you may end up with sore wrists.

And RSI!

Devante wrote:

Update. Roughly 2.1-ish in the backwards alphabet game.

You have too much spare time ... !

U7109 · 2007-04-06 00:13:17

I can type it all out:

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Did that in twenty seconds.

Devantè · 2007-04-07 08:05:17

Choco wrote:

I can type it all out:
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Did that in twenty seconds.

Great.

Now try beating my record of 1.8 seconds.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2006-11-05 00:09:40

How Low Can You Go?

#2 2006-11-05 00:24:57

Re: How Low Can You Go?

#3 2006-11-05 00:25:52

Re: How Low Can You Go?

#4 2006-11-05 00:34:24

Re: How Low Can You Go?

#5 2006-11-05 02:04:09

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#6 2006-11-05 03:10:15

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#7 2006-11-05 06:22:01

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#8 2006-11-05 08:52:08

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#9 2006-11-05 09:17:55

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#10 2006-11-05 09:28:32

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#11 2006-11-05 09:47:45

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#12 2006-11-05 10:22:13

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#13 2006-11-05 13:38:10

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#14 2006-11-05 19:10:28

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#15 2006-11-05 19:32:49

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#16 2006-11-07 20:30:08

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#17 2006-11-08 02:45:52

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#18 2006-11-08 08:02:46

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#19 2006-11-08 09:56:39

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#20 2006-11-08 19:17:06

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#21 2006-11-08 20:03:17

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#22 2007-03-18 05:06:48

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#23 2007-03-18 19:34:26

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#24 2007-04-06 00:13:17

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#25 2007-04-07 08:05:17

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