Bruce’s Unusual Typing Wizard has not been updated since 2006, and while that would disqualify most software immediately, I’d like to make an exception in this case. The program works worked flawlessly on my 64-bit Windows 7 edition and should run on pretty much any other Microsoft operating system as well.

The program offers two options to learn to type. First the typing lessons which starts a series of lessons that help the user learn to type, and typing practice which users can use to practice typing regular sentences.

The program teaches the use how to type. Each lesson starts with an introductory screen. The first lesson for instance explains where the fingers have to go on the keyboard.

The typing tutor then displays words, phrases and even individual letters and characters in the interface that the user has to type. The next letter is always highlighted on the virtual keyboard in the program interface. It indicates the next letter, errors, the overall percentage and the typing speed in words per minutes.

Approximately two new keys are added per lesson to slowly improve the typing of the user. It has to be noted that the typing lessons only work for US keyboard layouts as special chars like the “;” may not be next to the “l” in other keyboard layouts. While it is possible to edit the sentences of the Typing Practice module, it is not possible to change the keyboard layout or edit the typing lesson layout.

Regardless of those limitations, Bruce’s Unusual Typing Wizard is a handy software to learn how to type faster. Windows users can download the application from the developer website.

But similarities end here. If you analyse how people use the keyboard to type. Some prefer the one or two finger method, while others are confidentially using all ten fingers without even looking at the keyboard. This behavior directly corresponds with the typing speed of the individual computer user. Typing speed is usually measured in characters per minute (cpm) or words per minute (words per minute) with the former being more accurate than the latter.

Individuals can save lots of time by improving their typing speed, and companies money. A ten percent increase in typing speed for instance means that the users task is finished 10% faster as well. Now imagine raising the typing speed of one or multiple employees by 50% or even 100%.

Some say, the typing speed increases naturally with use. While that may be correct to some extent, it is often the case that users hit a wall eventually. From that moment on, they cannot improve their typing speed by simply typing, they need professional typing tools to improve it further.

The two most common tools found are typing games and typing tests. This guide concentrates on free online typing tools that everyone can use to improve the typing speed.

Typing Tests And Games

Keybr

Keybr supports seven languages and differentkeyboard layouts depending on the language selected. It displays text on the screen that the typing student needs to type on the keyboard. Available text options are random (gibberish text), Robert Scott’s Jabberwocky or text from a website or blog that the user can select individually.

The program keeps track of the typing speed and error, and visualizes the next character for the user. The typing test keeps track of the top speed, average speed and progress as well.

TypingTest

Typing Test is a website dedicated to improving the typing of its users. The website offers a basic English typing test after which it will grade the user’s result and compare it to the average computer user.

The website offers typing games as well, including a game of KeyMan, a PacMan clone in which the player controls the movement by typing keys on the keyboard.

TyperShark

A basic game where the player has to type the words appearing on sharks approaching the player’s character. The game offers several difficulty setings, and will display statistics in the end. Included in the stats are the words per minute, and the accuracy.

Power Typing

Offers various short typing tests.

Type Online

Learn2Type

Offers both a typing test and a ten key test, which tests the numpad typing speed.

Typeracer

A fun typing game where you compete in a race with other human players.

Nimble Fingers

Typing test that concentrates on various keys on the keyboard.

State Universities Tying Test

Test with instructions, required text for various examinations.

Key Hero

Typing Courses

Typing Web

Offers typing courses that are sorted into beginner, intermediate and advanced courses. Registered users can save their typing progress.

Sense Lang

Rapid Typing Tutor

A website with typing related information, from base finger positions and general typing tips to typing games, online typing tests and typing software.

Typing Tips

PC Drome

• Position of your body
• Placement of hands
• Memorize the Keys
• Maximize Use of Shortcut Keys
• Practice makes man perfect

7 Good Tips To Faster Typing On The iPad

• Right Way to Position iPad?
• Suggestions & Corrections
• Most Used Words
• Editing – Cut, Copy &Paste
• Capitals & Periods
• Voice-Over & International Settings
• Practice, Practice, Practice

Now of a typing test, game or tutorial that we have missed? Let us know in the comments.

The typing course is divided into different courses from beginner to advanced and specialty courses and even problem key courses at the end of all typing courses. The online service keeps track of the progress of registered users which is important as the typing courses can take quite some time to finish.

Each typing course consists of several separate lessons. The typing tutor will display various statistics after each separate lesson and each typing course. The first courses show the computer keyboard and fingers that should be used to type the requested key. This is helpful for users who need some visual guidance in their first lessons.

The beginning courses for example target the different computer keyboard rows. They start with a single line of different computer keys that need to be typed in by the user. The typing courses become more difficulty with time. Advanced courses for example ask the user to type in multiple key rows without the visual aid provided in the beginner’s courses.

TypingWeb’s Online Typing Tutor is a helpful typing course for beginners but also advanced users who want to work on their typing speed and decrease their typing error ratio.

Typing software is also great for kids who are making their first experiences with a computer system. Rapidtyping Typing Tutor is one of those typing software programs that can be used by adults and kids alike. It comes with a colorful interface that is showing an underwater environment that rewards the student with scenery changes and additional animals that are shown on the screen.

Adults can look behind this and concentrate on the typing software. Before it starts the user has to pick a fitting keyboard, the Typing Tutor is supporting several types of keyboard layouts like QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY.

The typing software is using lessons to tutor the user. They begin with combinations of four characters (letters, syllables, numbers, special chars) that have to be typed repeatedly in alternating order before it is showing complete texts.

An extensive set of statistics is recording the progress of each lesson over time showing valuable information like time needed and characters per second for the lesson which should hopefully improve over time.

The typing software uses profiles to distinguish users which makes it excellent for families with several kids.

Lesson one for instance uses only half the letters of the alphabet while lesson three uses all of them. Another difference between the lessons is that you have to type more in lesson three than in lesson one and two. Keybr displays the letters on top and a keyboard below.

Whenever you hit a key on the keyboard it is shown on the keyboard displayed on screen and it is checked if the key that you did press was the correct one. If it was the next key is asked for, if it was not you have to try again until you hit the right one.

I like that you can use different keyboard layouts and languages including English, German, French and Russian. A counter displays the typing speed (per minute I guess) and the errors that you made in this part of the lesson. Once you finished typing all the letters new letters will appear that you have to type again.

You can look at a chart that is displaying your progress over time. It displays the errors and speed of your typing.

I do have some criticism though. I don’t like it that most of the time fake words are displayed. This is of course harder than typing known words and reduces the typing speed. There is also no distinction between upper and lower case and all the special chars are not used as well except for the space key.