Rapid Typing Tutor 4.2

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on June 08, 2009

Rapid Typing Tutor may be a good program to help novice typists improve, but experienced typists looking to increase their speed may be frustrated by the program's interface.

The program contains a series of lessons that scroll across the screen as the user types. Users can choose from lessons consisting of letters, syllables, capital letters, digits and symbols, or text. As each lesson scrolls across, a keyboard diagram shows an outline of hands moving to the appropriate key. Users type through each lesson and are then shown their scores on speed, accuracy, and arrhythmic input. The main problem with the interface is that experienced typists tend to scan ahead in the text they're typing from, focusing on words or phrases rather than individual letters. Rapid Typing Tutor allows users to see no more than a few characters ahead. And since the speed of the scroll depends on the speed of the typist, those who are already fairly quick may find that the blur of text flying across the screen is hard to process visually. Users who are just getting familiar with the keyboard layout likely won't be bothered by this, but they may grow increasingly frustrated as their speed increases.

In general the interface could be more intuitive, but most users should be able to figure it out. Users can create lessons, but it doesn't seem possible to cut and paste text from elsewhere into a new lesson, which is disappointing. Installation and uninstallation are trouble-free. For free software without limitations, this program is a boon to aspiring typists. More advanced keyboardists may wish to look elsewhere.

Publisher's Description

From Typing Tutor Labs:

RapidTyping Software announces the release of Rapid Typing Tutor, a free software tool to improve one's typing skills. Rapid Typing Tutor helps computer users to learn how to type properly without looking at the keyboard while making keyboard training fun and entertaining. The tool is completely free, and does not cost a dime. Kids, and adults too, can use Rapid Typing Tutor to improve their typing skills through a series of easy, fun lessons. Rapid Typing Tutor is not another boring keyboard training tool. With numerous colorful themes and avatars and a game-like environment, Rapid Typing Tutor makes learning typing fun for both adults and children. A built-in typing game makes learning to type an easy and entertaining experience. The built-in typing game makes training more like a game, not studying. With Rapid Typing Tutor, it's easy to evaluate typing performance at any time by simply looking at charts. Rapid Typing Tutor tracks user progress, and allows students to see their results at any time. The progress and statistics are represented as tables and charts, allowing students to see their progress and become motivated for taking yet another lesson. The statistics displays both typing speed and accuracy, always with a summary at the end of each lesson. Rapid Typing Tutor is absolutely free, and does not have any hidden fees, adware or spyware included. Rapid Typing Tutor is fully customizable, allowing students to plan their own lessons according to their skills and capabilities.

Rapid Typing Tutor offers the complete freedom of learning, allowing students to make their own lessons and plan their studies. There is no enforcement of pre-defined learning plans. Rapid Typing Tutor allows accessing any lesson at any time, from the easiest to the most advanced. Custom lessons are easy to make, too. If there is a need to practice a particular key or any set of keys, it's easy to create a specific lesson to train for those particular keys.To help typists learn how to place their fingers on the keyboard, Rapid Typing Tutor displays a virtual keyboard with zone highlights. This way, typists always know which hand belongs to which zone. To make learning even more fun while teaching students how to type correctly, Rapid Typing Tutor displays two moving hands over the keyboard.

What's new in this version: Version 4.2 added the Greek course; added support for the 680x420 screens; added support screen rotation; added the "blank" lesson background; added the word count in the lessons editor; moved the 'Show/Hide keyboard' option to the user level page; fixed the delay for loading the course on the weak video cards on Windows 7; fixed minimize/maximize bug for left, right or top Task Bar; fixed splitter bug for maximized window.