Keybr is a web-based application that helps you learn how to type fast.
On the website, you can access tailor-made lessons that help you speed up the rate at which you key in different letters, numbers, and symbols.
The site has a variety of lessons with different levels for beginners, advanced students, and experts. You will continuously train yourself to type at every level using muscle memory rather than sight.
Keybr aims to help learners grasp the art of touch typing. It requires you to type out sentences and even paragraphs without looking at the keyboard.
This inevitably ensures that you type faster.
Keybr Features
If you visit the Keybr website, you’ll notice that it has a minimalist design and allows you to start practicing right off the bat. There are different sections on the right-hand side of the screen so you can navigate with relative ease.
The workspace is situated in the center of the homepage so you’ll be able to have a look at the virtual keyboard and the blank page where your words will appear.
If you click on the profile section, you’ll be redirected to your dashboard where you can monitor things like your All-time and Daily statistics.
You also get information about the number of lessons you have taken so far, your top speed, and the average speed you have achieved since you started the lessons.
There is also a section with High Scores so you can click on it to find out about other Keybr users and how they are doing. High Score is determined by the speed of typing, accuracy, number of characters, and the number of words in every session.
Keybr incorporates a Text Tool that allows you to easily determine the number of words you have written and the most common words in every sentence you create.
The tool also lets you know the amount of time it is likely to take a reader to go through a sentence or paragraph.
With Keybr, you are also free to click on the Multiplayer section and go up against others online to determine who among you is the fastest. You’ll be able to gauge your speed against others by looking at the different vehicles that run across the screen.
Customized Lessons
Keybr has achieved a lot of success because of its customized lessons. As soon as you enroll and start taking lessons, there is an algorithm that collects certain data and uses it to identify your skill level.
As a beginner, the system will only present you with a limited set of letters to form words. For instance, all the words you type will consist of the letters E, N, I, T, R, L.
Once you are comfortable with forming words using these letters, the algorithm will promote you to the next level and then come up with lessons that are most suitable for your progress.
In most cases, the algorithm is likely to consider your typing speed and the level of accuracy you achieve in forming each word and sentence.
Once the algorithm has figured out your skill level, it will start presenting you with challenges in terms of words. These words are generated randomly so they may not make sense semantically although in most cases they do.
As soon as you complete a given set of words, the algorithm will do a quick analysis and present you with a new set of words. This is likely to go on for some time as it helps you develop muscle memory when typing.
Keybr also incorporates a system of color coding to help learners know the letters that are getting right and those they are getting wrong. For instance, when you start typing, all letters will appear gray on the screen.
However, as your lessons progress, some letters will turn green while others turn red. Those that turn green are the ones you have entered correctly and within a reasonable amount of time.
Those that turn red are the ones that you are struggling with. In most cases, if a letter turns red it means you are taking too long before you type it.
You will not progress to a new level unless your typing speed and accuracy improve. The system also checks to ensure that you make the least amount of mistakes as you progress through the different learning levels.
It is worth pointing out that Keybr also takes your native language into consideration which is why some people may seem to progress faster than others. Remember that languages have different phonetics and some may, therefore, present more challenges than others.
Real and Fake Words
Simply typing letters into your keyboard is not going to make it easier for you to increase your typing speed in 30 days. That is why Keybr does not just present you with letters.
Instead, the letters are presented in a way that is consistent with your native language. For instance, if you are an English speaker, chances are that there are no words that will have a combination of W followed by a Z.
That is why Keybr always presents you with real words. It also ensures that most of the words have some of the most common combinations of letters.
This helps you grasp how to type some of the most important words in your language. That is why you are likely to find words like “The”, “That”, and “With” among others.
Keybr does not use fake words so you don’t have to worry about running into them. However, your typing may be inaccurate which is why you may notice a few fake words popping up on screen.
The application will let you know when a word is fake by including a red line underneath. Keybr also allows you to add custom text to the system.
This enables you to add and practice words that are traditionally difficult for you to get right when typing.
Progress Tracking
It is highly recommended that you sign up for a free account because that will help you track your progress. It will also allow you to customize the application so you have a more personalized experience.
A free account allows you to store data on the site’s servers. Without an account, your data is automatically stored on your local device which may sometimes offer limited storage space.
A free account makes it possible for you to access your profile from any device and continue practicing without losing your progress details.
You can opt for a premium account which effectively gets rid of any ads that may be causing distractions. With no ads popping up on the different pages, you are likely to experience faster loading speeds.
A premium account ensures that there are no trackers collecting data about your browsing experience. The good news is that the premium account only requires a one-time payment but unlocks lifetime access.
You can sign up for a Keybr account through your e-mail or social media credentials from Facebook, Gmail, or Microsoft.
Consistent Practice
When it comes to increasing your typing speed, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that the more you practice the better you will become.
As you keep typing different letters, your fingers retain the necessary muscle memory and this ensures you improve.
Keep in mind that Keybr will gauge your progress in terms of Words Per Minute (WPM) or Characters Per Minute (CPM). You should also know that the definition of a word is generally considered as five characters.
That means if you type 10 words per minute another can count it as 50 characters per minute. With that in mind, you can set goals for your daily practice.
For instance, if you are not good at typing, you can start by practicing for an hour or half an hour. Try to bring your typing speed to five words per minute and then as you get better, increase the amount of words you type within the given period.
Obviously, as you start practicing you will find that you are falling behind time. You may also realize that your words are not as accurate as you may want but don’t let that discourage you.
Focus on Accuracy
As noted earlier, Keybr does not only gauge your proficiency using your typing speed. It also considers your level of accuracy which is why you need to be keen on this aspect as you progress.
As you already know, the system will get you started on typing using six letters. If you form words quickly and correctly it will keep adding one more letter.
As more letters are added, you will notice that it becomes a bit difficult to get previous letters to turn green. But don’t worry about that, it is only natural for that to happen.
When the system adds new letters to the sequence, focus on creating accurate words and typing in the new letter as fast as possible. In other words, strive to turn the new letter green rather than making all letters in the sequence green.
Another strategy you can use is to strike a balance between speed and accuracy. Remember, there is no need for you to type fast if whatever you are typing is full of errors.
It is better for you to lose some speed but churn out accurate words consistently.
Steps to Increase Typing Speed in 30 Days
Here are some of the things you should keep in mind when trying to improve your typing speed.
1. Find the Right Place
Image by Lisa Fotios
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you are only going to improve your typing speed if you are comfortable. That is why you need to find a chair that supports your back and helps you keep a healthy posture.
You should also have a desk and start practicing in a quiet place if possible. Remember, if you are trying to type fast in an area where people are trying to have conversations, you may end up getting distracted.
2. Use Proper Hand Placement
The second thing to keep in mind is that proper hand placement is key to getting everything right. Keybr recommends that you start by placing your fingers on the home row.
The home row is the one that contains the Caps Lock. If correctly done, your left-hand fingers should rest on the letters A, S, D, and F keys while the right-hand fingers rest on the J, K, L, and Colon keys.
Your thumbs should be hovering on top of the Space Bar. With this technique, your tiny left finger will be responsible for typing the Caps Lock, Shift, and Tab keys.
Your tiny right pinky finger will also be responsible for typing the Backspace, Enter, and Shift keys. As a beginner, this may seem a bit much but after a few days of practice, you will get the hang of it and will find yourself maneuvering the keyboard easily.
3. Start Slow
Image by Andrea Pacquadio
You are on Keybr to learn how to type fast but don’t go into it hoping to achieve quick results. Instead, follow the curriculum laid down in full. That takes up to 30 days.
Over the first three or four days try and get your hand placement right and then explore the options for typing different keys from your starting point. Don’t focus on speed too much at this stage. Instead, focus on getting your entries right.
The good news is that the Keybr system will present you with some of the most common words and letter combinations so within a few days you will be pretty comfortable with typing some of the most used keys.
4. Prioritize Accuracy Over Speed
Again don’t forget it is better to sacrifice some speed for accuracy. Typing fast without accuracy means you’ll need to go over your work and correct all the mistakes which will only end up eating into your time.
5. Don’t Look Down at the Keyboard
Image by Cottonbro Studio
As a beginner, you will find yourself glancing down at the keyboard in a quest to avoid typing the wrong keys. However, you should make it a point not to fall into temptation.
Instead, only look down at the keyboard when you are placing your hands. After that, keep your eyes on the computer’s screen.
The more you practice using this technique, the better you will get at identifying your typos and avoiding them altogether. You will also notice your accuracy improving over a few days.
6. Don’t Fear Mistakes or Typos
If you are afraid of committing mistakes, you will be less likely to improve your typing speed. Instead, go ahead and make mistakes.
Once you get into the habit of typing, you’ll realize that erasing typos and replacing them with the right letters becomes second nature to you.
7. Take Breaks
Image by Andrea Pacquadio
Another important thing to keep in mind is that even the most proficient typists start making mistakes when they are tired. That is why you need to take breaks between your practice sessions.
Giving your mind time to rest and allowing your fingers and arms to relax are key to getting back to your typing sessions while feeling refreshed and energized.
8. Take the Keybr Typing Test
Keybr allows users to take a typing test just so they can understand their level. The test results include information that can help you sharpen your typing skills and improve both speed and accuracy.
Success Stories
Alex Panagis, one of the reviewers on Product Hunt, notes that he had only used the application for a short while but noticed a huge improvement in his typing speed.
He goes further to state that the tool can be a good way for young children and even advanced typers to sharpen their skills.
Another reviewer on AlternativeTo by the name of Smatt2323 states that Keybr is an extremely easy-to-use application that can help just about anyone learn how to type fast.
Samuel Welch, a reviewer on Trustpilot, gives the application a five-star rating and notes that it is quite fun and helpful for learners of all levels.
Wrapping Up
Keybr offers a simple and straightforward method for just about anyone to improve their typing speed in 30 days. Its lessons are tailor-made so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with others.
Instead, you just need to focus on yourself and how well you can type. The applications include helpful features such as Multiplayer for fun-filled learning, Testing to assess your level, and High Scores to gauge your proficiency against others around the world.
With an improved typing speed, you will not only complete your assignments faster but ultimately become more productive.
Typing fast also tends to improve focus, meaning you will craft more factual and helpful content.
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing.
Tom has been a full-time internet marketer for two decades now, earning millions of dollars while living life on his own terms. Along the way, he’s also coached thousands of other people to success.