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Miscellaneous Software

Freeware Typing Tutor with Aquarium Animation

SUMMARY: The freeware Rapid Typing Tutor displays animation while taking users through a succession of keyboarding drills.

Rapid Typing Tutor for Windows aims to help speed up your typing through a series of lessons. This freeware application will have you start out with just a few letters, work your way through punctuations and short syllables, tackle capital letters, key in longer words, and then run through digits and finally longer blocks of text. More advanced typists can jump around to specific lessons if desired.

While typing, to keep you entertained an animated aquarium scene appears behind the characters to be keyed (this can be turned off if you find it distracting). A visual keyboard appears below, with transparent hands moving as you type.


Typing a lesson in Rapid Typing Tutor



After each lesson you can view your progress. This includes your speed and accuracy, showing which characters (if any) were mistyped. You can also view your progress and records, with charts and graphs to illustrate.


Results of a typing lesson in Rapid Typing Tutor



The software supports several interface languages including Chinese, French, and Portuguese. You can, to a limited extend, customize your keyboard type so the on-screen images match your actual keyboard. Other customization options include the colors, keyboard shortcuts, and toggling sound effects.

Windows 2000 and up are supported, and according to the author, the software can be run under Linux via Wine. The software may be downloaded at the following site. Note that a portable version is available:

* Rapid Typing Tutor

This tip was written regarding Rapid Typing Tutor v3 running on a Windows XP system. Features, information, and screenshots for other versions / operating systems may vary.

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The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >