UNIT-2 : DATA ENTRY AND KEYBOARDING SKILLS

CH-1. MASTERING TYPING

Q1. What do you mean by keyboarding skills?
Ans. Keyboard is the most common text-based input device. A
keyboard generally has more than 100 keys. Each key of a keyboard
corresponds to a single symbol. Some symbols require pressing and
holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence. It allows entering
alphabets, digits and symbols into the computer. Keyboards are also
used for computer gaming.
A computer keyboard contains the following types of keys:
• Alphanumeric keys - The entire alphabet (A-Z) as well as numerals
(0-9) are available on the keyboard.
• Punctuation keys - All of the punctuation keys, such as the
comma(,), period (. ), semicolon (;), brackets ([]), and parenthesis ( )
and so on.
• Alt key - The Alt key stands for Alternate key, functions similarly to
a second control key.
• Arrow keys - The cursor can be moved up (), down (), right (), or left
() with the four arrow keys.
• Shift or Alt keys - To move the cursor in multiple positions at the
same time.
• Backspace key - Deletes the character just to the left of the cursor
and moves the cursor to that position.
• Caps Lock key - It’s a toggle key that changes all alphabetic
characters to uppercase when pressed.
• Ctrl key - The control key is used in conjunction with other keys to
produce control characters.
• Delete key - The Del key deletes the character or chosen item at the
current cursor position, but it does not move the pointer.
• Enter key or Return key - It’s used to type commands or move the
pointer to the next line’s beginning.
• Esc key - To send special codes to devices and exit (or escape) from
applications and tasks, press the Escape key.
• Function keys - F1 through F12 are special keys. Depending on
whatever software is running, these keys have distinct meanings.

Q2. What is touch typing technique?

Ans. Touch typing is a method of typing without relying on the

sense of sight. Instead, touch typists use muscle memory to
locate the keys on the keyboard. The goal is to type quickly
and accurately without looking at the keyboard. Here are
some key points about touch typing:
 Touch typing involves placing the eight fingers in a
horizontal row along the middle of the keyboard
(known as the home row).
 Muscle Memory allows touch typists to type
efficiently without visual cues. This contrasts with
“hunt-and-peck” typing, where the typist looks at the
keyboard and searches for each key individually.

Q3. Write advantages of touch typing.

Ans. Some advantages of touch typing are as follows:

o Speed: Touch typing can significantly increase typing
speed up to 5 times.
o Reduced Attention Switching: By not looking at the
keyboard, touch typists can focus more on the
content they are typing.
o Reduced Neck Strain: Looking down at the keyboard
for extended periods can strain the neck; touch
typing minimizes this.
 o Saves time: Touch typist can save around 20-35% of
the time used on a computer through learning this
skill.
o Productivity: It makes you more competent and
productive as it increases your confidence, time is
nearly halved and errors will be negligible with time.

Q4. What is the role of typing ergonomics?

Ans. Typing ergonomics provides the logistic support for efficient
and effective typewriting. They are important to attain and maintain
accuracy and speed. Some of these factors included are as given as
below.
Sitting posture: While operating the computer keyboard, sit straight,
slightly bending your neck forward. Check your comfort and sitting
position of body.
Position of hands: Put your forearms at level with the keyboard and
palms down. Keep your wrists straight and hang your elbows
naturally.
Monitor placement: Do not bend your neck while working on the
monitor and keep the upper border of screen at eye level. Keep an
approximate distance of about 60–65 cm for 17 inches screen.
Mouse and keyboard placement: Keep the keyboard and mouse at an
approximate distance of 20 cm, which will help in smooth and
effortless operation of keyboard.
Chair and table placement: Adjust computer chair and table to an
optimal height.
Placement of matter to be typed: Place the matter for typing to the
left or right side of the keyboard preferably on a Copy Holder which
has a sloping surface.
Q5. Differentiate between Home Keys and Guide Keys.
Ans. Home Key – Home keys for the left hand are ASDF, and home
keys for the right hand are (semi-colon) LKJ.
Guide Key – The keys ‘F’ and ‘J’ on a computer keyboard are known
as left and right hand guide keys, respectively.
Q6. Discuss positioning of fingers on the keyboard.
Ans. Mastery typewriting skills means to attain necessary knowledge
and skill of keyboard operation by correct positioning of fingers.
The keyboard learning process starts from the second row (Home
Row) followed by the Third Row (Upper Row), First Row (Bottom
Row) and the Fourth Row (Number Row). The fingers of both the
hands have to operate the keys allotted to them on each row.
 Allocation of keys to fingers on the second row (home row)
Place four fingers of each hand on Home Keys. The remaining
two keys ‘g’ and ‘h’ on the second row are operated by the
forefingers (Index Finger) of left and right hand, respectively.
 Allocation of keys to fingers on the third row (upper row)
The next step is learning the key-reaches from the Home Row to
the row above it. The learning begins with the reaches from ‘a’
to ‘q’ by left hand little finger and from ‘;’ to ‘p’ by right hand
little finger. This is followed by the placement of the third fingers
(Ring fingers) to the adjoining keys ‘w’ and ‘o’ and so on.
 Allocation of keys to fingers on the first row (bottom row)
After learning how to operate keys on Home Row and Third
Row, the next step is to learn how to operate keys on the First
Row. Keys Z, X, C, V, B, N, M, Comma, Full Stop and ‘/’ sign are
located on this row.
 Allocation of keys to fingers on the Fourth Row (Number Row)
In this row, type 1, 2, 3 with little, ring and middle 9fingers of the
left hand, respectively, and 4 and 5 with the index finger
(forefinger). Similarly type 0, 9, 8 with little, ring and middle
 fingers of right hand, respectively, 7 and 6 with index finger
(forefingers).

Q7. What is numeric Keypad?

Ans. When entering large amounts of numeric data, a numeric
keypad is used. This keypad functions similarly to a calculator. It is
usually found on the right side of the computer keyboard.
Q8. What is Rapid Typing Tutor?
Ans. Rapid Typing Tutor is a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
designed to learn typing skills on the computer. It is free to use and
share with others for free, but only by using the original distribution
package. Learning to type is fun with the typing game included with
Rapid Typing Tutor.
Rapid Typing provides various courses according to the difficulty
level, which are:
1. Introduction
2. Beginner
3. Experienced
4. Advanced
5. Testing

Q9. What are the color indications in a typing tutor software?

Ans. The colour indication is as follows:
• Green letters denote right inputs.
• Yellow letters stand for right inputs exceeding the acceptable
timeframe.
• Red letters denote wrong inputs within the acceptable timeframe.
• Orange letters indicate wrong inputs that also exceed the
acceptable timeframe (it's the worst result)
Q10. What are pointing devices?
Ans. Instead of typing, directly some items can be selected from
computer screen, for example "print" or "close" button. This can be
done using point and draw devices, such as mouse. Not only to
select, but drawing of line, curve and shapes is also possible with
such devices. Other examples of point and draw devices are joystick,
light pea, touch pad or track ball and touch screen.

Q11. Describe mouse and its operations.

Ans. Mouse is a pointing device that is used to select menu
commands, resize windows, selecting actions from screen icons, etc.
A mouse primarily comprises of three parts: the buttons, the handling
area, and the rolling object. By default, the mouse is configured to
work for the right hand. The left-handed persons can change the
settings as per the needs.
The common mouse actions are as follows:
(a) Click or left click: It is used to select an item. Press down once on
the left button with your index finger.
(b) Double click: It is used to start a program or open a file or trigger
an action.
(c) Right click: It is used to display a set of commands and available
options
(d) Drag and drop: It allows to select and move an item from one
location to another
(e) Scroll: Many applications provide scrollbars on right side of screen
if the page length is more than the monitor/screen length.
(f) Blocking: Blocking is another way of selecting text. It is used to
select text that needs to be edited or formatted.

Q12. What do you mean by typing rhythm?

Ans. Typing rhythm means the keystrokes should come at equal
intervals. To control the constant typing speed, the Slowdown
indicator is used. The following table shows the different formula for
the Slowdown (percentage slowdowns) calculation:

Q13. What are the different components of Rapid Typing window?

 Ans. Title bar – shows the name of the application program. On
the top-left corner three big tab-buttons are used for switching
between basic program modes: Current lesson, Student
statistics and Lesson editor. On the top-right corner are
Options, Minimise, Maximise and close buttons.
 Select course
 Select lesson
 Start/pause lesson
 Current lesson time
 Restart the current lesson
 Text area
 Status
 Speaker
 Virtual keyboard
Q14. How can you assess your performance along with the progress
on touch typing?
Ans. We should interpret the result correctly and view the detailed
statistics.
 The upper part of the result window shows the overall rating
and is known as Rating pane.
  The lower part has different tabs, Next step, Detailed statistics
and Error overview. Each tab has a different purpose.
Q15. What do you mean by Lesson Editor? Enlist its components.
Ans. Lesson editor is a feature of the Rapid Typing software that
allows you to customise the courses as per your requirement. You
can add, insert and delete lessons, group them in courses etc. has
following components:
 Taskbar
 Toolbar
 Navigation Tree
 Text Panel
 Lesson Metrics
 Virtual keyboard

MCQ
Data entry and keyboarding skills
Q1. Who invented touch-typing technique?
a. Frank Edward McDonald
b. Frank Edward McGurrin
c. Frank Edward Kemon
d. None of these
Ans. Frank Edward McGurrin
Q2. What is the full form of CPM?
a. Cars Per Minute
b. Components Per Minute
c. Characters Per Minute
d. Characteristics Per Minute
Ans. Characters Per Minute
Q3. Who is the first fastest typist in the world?
a. Frank Edward McGurrin
 b. Xeogran
c. Stella ace
d. Barbara Blackburn
Ans. Barbara Blackburn
Q4. Which of the following is not a type of keyboard?
a. Memory keyboard
b. QWERTY keyboard
c. Dvorak keyboard
d. None of these
Ans. Memory keyboard
Q5. What is the full form of KPM?
a. Keystrokes Per Minute
b. Key Per Minute
c. Keystrokes Per Microsecond
d. Key Per Microsecond
Ans. Keystrokes Per Minute
Q6. Identify the key set on the right side of the home row key.
a. HJKL;
b. FDSA
c. UIOP
d. REWQ
Ans. HJKL;
Q7. Which keyboard shortcut will bring up the Lesson editor?
a. Ctrl+1
b. Ctrl+2
c. Ctrl+3
d. Ctrl+4
Ans. Ctrl+3
Q8. While typing the incorrect letter shows up in which color?
 a. Red
b. Yellow
c. Grey
d. Blue
Ans. Red
Q9. The accuracy of typed content is calculated on the basis of:
a. Character
b. Word
c. Keystrokes
d. Sentence
Ans. Keystrokes
Q10. Which feature of RapidTyping software allows you to customise
the courses as per your requirement?
a. Lesson Editor
b. Navigation Tree
c. Text Panel
d. Lesson Metrics
Ans. Lesson Editor