Diane Petersen, Kachemacs

Product Title: Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor
Price: $25.95 by download, $34.95 for delivered hard copy
Distributor: Runtime Revolution Ltd
Distributor Phone #: 011 44 (0)870 747 1165 (UK)
Website: http://www.tenthumbstypingtutor.com/

“The keyboard we use today, developed by Christopher Lantham Sholes in 1867 was initially made with keys in alphabetical order. It was modified as needed to prevent jamming of keys by making it slower to type on.”

This is one of the many gems in the tips and tricks that are presented every time Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor is started up. Let’s face it, the modern QWERTY keyboard layout is not very intuitive and is difficult to master. I could definitely use some help improving my skills.
There is an alternative which is not very mainstream but is much easier to use once learned called the Dvorak layout. All modern Macs have the capability to set the keymap to this alternate layout. Nothing keeps people off your computer like switching the keymaps!
Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor has both keymaps available for training in the program. This makes it very advantageous for adults looking to reduce repetitive stress by learning Dvorak, and also for beginning typists who wish to master the QWERTY setup.
The program is easy to install on a single computer from a downloaded image. There is a network version as well, but this review sticks to the single user license version.
The program had a well thought out although a bit juvenile Viking theme to its animations. Aside from the basic boring typing for the sake of retyping given text in other tutorials, there are some other notable features. It does have a section to teach correct ergonomics, which is important for any frequent typist. There are two starting levels, one that slowly introduces the keys in groups, and one that allows one to practice the whole keyboard. To spice it up a bit and give it appeal to the younger typists, two games are included. Another feature is SongSeeker, the ability to search the internet for song lyrics for the music playing on iTunes and use them for the selected text to copy. Although the features are quite diverse, the interface lacks the Aquaesque elegance that most Mac native applications tend to have.
Statistical analysis is important as a gauge for progress. Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor has a number of analysis methods which measure error rate, speed, time in practice, and assessment of goals.
Touch typing is a skill that fewer young people are developing. I started using Apples when I was very young and learned to type by looking at the keys. I have that habit to this day. If I had had Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor at the age of seven, I would have played the games like crazy and learned to type properly much younger. I do believe that all children should have this program on their first computers so they develop healthy habits from the start. This program seems to be geared to the grade school and junior high age group, but it is not so juvenile to bar adults from using it.

Pros: Easy to set up and use, excellent communication with developers in Britain, entertainment value, multiple keymaps and languages supported, multiplatform.
Cons: Geared toward younger users, not enough lyrics supported in the iTunes SongSeeker feature, text can be hard to read in the game animatons.

Concept: 4
Ease of installation: 5
Delivery: 5
Documentation: 3
Support: 5
Features: 4
Interface: 3

Overall this software scores a solid 4. Although there are many typing tutors out there, many for free, this one at the price of a takeout pizza offers a more well thought out and feature packed application.