A Slashdot discussion has sparked a debate on the importance of touch typing for programmers. The conversation began with a post by a former computer science educator who had previously worked in the industry and now teaches the subject. They highlight the value of touch typing as a skill for software engineers, emphasizing its role in productivity. However, the discussion also features a humorous response from an anonymous reader, who suggests that relying on voice assistants like Siri may not be the most effective way to boost productivity. The post invites further comments from the community, prompting a broader conversation on the topic.
The post begins with the story of tgibson, a long-time Slashdot reader who learned to type on a manual typewriter in an 8th-grade classroom. They express a personal bias in favor of touch typists and a dismissive attitude toward those who rely on looking at the keyboard while typing. This anecdotal perspective has led to a discussion among professionals and educators on the practical relevance of touch typing in the modern programming landscape.
One anonymous commenter humorously compares the reliance on voice assistants like Siri to a cubicle neighbor who has used