Convert WPM to KPH

I have tried the Dvorak, it's really quite cool and much faster to learn than QWERTY, but eventually I gave up on it and fell out of practice.

Dvorak is the result of over 20 years of research into the english language structure, ergonomics and typing styles. It's quite possibly the single most efficient keyboard layout there is for the english language. The only reason we all still use QWERTY is because by the time the Dvorak was fully developed QWERTY had already been made the standard and nobody could be bothered changing.

QWERTY keyboards are extremely inefficient, since they were originally designed to slow typists down to prevent typewriter jams.

With the spread of text messaging, the issue of keypad layout is a hot topic for mobile devices. Unfortunately, the ergonomics of a mobile device tend to reverse the advantage of the Dvorak layout, since it's the keys nearest the edges on a mobile device that are easiest to press correctly.

This was confirmed in a test with the iPhone, where hit rates (correct key presses) were highest for the letters around the edge of the QWERTY keypad:

"Not surprisingly, the keys on the outside of the keyboard, such as Q, A, Z, and P, L, and M, had high hit rates."
iPhone texting harder than QWERTY devices
http://www.electronista.com/articles...ut.not.perfect

Meanwhile, the absence of tactile feedback on the iPhone makes me even more nervous that the driver in front of me is trying to drive and text on one at the same time!

For anyone looking for a conversion between words per minute and keystrokes per hour, I would recommend reading the webpage listed below. Three different conversion methods are presented, taking into account the error rate.

Best of all, a specific numeric example is computed for each method, showing how the conversion is performed and how the result depends on the conversion method used.

"Common Words Per Minute Calculations in the United States"
http://www.dataentryhomebusiness.com...d.html#methods

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Okay, I'm a little befuddled here. I have been typing about 12,000 kph (per my employer), and I'm in the top 3 of my division. According to this formula, that makes me about 40 wpm. I know I'm way faster than 40. So, I calculated the inverse of 80 wpm (which I believe I'm somewhere near) and according to this formula that would be about 24,000 which I'm pretty sure is completely inhumanely possible. The highest I've personally ever seen is 15,000. I'm a little slow when it comes to math, and I can't analyze the formula. Are you sure this is correct?

One problem with converting from KPH to WPM is the difference in keying methods between data entry and typing. The reason data entry is usually measured in KPH is that it's usually not a series of words that are being typed.

Most data entry (at least what I've done) is field based. This means that you type in short bursts instead of a more continuous flow like you tend to do when typing, for instance, a letter (or a forum post). And, as often as not, data entry is much more alphanumeric (i.e.: data entry usually has more numerical data but still has alphabetic) than typing. If you're using the numbers on your keyboard (as opposed to a 10 Key side bar) then this will further affect your typing speed when compared to a WPM test. Even if you are using a 10 Key side bar then moving between the keyboard and the 10 Key will affect your speed too.

When I did data entry I started on purely 10 Key (working a Proof machine in a bank). After a year of that I was routinely averaging (for a day) 35,000 - 40,000 KPH. Then I moved to more alphanumeric entry using both the keyboard and 10 key side bar. My speed dropped down to about 17,000 KPH. When I quit that job I'd been doing data entry full-time for nearly 10 years and was averaging 22,000 - 24,000 KPH.

The exact type of data you're entering can have a pretty drastic impact on your speed.

The KPH - WPM mathematical conversion suffices for a very broad ballpark estimation but if you want to know for sure then take a typing test. Google "free online typing speed test" and you'll find some you can try or you can find some software for this.

That will give you a more accurate WPM. Since you have a KPH from your employer then that gives you both sides of the coin in a much more accurate fashion.

Mike

I just started a job doing straight data entry. The handbook requires us to do roughly 1500 entries a day, which works out to about 12,000 kph. Alphanumerically, I can type 70+ wpm, but on the 10-key, my average is somewhere in the 35-40 wpm range, making me between 10,000 and 12,000 kph. It's just another example of how kph and wpm aren't necessarily on the same page. WPM usually applies more to an Alphanumeric position, where a data entry position, using primarily 10-key, will use KPH to more accurately judge your total keys used.

Blessings! I saw the conversion formula of kph/hour, which would give me a wpm rate of 133+ wpm. If I use the kph/300 it gives me 27+ wpm and I KNOW I type a heck of a lot faster than that. However, it's sort of mind boggling to think I clock 133

I see from a previous post where I can Google for free typing speed tests. Would there be anyway to use the results "officially", i.e.- resume, cover letter?

Muchies thankies

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Okay, I'm a little befuddled here. I have been typing about 12,000 kph (per my employer), and I'm in the top 3 of my division. According to this formula, that makes me about 40 wpm. I know I'm way faster than 40. So, I calculated the inverse of 80 wpm (which I believe I'm somewhere near) and according to this formula that would be about 24,000 which I'm pretty sure is completely inhumanely possible. The highest I've personally ever seen is 15,000. I'm a little slow when it comes to math, and I can't analyze the formula. Are you sure this is correct?

Not true I am number 1 at my work and this week my fastest average for two weeks was 23,678!

For those looking through this thread to convert WPM into KSPH and the reverse (since this is the first link on Google), you can't use the conversion to just take your WPM while doing a normal typing test and turn it into KSPH. As others have said, the way you type a document (WPM) is MUCH faster than the way you perform data entry (KSPH).

If you want to test your WPM, there's plenty of typical typing tests that do just that. So long as it tests you by having you type out a document, you will get a proper WPM. KSPH, however, is harder to find, especially if you need to test a particular style (i.e. I wanted to see how I typed with pure numbers with the ability to backspace, and many online tests either test with the other keys (+, -, *...) or else not allow backspacing).


In any case:

If you want to test your normal document typing, a program like Typingmaster will do nicely. The demo allows you to test as much as you want.. all it's lacking is a coaching feature. You're looking for WPM.

If you need your KSPH, pick up that program, make a text file that has a batch of numbers (I used random.org's string generator for some random numbers go to the tests, and chose Add and add your text file in. Now you have a test that uses pure numbers. Do the test and it'll give you your WPM. Since you DID do 10-key, you can NOW do that conversion (WPM * 300) to find your KSPH.

Note: 10,000 is 33 WPM. You type MUCH slower data entry style than normal touch typing. Don't assume that good touch typing = good 10-key since they are different beasts.

Oh, and if this is for a job, try to find out what style of test they will give. Some allow backspacing, some don't. Some require tabbing or Enter keys, some won't. Some do number, some do letters-numbers, some use all of the keys.

The KPH, keystrokes per hour, refers to numerical data entry normally. The WPM, words per minute, refers to alphanumeric data entry. They are two different entities altogether. It is possible to test someone for KPH, keystrokes per hour, with alphanumeric data entry, but that would have no correlation to their numeric KPH data entry, because these are two different skill sets and hand positions.

Originally Posted by Robert Fogt

In the U.S. the reference word for typing tests is paris, so a word is 5 characters.

words/minute * 5 = keystrokes/minute
keystrokes/minute * 60 = keystrokes/hour

So the simplified formula would be:
words/minute * 300 = keystrokes/hour

It should be noted however, that other countries use different reference words. So the above would only be correct for countries with a 5 letter references word, such as the U.S.

Ok so if i have 40wpm howmany keystrokes per hour?