      Copyright 1990 Rowby Goren

      All Rights Reserved

      No portion of the following may be reproduced in any form

      without prior written permission from Rowby Goren.

      Version June 2, 1990





                  HOW TO TOUCH TYPE ON YOUR ATARI PORTFOLIO



                       (And Turn It Into a "WalkPort"!)







                                INTRODUCTION



         First of all, you should know that I typed the first draft of

         this text file on my Portfolio while walking at a nice pace

         up a gentle hill in West Los Angeles.  I am using the

         "ADVANCED TECHNIQUE" which allows me to hold the Portfolio

         in my hands and touch type without having to look at the

         keyboard.  Impossible you say?  Not at all.  But before I go

         into my ADVANCED TECHNIQUE, let's start with the basics.





                                  OVERVIEW



         When I received my Portfolio I wondered how I was going to

         get my big fingers on all those little keys.  On my regular

         computer, I'm a touch-typist and can type over 80 words per

         minute without looking at the keyboard. I was determined to

         be able to do the same on the Portfolio.  And now I'm happy

         to say, I have almost mastered my goal.  I am touch-typing on

         the Portfolio, without looking at the keyboard at speeds over

         50 words per minute.  Without even trying, my speed is

         increasing every day.



         The first thing I realized was I was going to have to use a

         different approach to the smaller keyboard.  On a traditional

         keyboard typists use four fingers for hitting the letter keys

         and the thumb for the space bar.  With the BASIC TECHNIQUE

         the way to go is to use your three middle fingers for hitting

         the letter keys, the pinkies for hitting the shift keys and

         the right forefinger for hitting the space bar.  The thumbs

         aren't used at all.  Even though you're using two less

         fingers, the very fact that the keyboard is so much smaller

         it allows you to hit the keys just as fast as if you were

         using all of your fingers.







                                THE BASICS



         To be able to use the Rowby Basic touch typing technique you

         will need the following supplies:



         a. Devcon brand Super Glue in the reloadable applicator.

            Net. Weight 2 grams.  Other brands will probably work, but

            Devon brand's glue applicator is far superior.

         b. Westrim Crafts clear rhinestones (with a reflective

            coating which should be removed from the flat backs).  The

            package is labeled "Style: 12G.  Pieces/Wgt 28.

            Description: RHINE USE SS12 SET"  Each plastic baggy has

            about 28 rhinestones -- more than enough to handle the

            project.  Cost: Under $2.00.  If you use a different brand,

            the diameter of the rhinestones should be a quarter inch.

            The rhinestones should be small enough for two of them to

            fit on a key.

         c. A large piece of cardboard to cover your work area.  You

            don't want drops of Super Glue to splatter on your table.

            It is extremely runny.  Be careful to always use the glue

            with the cardboard underneath -- particularly when

            puncturing the glue tip the first time!   The cardboard

            should not be colored, because some of the color may bleed

            onto the back of the rhinestones during the gluing

            process.  I suggest white cardboard.  But I suppose

            corrugated cardboard will do.

         d. A few round toothpicks

         e. UHU brand glue stick.  Or any similar water-based tacky

            temporary glue.

         f. Zippo or similar brand lighter fluid.

         g. Devcon's Duco brand model cement.  To do a test run on

            your Portfolio.

         h. Paper towels

         i. Fine grain sand paper or a few emery boards







                           ATTACHING THE RHINESTONES



         TEST RUN



         a. Once you get the hang of attaching the rhinestones to your

            keys, you'll find that it is very easy to do.  However, I

            strongly suggest that you do a few "test runs" by gluing

            some rhinestones on a piece of cardboard or an old plastic

            plate.  Practice being precise, because once you position

            the rhinestone on the key it must be in the exact place

            you want it to be -- because Super Glue is permanent.  I

            also suggest you do a trial run using Devcon's Duco Brand

            Model Cement.  The model cement is NOT permanent and will

            allow the rhinestones to be removed if you decide you would

            prefer to use the rhinestones on different keys than those

            which I have suggested.  Unlike Super Glue, it just takes

            a little bit of firm pressure to remove the rhinestones

            from the model cement -- in fact they will fall off on

            their own after a few days of touch typing.  Just be sure

            to remove all traces of the model cement (using lighter

            fluid and scraping the key with a round toothpick) before

            attaching the rhinestones permanently with the Super Glue.



            As you will see, I do NOT recommend that you put the glue

            on the keys and then attach the rhinestone to the key.

            The glue is too runny, and you'll end up with a mess.

            Instead you will put just a VERY LITTLE glue on the

            rhinestone, and then attach it to the dry key.



         GETTING TO WORK



         a. First clean your Portfolio keys with the cigarette lighter

            fluid.  Keep the fluid handy, because you will need to

            re-clean individual keys as you work.



         b. Sand off the reflective coating from the flat back of the

            rhinestones.  The easiest way to do this is to put the

            sandpaper on the worktable and rub each rhinestone against

            it a few times.



         c. Take the toothpick and daub the tip in the glue stick.

            Then use the sticky toothpick tip to pick up the

            rhinestone by touching it to the top round part of the

            rhinestone.  With the toothpick still "attached" to the

            toothpick, lay the toothpick and rhinestone down so that

            you can do the next step.



         d. This next step requires you to work fast.  (But stay calm!

            It's no big deal!)   Put a small drop of Super Glue on

            your cardboard working area.  Pick up the toothpick with

            the rhinestone still attached, and lightly dip the flat

            bottom of the rhinestone in the Super Glue.  You need very

            very little Super Glue.  Too much will make a mess.  So to

            get rid of the excess glue, daub the flat bottom of the

            rhinestone on a dry piece of the cardboard one or two

            times.



         e. Still holding the toothpick, carefully position the

            rhinestone on the desired key.  Once the rhinestone

            touches the key you will not be able to reposition it.  Do

            this carefully.  Allow room for a second rhinestone to be

            added next to the first one later.  Hold the toothpick in

            place for about a minute while the Super Glue does its

            initial curing.  Then lift the toothpick off the

            rhinestone.  The weaker water based glue will give way to

            the strong Super Glue.  Let the rhinestone dry for at

            least an hour before you try typing on it.



         f. You don't have to wait for the first rhinestone to dry

            before you attach your next rhinestone.  Just select a key

            which is not near the one which is currently drying.

            Before you attach each rhinestone, give the key a wipe

            with the cigarette lighter fluid to make sure that it is

            still clean.



         g. Note:  Always position the rhinestones on the bottom of

            the keys, on the "downslope".  If you position them on the

            upper part of the key, the rhinestones might touch the top

            of the case when the lid is closed -- so don't do that.





                      WHICH KEYS TO PUT THE RHINESTONE ON



         Here are the keys I suggest you attach the rhinestones to.

         You may find after your "test" run with temporary model

         cement that you prefer to attach them to different keys.  Or

         maybe not as many keys.  But these keys work for me.  Don't

         hurry.  Allow at least a full afternoon to do the job.



         a. Row 1 (Top row) - two rhinestones on each of the

            following keys:

            1) "1" key

            2) "Delete" key



         b. Row 2 - one rhinestone on each of the following keys:

            1) "E" key

            2) "Y" key  (required for ADVANCED TECHNIQUE)

            3) "O" key



         c. Row 3 - two rhinestone on each of the following keys

            1) "A" key

            2) "F" key

            3) "H" key  (required for ADVANCED TECHNIQUE)

            4) ";" key



         d. Row 4 - one rhinestone on each of the following keys:

            1) "X" key

            2) "B" key  (required for ADVANCED TECHNIQUE)

            3) "O" key

            4) "," key

            5) Shift left key

            6) Shift right Key



         e. Spacebar - two rhinestones.  Positioned approximately

            between the "M" and "," keys.



         WHICH FINGERS TO USE WITH WHICH KEY?



         a. When using the BASIC TECHNIQUE, I use my three middle

            fingers to hit all of the letter keys.  I use my right

            forefinger to hit the spacebar.  I use my pinkies to hit

            only the shift keys. I don't use my thumbs at all.



         b. With the BASIC TECHNIQUE, I won't make any suggestions on

            which specific keys to hit with your three middle fingers.

            Just find out which keys are the most comfortable for you.

            But once you decide, then be consistent.  Always hit the

            same key with the same fingers.



                                 ************



                          ROWBY'S ADVANCED TECHNIQUE



         ADVANCED OVERVIEW



            How would you like to turn your Portfolio into a

            "WalkPort"?  Wouldn't it be nice to be able to spend an

            hour or so every morning combining a healthy walk while

            doing some creative writing, or dashing off a letter -- or

            writing an article?



            Or even if you don't take walks, wouldn't it be nice to be

            able to take the Portfolio out of your purse, briefcase or

            pocket and not have to find a place to put it down on in

            order to type?



            When I first tried this technique I wasn't sure it would

            work at all.  I didn't think I could get my fingers to

            reach the keys.  I started agonizingly slowly at first but

            my progress was steady.  Within a week of taking the

            Portfolio on my walks I was typing at at very very nice

            rate of speed.  I'd practice by typing the street signs,

            for sale signs, etc.



            When you think about it, it's no different than a

            strolling minstrel, playing his guitar, or flute.  I

            I am able to get a nice 5 to 8 mile walk in every morning

            and still get a lot of writing done.  It would be a walk I

            would be "too busy" to take -- if it wasn't for my

            WalkPort.



         THE ADVANCED METHOD



         a. First of all, you'll have to add two more rhinestones to

            the Portfolio to use this technique.  The rhinestones are

            added to the OUTSIDE of the closed portfolio case.

            Position them on the smooth ridge just above the row of

            decorative vertical groves.  Once again, be careful to

            daub the excess glue off of the bottom of the rhinestones

            first.  The glue is runny and you don't want it flowing

            into the groves.  Position the left rhinestone 2-1/4

            inches from the left edge.  Position the right rhinestone

            2-1/2 inches from the right.  These are the positions that

            work for me, in order to have each rhinestone be

            approximately in the middle of my thumb pad.  After an

            hour, when the glue is completely dry, you are ready to

            start practicing.



         b. I hope I can make the following visually clear to you. If

            it isn't, please let me know and I'll revise it.  (I'm

            planning to turn this into a magazine article -- possibly

            for "NerdWeek" -- and will include photos of the

            technique.)



         c. Open the Portfolio.  Grasp the Portfolio using your thumbs

            and pinkies.  The thumbs are positioned on the front

            vertical ledge of the Portfolio (over the two rhinestone

            dots).  The pinkies are grasping the rear vertical ledge

            of the Portfolio.  This leaves your three remaining

            fingers on each hand to do the typing.  That's right --

            instead of typing from the front of the Portfolio like

            normal people do, you are hitting the keys from the right

            and left side of the Portfolio.



         d. Here are the fingers I use for sideways typing.  Some of

            them may initially seem like odd selections, and initially

            hard to reach, but there is a method to my madness.

            However feel free to substitute your own fingering.  But I

            think you'll find that my finger suggestions are quite

            workable -- once you get used to them.  In the interest of

            simplicity, I have not included all of which keys to hit

            with which fingers.  For example I have not included

            suggestions on which fingers to use to hit the "ESC" or

            the arrow keys.  I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the

            rest of the keys for yourself.



         e. LEFT HAND:

            1) Keys QWEAS  -  finger 2 (the one next to the pinky).

            2) Keys RTDFG - finger 3 (your middle finger).

            3) Keys ZXCVB and left SHIFT  - Finger 4 (the one next to

               your thumb).



         f. RIGHT HAND:

            1) Keys pol;' UPPER RIGHT DELETE - Finger 2 (the one next

               to the pinky.

            2) Keys kjh  - Finger 3 (your middle finger).

            3) Keys .,mn and right SHIFT and SPACEBAR - Finger 4 (the

               one next to your thumb).



         g. THUMBS:

            1) Right thumb is continually on right rhinestone on

               outside ledge of Portfolio.  This is important for

               accuracy.

            2) Left Thumb continually on left rhinestone on outside

               ledge of Portfolio.  This is important for accuracy.







                      TOUCH TYPING ON THE PORTFOLIO



         The learning process is no different than learning how to

         type on a regular typewriter.  Don't rush it.  Go slow.

         Never push for speed.  At first you'll type agonizingly slow,

         especially when you're WalkPorting.  Always push for accuracy

         -- and eventually without really trying you will be amazed at

         how fast you will be typing.  But I promise you if you push

         for speed it will work against you.



         Don't look at the keyboard.  Except when learning which keys

         are hit with which fingers, keep your eyes off the keyboard.

         Instead watch the birds fly, enjoy the scenery.  Keeping your

         shifty eyes off the keyboard is the only way to learn how to

         touch type.  I am able to touch type on my portfolio while

         keeping eye contact with associates at meetings.  I am even

         able to touch type while walking in the early morning when

         the sun hasn't come up.  And just for fun, I often practice

         typing on my Portfolio in bed with the lights off!  (It's

         probably the safest thing you can do in bed these days.)



         One more note about the guidance rhinestones:

         a. The two guidance rhinestones on the outside front ledge of

            your Portfolio are the key for accuracy while WalkPorting.

            You must keep reminding yourself to keep your thumbs on

            those rhinestones.  I find that whenever I start to hit

            the wrong keys, it's because my thumbs have strayed off

            the rhinestones.

         b. Even if your thumbs wander around a little on the guidance

            rhinestones, as long as your thumb pads keep touching the

            them your brain will subconsciously allow for the slight

            variation in movements.







      I must add this disclaimer to the above article.  You are trying

      my suggestions, including the gluing of the rhinestones to the

      Portfolio keys entirely at your own risk!





      I'd really like to know your reactions and experience with my

      techniques.  And I'd appreciate your suggestions for

      improvements.  The best way to contact me at Compuserve is at

      the Atari Portfolio Forum (GO APORTFOL).  My Compuserve ID is

      74156,1167.  Or you can contact me through MCI Mail simply by

      addressing it to ROWBY.  Or through the U.S. Mail: Rowby Goren

      Box 491155, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. 90049-1155.

