David & Typing

David graduated from high school in May or June 1980. He was given a manual typewriter, top of the line technology for the day. The pictures show Jane, David, Jennifer, and MichaelK examining this piece of technology that will help David as he makes his place in the world.

David said he has no memory of receiving the typewriter. He doesn't remember using it or taking it with him when he moved from West North Street. He commented that he must have left it behind, but Joe and Julia don't remember its being around the house after David moved out.

David commented that he didn't "bond" with the typewriter -  not in the way he's bonded with his Mac computer.

David shared a story about why he never got into typing and the typewriter. In fact, said David, he's had an "aversion" to typing his whole life. When he was in 6th grade, his mother signed him up for typing class in summer school. It was a two hour class that started at 8:00 in the morning. David was the only boy in the class. David was not pleased about the class, the girls, or this way to spend his summer mornings.

David was also convinced he would dictate to his future secretary “when I grew up so why bother to learn to type....that never has quite worked as I imagined...”

David observed that he still is a hunt and peck typist and wishes he'd taken that summer typing class a bit more seriously. Said David, “There is hope for speech to text...likely invented by a geek who had a similar experience ;-)”

August 2012

David & his Mac - July 2011