For nearly 30 years, Bytes of Learning has produced new generations of UltraKey, one of the top typing software programs on the market. The updated version – UltraKey 6 – offers a wealth of improved features, all new graphics, a fresh interface, multi-media assistance and virtual reality presentations to demonstrate everything from correct posture to proper hand positions on the keyboard. This powerful learn to type program can help you tackle typing basics or enhance the typing skills you now possess and get that accomplished in short order. UltraKey easily earns our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award.
From the start, you can learn a great deal about this software from six videos that outline and explain essential concepts. UltraKey focuses on better typing through better technique, and that approach works nicely. There are 12 attractive interface themes geared toward people of different ages and who have different interests.
To start the hands-on learning, you take a skill assessment test to gauge your current accuracy and speed. After that, you get a challenge level rating to help set personal goals. Then the software walks you through a variety of lessons and advice that teach the basics of posture, finger placement, 10-key typing and more.
UltraKey typing software’s Fingers section will teach you home row position, finger names and striking technique. You systematically learn the location of each letter or number key and which finger should strike the key. Most of the time, you’ll have an over-head view of animated hands showing you proper placement and technique. After you feel comfortable with the Fingers section, you move on to Lessons. Here you will learn to type specific letters and numbers, and build your confidence as you type.
You can re-take lessons, prolong them, perform warm-up typing exercises and more. What’s nice is the software not only tracks your progress, but it also saves your place so you can stop and come back to it later. You also can warm up when you come back after a break.
Skill Check tests will help evaluate your speed and accuracy, and each test corresponds with a lesson you’ve completed. For example, once you feel comfortable with the home row, which are A, S, D, F with your left fingers and J, K, L, and the semicolon with your right fingers, take the Skill Check test and see how fast and accurate your keyboarding skills are.
As you progress through this typing program, you will learn to pause less between keystrokes, which will speed up your typing. You also cannot see your words per minute (wpm) while typing, which helps you concentrate on technique. You can choose which lessons you’d like to do, though the company recommends that you work your way through each one in order.
The software gives terrific advice and virtual reality demonstrations regarding proper posture. You can see and learn how to sit up straight but lean slightly forward, how to correctly place your elbows and legs and how to center your body. Bad posture can lead to strain and can even hinder progress with your typing skills.
Along the way, UltraKey typing software will give you great recommendations as it analyzes how you are doing. These tips will help you to improve your keyboarding skills and become an even better typist.
The Typing Forum offers Typing Tests where you write what you see on the screen, and you can choose to either type one or more paragraphs or time yourself by the minute. Once you’ve completed the test, UltraKey typing software will give you an accuracy and speed analysis.
The Typing Forum also offers Free Typing, which lets you choose how many paragraphs you want to type, or you can select to type for a certain amount of time (by the minute). It’s similar to the Typing Tests, except you can type whatever you want. This great feature will help you master your typing skills so that you can compose at the keyboard as well as type from a written page. The Reports let you see how you have been doing on lessons and tests.
One significant drawback is there are no games. For many children and even adults, this could be a definite minus. Some typing programs do offer games, which can get people practicing without feeling as if they're working to master something new. However, Bytes of Learning's original customers were school systems, and today many educational systems still choose UltraKey over other products, even though the company has expanded its consumer base to include home users, municipalities, libraries, service centers and others. Clearly, many students and instructors learn from and enjoy UltraKey, even without games.
The user interface is great at keeping things simple, so you can focus on your typing skills. UltraKey's latest version of its home edition supports three computers and up to eight people. Any participant can setup a Record, which is an account with an individual's name.
If you are a parent, it’s easy to track your child’s progress. With a number of school districts that use UltraKey, you also can arrange distance learning typing classes for home instruction. Version 6 also includes rewritten manager guides for parents and teachers, and instructors get the new "Ticket Tips" to assist them in their work.
The application runs identically on Windows or Macs and can share data between both of these platforms. You can even change the appearance of the virtual keyboard to make it look like your computer's keyboard.
We recommend visiting the system preferences to set up UltraKey typing software the way you’d like it. We also recommend using the speech option, which is a big help with learning. You can turn it on or off by clicking on the Auto-speak icon.
Help and support is an area where UltraKey is at its best. You get on-screen demos and tutorials and videos to help you understand the concepts being taught. These resources give you a visual sense of correct posture, finger placement and keyboarding techniques. You also get a revised user guide, which gives you comprehensive help for using UltraKey.
If you need technical support, you can directly contact Bytes of Learning via a toll free number in North America. You also can send an email. Their site has a wealth of information, including FAQs sections for Windows and Mac, a resources page, articles and more.
UltraKey typing software is easy to use and effective. It is an excellent typing program for users of all ages and typing skill levels. Some kids and adults might wish there were typing games on this product, but overall, UltraKey is one of the best typing software programs around.
