Comment by sanxiyn

5 months ago

Everyone is a typist now, so I don't think it is farfetched that everyone is a SWE in the future.

Very few people are typist.

Most people can use a keyboard, but the majority of non-technical people type at a speed which is orders of magnitude less than a professional typist.

Another comment here mentions how they used colab while not being a SWE, but that is already miles ahead of what average people do with computers.

There's people who have used computers for decades and wouldn't be able to do a sum in a spreadsheet, nor know that is something spreadsheets can do.

  • What’s the WPM cutoff to be considered a typist?

    • In the narrowest version of the definition:

      > The Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) is NCRA's new designation that will recognize those stenographic professionals who are looking to validate their beginning level of competency.

      > You have to pass three five-minute Skills Tests (SKT), which evaluate your skills level in three areas: Literary at 160 wpm, Jury Charge at 180 wpm, Testimony/Q&A at 200 wpm.

      https://www.ncra.org/certification/NCRA-Certifications/regis...

      2 replies →

    • I guess 60-70 WPM at >95% accuracy? I have not obtained the needed certification :)

      My mom went to a secretary/business assistant school in the '70s and the typing class (on a typewriter!) required using ten fingers and touch typing. The expectation was you'd be fast enough to transcribe someone dictating (they learned to use stenography for faster situations).