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avree • today at 5:55 PM • 8 replies • view on HN

Do most people talk faster than they can type? It's the opposite for me - I also read aloud slower than I can read in my head.


Replies

aarushyadav • today at 6:00 PM

Most people type at 40-50 WPM. Developers can often type at 70-100 WPM. Meanwhile, most people can talk at 120-200 WPM. Beyond just speed, we've found with many people that talking things out tends to flow more naturally, since it's often a lower friction action so people don't "sanitize" the text in their head before outputting it. Leads to better prompts quite often :)

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sspiff • today at 6:08 PM

I'm the same. I also can think ahead / along much better while typing. When I'm talking I'm just talking, not thinking as much.

But I guess thinking is going out of style anyway.

That said, I know a lot of people prefer talking to their computer, especially when their computer is a phone. So there is definitely a place for stuff like this.

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ronyeh • today at 6:31 PM

On my phone, I do. I still like to tap with my thumbs, but my iPhone keyboard sucks so when I need to type a lot, I’d rather dictate.

xbar • today at 6:02 PM

Most people talk faster than they can type. 80 wpm voice chat is easy for everyone. 80 wpm typing filters out most typists.

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SkyPuncher • today at 7:45 PM

I talk faster, but beyond the speed, I find it allows me to explain things to the LLM much more naturally.

egeozcan • today at 6:05 PM

Yes, I'd estimate the vast majority of people speak faster they can type. Not sure about the thinking part because I usually have 20 threads going parallel in my head and can't imagine what normal thinking would be like.

wongarsu • today at 6:14 PM

While sitting at the desk, I type about as fast as I talk. While unloading the dishwasher I'm a much faster talker than typer

Zambyte • today at 6:05 PM

I'm not reading aloud most of the time that I'm talking.