Open Letter to Parents and Students

  

From Typewriters to Smartphones: How We Lost an Essential Skill

Today, no white-collar job can be done without a computer. Whether it is accounts, logistics, customer service, IT, or administration, every role requires working on a system. Emails, reports, data entry, and communication all happen on a keyboard.

Earlier, things were different.

When Typing Was a Basic Life Skill

A few decades ago, after completing 10th standard, many students learned typewriting. Typewriting institutes were common in every town. Typing was treated as a serious skill, useful for jobs and daily work. Because of this, people entered offices already comfortable with keyboards, speed, and accuracy.

As computers arrived, typewriters slowly disappeared. Along with them, many typing institutes also vanished. We assumed computers would automatically make people efficient—but that did not happen.

Smartphones Took Over, Not Computers

The real shift happened with smartphones. Today, even nursery children are given smartphones so parents can work peacefully. Touch screens replaced keyboards before children ever learned to type properly.

Earlier, television was called the “stupid box.” Today, that title belongs to the smartphone. It is always in our hands, always demanding attention, and always distracting.

Cheap Internet Changed Behaviour

Before the arrival of Jio, internet data cost around ₹350 for just 1 GB per month. Usage was limited and purposeful. Now, unlimited high-speed 4G and 5G data is available for less than ₹250 a month.

This drastic drop in cost triggered the explosion of social media, reels, shorts, and influencers. Endless scrolling has become a daily habit. Time that could have been used to learn skills is now spent consuming content.

Entertainment Replaced Skill-Building

Watching short videos has become the favourite activity for all age groups. Attention spans have reduced. Patience has reduced. The habit of sitting down and practising a skill—like typing—has almost disappeared.

Ironically, while technology has advanced, basic productivity has declined.

Typing: The Most Ignored Essential Skill

Typing is now the most basic requirement for any office job. Yet many graduates struggle to type even simple emails efficiently. They depend on two fingers, make frequent mistakes, and work slowly.

Knowing how to use a smartphone does not mean knowing how to work on a computer. Touch screens cannot replace keyboard skills in professional environments.

A Skill We Must Bring Back

Typing is no longer optional. It is as important as reading and writing. Schools, colleges, parents, and individuals must recognise this gap.

Instead of more screen time for entertainment, there must be time for learning real skills. Typing practice, computer usage, and digital discipline should start early.

Final Thought

Technology is not the enemy. Misuse of technology is.

We moved from typewriters to computers—and then got stuck on smartphones. If we want a capable and productive workforce, we must bring back the habit of learning essential skills.

In a world run by computers, knowing how to type is not an advantage. It is a necessity.

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