What Are Data Entry Keystrokes?

The U.S. Census Bureau took more than eight years to complete hand counting of the 1880 census. American engineer Herman Hollerith, in 1881, discovered a way to use electricity to read, count and sort punched cards through a device that would help tabulate data faster and more efficiently than hand counting. Instead of nearly 10 years, it took only one year to tabulate the data using this machine. Hollerith's invention was sold to IBM (International Business Machines) in 1924.

Tabulating Machines

What are now called keystrokes were once called key punches. The punch cards had holes in them which represented gathered data. The Hollerith counting machine kept a running count of the number of cards with a hole punched in a particular position. An experienced machine operator could tabulate 50 to 80 cards a minute. The results of the tabulation dials were then written down by hand.

Data Entry Machines

Data entry machines were reduced in size and increased in speed and ability over the years, resulting in the calculators, adding machines and computerized data entry equipment we have now, which can tabulate millions of bits and bytes of information within seconds. Data entry is now done mostly on regular computers using the numerical keypad that is always to the right of every keyboard. Today's data entry operators are tested for skill level according to keystroke speed.

Keystroke Speed

Keying tests include alpha, numeric and alphanumeric in a method called "strike and bounce." Timed tests are done on a 10-key keypad, and an operator must have what is called nimble fingers to make the most keystrokes per hour (kph). This is most helpful in organizations where speed and accuracy make or break the bottom line in getting data tabulated and results made available. Tests take anywhere from 10to 30 minutes, depending on the organization and which software they use, and are usually completely PC-based, meaning no paper test is used at all.

Keystroke Errors

Keystroke errors are logged in testing and in the real world. In a production environment, these errors are important in determining whether a data entry worker gets the job and whether she keeps her job. Most organizations with these stipulations strive for a 98- to 99-percent rate of accuracy rate almost without exception.

How to Calculate Keystrokes and Convert to Typing Speed

Keystroke speed can be used to determine typing speed by using a formula. It is not 100-percent accurate, but comes pretty close, because keying alphabets usually takes more keystrokes than numbers, to accommodate for longer words, phrases and sentences. Keystrokes are measured per hour and words are measured per minute. The formula for measuring keystrokes per hour is to multiply the number of keystrokes by 30. For example 336 ks x 30 = 10,080 kph. The formula for converting kph to wpm (words per minute) is kph divided by 300. So 10,080 kph is about 33-34 wpm. To convert wpm back to kph, multiply the wpm by 300: 34 wpm x 300 is 10,200 kph.