Type a web address in your favorite Internet browser, and press ALT-Enter to automatically put "www." and ".com" around the address itself. Use this shortcut to save valuable typing time.

Open multiple programs in Windows and use ALT-Tab to switch between them. This makes screen navigation faster than using the mouse.

Press ALT-F while browsing or reading long documents. This starts the "Find" interface, allowing you to search for any word in your document, improving research speed.

This list of keyboard shortcuts has one important attribute: It's absolutely, totally, and in all other ways, boring. Let's jazz things up a bit.

Saving time while typing doesn't just mean hitting a key sequence. Often it involves completely changing the way you enter data. You may have disabilities, personal preferences or odd religious beliefs nudging you towards something different. If so, use these "alternate input devices". A fancy way of saying "different ways to type instead of on regular keyboards", improve performance while typing and navigating on your computer.

FrogPad

Use the FrogPad for fast one-handed text entry. It's a mini-keyboard for computers, cellphones and PDAs. Connect via wire or wireless Bluetooth. With twenty full-sized keys, the user types with one hand by pressing one or a combination of two keys. This layout keeps frequently-used keys easily accessible, while giving the user full functionality of a standard keyboard. The FrogPad starts at $120.

Virtual Keyboard

There's no question: Lasers are cool. For proof, just consult my own fifth-grade comic book creation, "Doctor Z and the Trans-teachers". Or for non-violent uses, look at the "Virtual Keyboard". It uses red laser light to project an image of a keyboard on any flat, dark surface. Type on that surface, and your movement will be detected and translated into virtual key presses. This allows you to bring the comfort of a full-sized keyboard anywhere. You'll also look extremely cool anytime you use it. The Virtual Keyboard is $180.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Continuing with the doctor theme, let's go non-fictional: Doctor Robert Lamberts works at Dermatology Associates of West Michigan. For fast and easy text input, he speaks into a microphone instead of using a keyboard. The program he uses is "Dragon NaturallySpeaking", the best speech-to-text software available. Lamberts comments about DNS version 9, "This is the best of all the Dragon Naturally Speaking products. With no training, I had a 98% accuracy in dictation. It has brought voice recognition into the mainstream of computer use. I'm using it now… Head and shoulders above any of the previous products. As a poor typist, this is a godsend. Highly recommended."

Let's face it, standard data entry using keyboard and mouse should've been obsolete long ago. Yet, tenacious as Perry Mason, they've held on, refusing to leave us. It's because nothing better has come along. Now, with the advent of quality voice recognition systems and optimized, high-tech, miniature keyboards, we have something better.