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[Closed] remember my thread about words typing backwards on my laptop?

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Dyslexia?

Actually though I'm not (as far as I'm aware) dyslexic. I sometimes jumble up characters as I type. I seem to get ahead of myself and type the letters ahead before I've typed the first few.

Does it do it if you type one character carefully at a time, or just when typing quick succession?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 10:57 am
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Is it always the same words? Perhaps keep a list of the words that are getting entered backwards.

It's not something silly like someone going into your spell-check/auto-correct and setting certain words to auto-correct to the correct word, spelt backwards....?

This is actually a genius idea & something I might implement around our office.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 11:18 am
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Is it always the same words? Perhaps keep a list of the words that are getting entered backwards.

was also about to suggest that, see if theres a pattern of letters used in case a certain pattern is a shortcut for typing backwards.....

It’s not something silly like someone going into your spell-check/auto-correct and setting certain words to auto-correct to the correct word, spelt backwards….?

dont think that could be the case as its now 2 separate laptops.

Does it do it if you type one character carefully at a time, or just when typing quick succession?

also a good idea to check.

other google suggestions are checking if you accidentally press ctrl-rightshift or ctrl-leftshift, or ctrl-shift A or D or X depending on what browser, altho thats a big ask, it doesnt sound feasible.

dont think itll be language settings, I think that used to reverse text direction of typing, but that doesn't explain sporadic words, itd be all the text, plus again, its on 2 laptops (which suggests its something youre doing unintentionally as you type)

Also could upgrade to latest browser version (or whatever is being used).

Check trackpad settings, something relating to drag and drop. did you definitely disable it?

May also be related to highlighting/dragging with trackpad. Could try different settings.

bout all ive got for now.....


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 11:44 am
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Different words,nobody else uses my laptop.yes touchpad now disabled by freeware utility to cancel that out.It seems to happen when typing faster.I am very slow typing anyhow using just 2 fingers.I never notice the mistake until I look up as I can't type without looking at the keypad and once noticed if I slowly input the letters carefully all is fine. As mentioned I wouldn't have a clue how to spell some of the words backwards without thinking about it unless the brain can do that subconsciously.Also I've never noticed it happening on anything Ive used elsewhere so if I was somehow doing it inadvertently surely I'd notice it happening on the phone etc ..I did say my wife only uses Firefox and I use Chrome.Also it's me that sorts the browser extensions so maybe that's the common denominator...both chrome setups have similar extensions.Again as I mentioned I did try disabling the extensions but the problem reappeared so I wondered if they needed to be removed completely to be ruled out?
I wonder if I could use some software to key log what I'm doing then compare or would it just log what appears on the screen?
A couple of other ideas I thought I'd try were to use Firefox or another browser for a few days or as Sadex mentioned using incognito mode in chrome ..would that remove possible effects of extensions etc?.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 12:29 pm
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This is a very weird issue. If it's the computer somehow reversing the letters and it relates to specific words, rather than a chunk of text I can't imagine why it would be doing that....thinking about the logical steps to achieve this:

type a word which appears normal
hit space bar
type a new word, presumably with letters in the correct order
hit space bar
software decides to reverse the letters bound by the space bar presses, while you carry on typing.

I'd be tempted to set up a camera recording your screen to see how the words change - if you type slowly, it should show you instantly whether you are typing them in correctly & they are being inverted by the software at some point (as you hit the space bar for example), or whether the word appears backwards on the screen, which would imply it's you doing it, rather than the software.

Ideally, having a camera to also record your key entry could be useful/interesting...

I can't remember why you said you have installed browser extensions, but I would uninstall any extensions to rule these out.
Running Chrome in incognito would perhaps also achieve the same thing - not sure.

How frequently is this happening? If it is relatively frequently, why not open a notepad page & just start typing stuff - anything that comes into your head & then after a certain amount of time read it back. If there are no reversed words within a time frame when you would expect to see them, it would add confidence that it's not you doing it, rather the software.
Obviously, if this only happens a couple of times a day it might not be feasible to sit & type for hours on end hoping to catch the issue.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 12:49 pm
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The two machines on which it happens - do you log into them as yourself, or are they just one user on each? If the latter, it's hard to see how it could be the computer doing it. That and the fact you aren't looking at the screen as you type suggests to me.uts a dyslexia type neurological thing.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 12:55 pm
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It must be your hand on the touchpad?

Have you tried an external keyboard?
Or even just disable the trackpad and you use a wireless mouse?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 12:59 pm
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one user on each , have ruled out touchpad, whole word does not get reversed after typing it's whilst typing iirc ... I think it's that i type the word and the cursor goes to the left ready for the next letter. the blooming thing is so sporadic ..sometimes happens a lot other times rarely that I didn't bother to take note of the way in which it happened much but will do now. I still want people who think I may be doing it myself to explain how i would know how to spell sometimes long words backwards correctly without conscious effort.
I will report back as evidence is gathered . Not once has it happened in the last few hours.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 2:10 pm
 kcr
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It only happens when you are typing without looking at the screen, and you look up afterwards? You've never seen it happen if you type while looking at the screen?

The tip about using a camera to record what you are really doing is a good one.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 2:25 pm
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I can't type and look at the text at the same time.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 2:48 pm
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What times of day does it happen? Maybe more later in the day when you're tired?

Not trying to take the piss btw this is genuinely very interesting as even if it's an IT issue it's utterly bizarre.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 2:52 pm
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As someone said above - Occam's Razor. Without a doubt you are typing the words backwards. Presumably you type quite fast and you are getting ahead of yourself. There are some words I always balls up, for instance "though the" always ends up as "thought he", I guess yours is an extreme version of this.

Other than autocorrect, there is no mechanism for this which makes sense. If you have to convince yourself, try a USB keyboard for a bit. That would rule out anything in the hardware, and you are fast running out of options.

Slow down.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 3:15 pm
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I think it’s that i type the word and the cursor goes to the left ready for the next letter. the blooming thing is so sporadic

If that was the case then the cursor would be in the wrong place for you to start the next word - assuming that you just keep typing and then notice the error after a sentence or phrase. If you are looking at each word after it is typed, where is the cursor?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 3:18 pm
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Without a doubt you are typing the words backwards. Presumably you type quite fast and you are getting ahead of yourself. There are some words I always balls up, for instance “though the” always ends up as “thought he”, I guess yours is an extreme version of this.

im the opposite, im almost certain youre not. ive seen a video somewhere of it happening (i thought it was on your thread but it isnt), the word does actually type from R to L and then changes.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 3:41 pm
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Random thought,

You've disabled the trackpad. So, you use an external mouse? And, swap it between laptops? A common denominator we may have overlooked here.

Assuming so - does it still do it if you unplug it and go back to the trackpad?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 3:47 pm
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Random thought,

You’ve disabled the trackpad. So, you use an external mouse? And, swap it between laptops? A common denominator we may have overlooked here.

I was doing some digging earlier & found someone who mentioned they had the same problem caused by a faulty mouse - I think it was actually low batteries in a wireless mouse & new batteries solved it.

I couldn't remember mention of a separate mouse being used & plugged into both devices, so didn't mention it....but definitely another thing to consider.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 3:56 pm
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I was doing some digging earlier & found someone who mentioned they had the same problem caused by a faulty mouse – I think it was actually low batteries in a wireless mouse & new batteries solved it.

I was thinking more along the lines of a scroll wheel on the wonk TBH.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 4:00 pm
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LOOK IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE END OF THE PARAGRAPH BELOW I JUST TYPED

I mentioned in the thread several times I've now installed some software which disconnects the touchpad when I type thereby ruling the brushing the touchpad out (as it's happened since albeit only once). Yesterday morning it was doing it a lot hence the thread and does seems to come and go in clusters sometimes a while can pass and i forget about it happening then all out of the blue it's back. I'm equally confident it's not me doing it as those who are sure it is but happy to prove either way . As it's now become a topic of interest (and tbh stress for myself as I do suffer from concentration problems I am eagerly awaiting a recurrence to try and pinpoint more detail . I didn't bother before as I felt it would be a well known issue and easily fixed with a bit of research . If you google the problem it seems I'm not alone but issues are varied and solutions light on the ground. Not one person has answered how I could easily type words backwards when even doing so consciously requires elbaredisnoc and it tends to happen when I'm going quicker .


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 4:44 pm
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No way could i have spelt "considerable" backwards without considerable conscious effort!
I am using chrome to write this btw .
Am going to switch to firefox for a while


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 4:48 pm
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After the misspelled word it looks like there are more words missing. Where did they go, is this relevant?

Did you see my mouse question?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 4:54 pm
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No not using a mouse just "touchpad blocker" there may be a few keystrokes which appear missing as I tidied up after noticing it had happened. Don't know how you viewed that ...my computer skills are basic but I get there in the end despite often taking the long way round!


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 5:00 pm
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Oh ..you meant "effort " was missing ...sorry may have deleted in all the excitement


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 5:04 pm
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is it possible to install a key logger that doesn't send the results off to people who will use the content to steal all your money?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 5:10 pm
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can you set your phone to video each time you type somethings? if it doesnt happen just delete and go again until we get one to look at?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 5:13 pm
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i can go hours without it happening then BOOM so the videoing would probably be a pain . I have thought about a key logger but have know idea whether it logs what appears on the screen or what is pressed on the keypad? I'm still suspicious of chrome extensions being the cause even if unexplainable . Firstly let me try to get it to happen on firefox.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 5:19 pm
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here's an example of someone else who found an extension caused the same problem as i have ( for those that say it can't happen )clicky . I did try and rule them out months ago by installing an extension that disabled all extensions funnily enough ...but the problem continued. maybe i would have to actually uninstall them rather than disable if that is the reason . Still on firefox now!


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:07 pm
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OK, that's probably not you doing it then. Something must be examining the words you are typing and spitting them out backwards, that's not keyboard or hardware related, if it was it wouls happen mid word too, which you say it doesn't. The word keylogger might be important. Have you run a full virus/malware scan? Only other option is some sort of driver issue.

Sounds like something intercepts the words from the keyboard then passes them on to whatever program wants it and, presumably when you're typing quickly, it gets in a fix and spits it out backwards. You're not one of these characters who likes to double key the spacebar every now and then are you?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:08 pm
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Did you write the words after "elbaredisnoc" without stopping and resetting the cursor or does it start before the reversed word? i.e. if you hadn't noticed would you have written "elbaredisnoc effort..." or "effort... elbaredisnoc"?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:11 pm
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So, ok,

I can't do it for a couple of days as I'm tied up, but if you want I can give your laptop a once-over remotely, see if I can see anything awry?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:13 pm
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If the cursor was being moved to the left after typing just one word, via scrolling or cursor keys, then the cursor would be on the left of the word you'd just typed, and.youd either see it as you looked up, or you'd carry on typing and new words would appear before the backwards one not after it.

Re the mental possibility, just because you can't spell words backwards consciously, don't for a minute assume it's not possible. The brain is capable of FAR weirder shit than that! We all recognised the word immediately, didn't we, even though it was backwards? So our brains all know the shape of the word backwards as well as forwards. It's not unreasonable IMO. But I am not a neurologist.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:28 pm
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There are also some languages which read the opposite direction so presumably type that way too. Do you have a keyboard shortcut setup which you don't know about? Or a language setting in windows if its global?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 6:33 pm
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yes run various virus scan + malwarebytes etc over the months it's been happening...nothing ever found.
certainly don't intentionally double tap the space bar
keyboard settings are correct ..already thought about that ( arabic etc )no shorcuts I know of.
I can spell words backwards consciously but it requires a fair effort especially longer ones....maybe my subconscious spelling ability is better than conscious !
I happened to stop typing after "elbaredisnoc" guess I looked up as it was a longer word to check then noticed the mistake.
Cougar your offer is truly generous however i can't remember where the hidden porn folder is which is worrying!
Thanks to all for your efforts.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 7:36 pm
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If the cursor was being moved to the left after typing just one word, via scrolling or cursor keys, then the cursor would be on the left of the word you’d just typed, and.youd either see it as you looked up, or you’d carry on typing and new words would appear before the backwards one not after it.

This. I made the same point earlier.

Where is the cursor after you've mis-typed the word/it has reversed?


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 7:44 pm
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I'll keep an eye out and let you know.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 8:13 pm
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could all the intellectuals using their philosophical razors to point to the answer please just tell me it .. It would be much more helpful!

Oooooo, cutting...


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 10:43 pm
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Cougar your offer is truly generous however i can’t remember where the hidden porn folder is which is worrying!

If you can't find it, I won't. In any case, you will be able to watch what I'm doing.


 
Posted : 17/12/2018 11:50 pm
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someone posted this:

other google suggestions are checking if you accidentally press ctrl-rightshift or ctrl-leftshift,

recall setting up MIL's PC so she could switch from English to Arabic (right to left text) text entry easily and just checked and in Win10 left Ctrl and shift is default hot key for English, right Ctrl and shift is default hotkey for Arabic style - no idea how to disable but if I was you I'd go looking... either that or change typing style


 
Posted : 18/12/2018 8:42 am
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Do you have spellcheck enabled? Switch that off.
Do the words always appear backwards, or are they sometimes just jumbled up?
When I'm working remotely sometimes it appears that I type quicker than the keyboard I/O can be displayed on the target machine, there is cursor lag and the letters get jumbled. Normally after typing a word there is a slight pause in typing which allows the machine to 'catch up' hence why the words after the mis-spelt word aren't appearing before it.


 
Posted : 18/12/2018 11:09 am
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If it were an input problem I'd be amazed that it accidentally reversed the entire word, as opposed to a jumble of characters. It is like something that understands the word and is intentionally messing with it.

If you are able to install a keylogger you could capture the keypresses just to rule out the random backwords words from your brain condition.

Just out of interest if you are typing a work like considerable and you are a 2 finger typist, what happens if you look up part way through the word, is it half spelt backwards, or does something slow the print to screen out and reverse on fully typing the word?


 
Posted : 18/12/2018 12:54 pm
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Ok ..one thing at a time ..keylogger installed ( although I have no idea whether this will record exactly what is typed directly from the keyboard or whether it'll simply access the same that appears on the screen so could be misleading ) . hasn't happened yet in firefox btw.
all tips ideas are appreciated and will be implemented if no luck with my latest strategy.


 
Posted : 18/12/2018 3:04 pm
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pretty sure when it happens it simply appears in the reverse order one letter at a time rather than the whole word being finished then reversed. It all happens so quickly and intermittently that it's been hard to notice


 
Posted : 18/12/2018 3:08 pm
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