I disagree – typing at 100 wpm is exceptionally fast even for tech workers, and speaking at 150 wpm is normal. Have you ever tried to transcribe a conversation in real time? It's hard, which is why stenotype machines were invented to allow trained users to type at over 200 wpm.
Typing was quite a bit different when stenotype machines were invented. As an old(er) person who learned to type on a manual typewriter with paper you had to insert, sheet by sheet, by hand, and use white out to cover up your mistakes, typing was a whole different ball of wax. Typing back then when you had to firmly strike each key with the same force to make sure the letter would print clearly was much slower and more tiring. It would have been virtually impossible to type as fast as you speak with that equipment. With modern keyboards and computer its easily attainable.
Are you saying that 150 wpm is easily attainable? Because most sources I've checked (eg. [1]) say that 100 wpm puts you in the top 2% of people who are interested in fast typing. I think you could spend your whole career hiring programmers and never meet one who can type 150 wpm, although they do exist (eg. the top 50 or so users on typeracer.com).
I was referring to your claims about the invention of stenography in regards to the ability to record written speech.
I think its easily attainable for an experienced typist to send instant messages at the same speed as they would have a verbal conversation (I know it is for myself and my friends who have had daily IM conversations for the last 25+ years). Perhaps typing is a lost art in the age of smartphones and tablets.
I disagree – typing at 100 wpm is exceptionally fast even for tech workers, and speaking at 150 wpm is normal. Have you ever tried to transcribe a conversation in real time? It's hard, which is why stenotype machines were invented to allow trained users to type at over 200 wpm.