Fastest texters in America face off in New York

[August 08, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The nation's fastest texters are facing off in the annual LG U.S. National Texting Competition.

Eleven contestants from all over the country are coming to Times Square for the annual competition Wednesday afternoon. The winner gets $50,000. Competitors range from 16 to 24 years old. Last year's champion Austin Weirschke (Wear-Ski) is coming back to defend his title.

The competition tests three skills: speed, accuracy and dexterity. There are three rounds to the competition: texting while blind-folded, texting with hands behind their backs and Text Blitz, where phrases are shown to the contestants for a length of time and they have to copy it as fast as they can before the next one.

The competition is sponsored by LG Electronics.

[Associated Press]

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