suzmccarth wrote:

> --- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "i18n@..." <i18n@...> wrote:
>
> We are just discussing options, Barry. But this is likely not a
> market driven situation.

Well, OK, that is an interesting statement. Is it jsut theory then? I
don't get it - It seems like ME has actual plans to deliver a keyboard,
so he is not jsut talking theory. If others are, then it is no surprise
there is nothing even approaching consensus, especially if this
fundamental difference is not understood.

Personally, I think it is *precisely* a market situation - some people
spot an opportunity to provide products and services to others and seek
information on what ways such products and services could be delivered.
That is a pure market driven situation, don't you think? It is precisely
what inbound marketing departments in virtually all hi tech companies
(and probably not hi-tech companies too) do routinely.

> There needs to be conviction that if the
> market has created *numerous* glyph-based keyboards for
> Chinese, which is market driven, maybe there is something
> behind this idea. It is the priniciple really. In a particular situation
> it is not evident what will happen.

But isn't that a restatement of the market principle? Build the first
one, and then offer continuing evolution of features until the entire
market is satisfied. Why worry about getting it perfect jsut right? The
first version need only satisfy the early adopters, which we have agreed
will be satisfied with the qwerty kb. What happens in the 2nd version
and beyond is the interesting part, but we can't really say until we try.

This is true for any language/writing system btw.

>
> I brought up handwriting input for Tamil a while ago - think it got
> poohpoohed.

Yeah, that was before I saw reports of the new IBM method I linked to -
just reported a few weeks ago. It is a completely new method and I
immediately thought of your needs when I saw it in the local paper. I
wondered if it would be adaptable to other writing systems and what its
learning requirements would be. Could it work in Tamil?

> I have asked kids how it compares for Chinese
> and the answer is 'my parents like me to do it this way so they
> know I am writing properly.' Hm. Not much fun. However, it may
> be the best for Vai. I was wondering what squawk was all about
> at www.yuvee.com

Hmm interesting - maybe Nicholas can go to that MIT conference in a few
weeks and report back...

http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=preview&id=29157 has a
detailed description...

Best,

Barry