--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "i18n@..." <i18n@...> wrote:

> suzmccarth 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

The 'market' for the first line of keyboards is the linguist who is
learning the language in order to complete their Ph. D., maybe
produce a dictionary or grammar or translate the Bible.
The next level are the English university educated native
*speakers*. The English alphabet looks good to them too - why not?
The next level are native speakers trained 'full time' to input text
on the roman keyboard. It is an elitist situation, not like in
English where any moron can wander in to an internet cafe and start
a blog. ;)

Oh yeah about handwriting, what was that term about stress, my wrist
aches already. Who remembers the good old days when you had to write
lines for a punishment? Well ... handwriting is a good universal
fallback, a catchall, not bad for some purposes - I could see it
working for Vai. Some Tamil IT students invented some new
handwriting technology too, then they couldn't sell it because
everyone wanted to write in English! Reality check!

Suzanne