News about miscellaneous keyboards, from Unix workstations, video-terminal types not otherwise covered, teleprinters, etc. Some software tricks that make using Unix keyboards easier are collected in the "Unix Terminal News" link from the General Info page. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.hardware Message-ID: <37CDF22E.75BB5F91@rpi.edu> References: <37CDCAFC.D0D2BB2D@lucent.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 23:42:38 -0400 Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, USA From: Matthias Halfmann Subject: Re: Sun Type 6 Keyboard > I had a Type 5c keyboard go out on me recently so I called up Sun to > replace it, and they sent a Type 6 keyboard. > As far as I know you can still buy the 5c from Sun, at least they are listed on Sun's web page with part numbers and prices. I would agree that that the type 6 feels flimsy compared to a 5, but after using one I really began to like it. I actually made less typing mistakes on the 6, which is odd because when ever I change keyboards I take a little time to adjust to the new one. matt ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: From the Sun Hardware FAQ: 8) Can I use a type-4 or type-5 keyboard on a Sun-3 that normally takes a type-3 keyboard? Yes. The cable/adapter is sold by Sun (P/N 530-1478 or 530-1479), Sun refurbisher Apex, and possibly others; Sun-3s manufactured toward the end came new with type-4 keyboards and the appropriate adapter. + DIN-8 serial port on SPARCstation IPC... ------- / === \ / \ / 6 7 8 \ | | | 3 4 5 | \ / \ 1 2 / \_______/ 1 DTR 4 GND 7 DCD 2 CTS 5 RxD 8 RxC (receive clock) 3 TxD 6 RTS 25) Can I set the stock Sun serial ports to rates higher than 38400 bps? Yes, but you have to hack the kernel in order to do it. Furthermore, the standard ZS hardware is not capable of supporting the normal bit rates (57600 and 115200) unless you can supply an external clock and run them in synchronous mode. The only higher internally-generated rates are 51200 (pretty useless) and 76800, which a few modems can be set to handle. Also, the 76800 rate will result in frequent overruns unless it is being used for pure output, such as to a printer. (From Birdsall's Sun hardware Reference: http://www.picarefy.com/~ftp/Sun-Hardware-Ref/parts) [1995 Sun SPARCstations seem to have little trouble running 38,400 bps under Solaris 2.5+ with no special measures. A fast CPU helps make up for the crude ZS hardware.] ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Some discussion about how different Sun-workstation keyboards work is found in comments in the SunOS 4.x include file: /usr/include/sundev/kbd.h Alas, the equivalent file in SunOS-5.x/Solaris-2.x /usr/include/sys/kbd.h omits much of the functional description. ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Newsgroups: comp.unix.solaris Path: utkcs2!stc06.ctd.ornl.gov!news.er.usgs.gov!jobone!lynx.unm.edu !newshub.tc.umn.edu!spool.mu.edu!olivea!venus.sun.com!news2me.EBay.Sun.COM !engnews1.Eng.Sun.COM!usenet Message-ID: Sender: bos@plokta.Eng.Sun.COM Date: 12 Jun 1996 11:30:09 -0700 From: bos@Eng.Sun.COM (Bryan O'Sullivan) Subject: Re: Help disabling Caps Lock on Sun 5 In article <31BD67D9.224D@mmu.ac.uk> Bruce Edmonds writes: b> b> How can I disable the Caps Lock key on my Sun 5 (under Solaris 2.5)? b> For vanilla console interaction, see the manual pages for loadkeys(1) and dumpkeys(1). Under X, look at the manual page for xmodmap(1). -- Let us pray: What a Great System. Please Do Not Crash. ^G^IP@P6 ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: To use any PS/2-compatible PC keyboard and PC mouse/trackball with a Sun workstation, order Interface Converter X465A from SunExpress: http://sunexpress.usec.sun.com/ or specifically http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/government/sewp2/products/Cables.html X465A SFSEWP0150P MISC-P $50 [1999: price now $75] Sun Interface Converter ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hpux, comp.sys.hp.hardware, comp.sys.sun.hardware, de.comp.os.unix Organization: Alcatel SEL AG Stuttgart Message-ID: <6erbqg$sm2$1@slsgcz.stgl.sel.alcatel.de> Keywords: PS2 Unix Keyboard Date: 19 Mar 1998 14:58:24 GMT From: Andreas Buschmann Subject: SUMMARY: Sun US Unix Style Keyboard for a HP WS I was looking for a keyboard like the ``Sun Type 5 US Unix Style Keyboard'' to be used with HP Workstations and X-Terminals. Newer HP Workstations like B132L use PC Style Keyboards, with a PS2 Connector. I don't agree with their Layout. A PS2 keyboard with Sun US Unix Style layout is available from NCD as ``KS5USUNIX'' (Model: N-123UX). I bought mine from Tekelec Airtronic GmbH, Germany. Full Order Description (in Germany) is: KS5USUNIX Sun 5 kompatible Tastatur fuer NCD X-Window Terminals in US Ausfuehrung Unix Layout The Sales Representive from Tekelec was most helpfull. The NCD Keyboard has all the keys from a Sun US Unix Style Keyboard at their original positions, plus 5 additional keys between the cursor keys, and , , . Tschuess, Andreas p.s. you will have to create a new keymap/modmap for this keyboard. I can mail the keymap/modmap on request. -- #include /|) Andreas Buschmann /-|) SEL Stuttgart US/EPB3 ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Newsgroups: comp.unix.solaris Path: utkcs2!stc06.ctd.ornl.gov!news.he.net!www.nntp.primenet.com !nntp.primenet.com!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!arlut.utexas.edu !news.eden.com!uunet!in1.uu.net!207.67.253.7!atmnet.net!news.lightside.com Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Message-ID: <32FE6259.3147@lightside.com> References: <5dkrlb$q61$1@news.cs.tu-berlin.de> Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 15:48:41 -0800 From: Jake Hamby Subject: Re: x86: Compose-key? Christian Krauss wrote: > > Does anybody know how to set up the compose key > on PC-Keyboards. [under Solaris 2.5 x86--Intel processor version of Solaris] > Is there any shortcut for it ? The xmodmap program is what you want. Find the keycode of the key you want to map to Compose (a useful tool for this is /usr/openwin/demo/xev, if you have it installed, run it and type keys into the window). On my keyboard, the right Control key is keycode 71. Create a file called .Xmodmap in your home directory containing this line: keycode 71 = SunCompose Now type at a shell prompt: % xmodmap .Xmodmap The right control key is now Compose, and works just like a Sun. If you want to use the Right Alt key instead, substitute keycode 69 (to find other keycodes, use /usr/openwin/demo/xev). To make this permanent, put the xmodmap command somewhere where it will be executed after OpenWindows starts (depending on your configuration, this could be .xinitrc or .openwin-init). Enjoy! By the way, I had a very difficult time with this same problem in FreeBSD (XFree86). I could never get Netscape (an X11R5 binary) to recognize the accented characters. I guess that's one advantage of Solaris... -- Jake Hamby ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Solaris X86 also provides the "pcmapkeys" utility (in SUNWcsu) to change the keyboard behavior of the raw console. [ Update: as of Solaris 8 X86, Sun changed the default key mappings on the PC-type keyboard to more closely resemble those of a SPARC machine's keyboard. The pcmapkeys(1M) utility was removed. ] ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Date: Sun, 16 Feb 1997 16:04:45 -0500 From: "Richard L. Hamilton" Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc, comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems, comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc, comp.os.linux.hardware, comp.unix.solaris Subject: Re: Sun-style UNIX keyboard for the PC (?) Mark Aitchison wrote: [...] > Keytronics used to make zillions of different types, DEC made VT200 > style alternative keyboards, and Wyse (I think) made PCs with as many > different keyboards as their terminals had. It is a great pity there > doesn't seem to be as much variety in keyboard layouts now (I guess > because mass production means special keyboards push the total system > price up those extra few dollars that makes the whole thing > uncompetitive for low-margin distributors). It is a pity that keyboard > technology has gone backwards. [...] The one good thing about less variety (or more accurately, a *single* keyboard layout available for various systems) is that what many people seem to hate worst about switching systems is learning a different keyboard. If there were a small number of keyboard layouts (probably max 3 to 5), that were uniform (and uniformly reprogrammable) across manufacturers, that might not be exactly to anyone's liking as much, but at least they'd only have to learn one keyboard layout rather than whining and moaning about learning new ones. With suitable software (CDE, for example), the keyboards are the main thing that from the user's perspective keep a heterogenous mix of systems from being reasonably decent to work with. (From an administrator's point of view, too heterogenous a mix of systems is, and will probably remain for some time, a heck of a lot more work, but nobody ever listens to SA's anyway.) -- mailto:rlhamil@mindwarp.smart.net http://www.smart.net/~rlhamil ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 20:15:15 GMT From: Alex Povolotsky To: prscarr@synopsys.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.hardware, comp.unix.solaris Subject: Re: Keyboard/Mouse/Video switch??? In SunExpert Magazine September 1996 page 92 there is an advertisment from Network Technologies Inc. voice: +1 216/562-7070 fax: +1 216/562-1999 email: nettech@ibm.net claiming to control up to 64 SPARCstations with one keyboard, monitor and mouse via one switch). ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 15:06:22 CDT From: Doug Hughes Newsgroups: comp.unix.solaris Subject: Re: [Q] Serial Switch for Several SPARC Servers? In article <52670t$1vf@natasha.rmii.com>, daven@rmi.net (Dave Newell) writes: > > I have a number of SPARC servers, SS20s, SS1000s, etc. with Wyse > terminals for consoles. With logging pushed off the individual > consoles, I'd like to reduce the number of terminals and use a > serial switch to get to each of the servers. We've done this for 16 machines. Flexible interface, remote access, logging, 1 monitor, 1 keyboard, 1 mouse, 1 window for each server. http://www.eng.auburn.edu/users/doug/console.html (links to other console servers are referenced here as well) ____________________________________________________________________________ Doug Hughes Engineering Network Services System/Net Admin Auburn University ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Maxpeed's line of "MaxStation" multiconsole terminals use direct-connect video technology to achieve the effect of local dumb terminals. Maxpeed Corporation 1120 Chess Dr. Foster City, CA 94404 voice: +1 415/345-5447 fax: +1 415/345-6398 WATS: 1-800/877-7998 email: Web: http://www.maxspeed.com/ ....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....:....: Newsgroups: comp.unix.solaris Message-ID: References: <7i6i02$m9h@nnrp2.farm.idt.net> Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 16:04:26 GMT From: Doug McIntyre Subject: Re: Solaris X86 2.6 BSOD :) Len Rose writes: > >Has anyone noticed problems when using Asus P2B-2D (dual processor) >motherboards that the machine will hang when booting w/o keybd attached? >The BIOS is set to ignore keybd of course.. >The screen is all blue (shiver) with the following text across the top >of the display: > "SunOS - Intel Platform Edition Primary Boot Subsystem, vsn 2.0" > >When I leave the keyboard attached everything is fine.. This is a rack-mounted >server, am hoping to lose the keyboard.. Yes, that is a problem we've found with the ASUS P2B-2D's as well. We're running the latest BIOS available. It doesn't seem to happen with any other motherboard, so it must be a motherboard/Solaris issue (it doesn't happen with other OS's on this board either). My solution was to find the cheapest keyboard I could, take it apart, and I luckily found that the cord going into a little 1.5"x3" circuit board with a rubber gasket electrical connection to the mylar sheets that comprised the keyswitch matrix. I threw away everything but the circuit board, and wrapped it in electrical tape and taped it on the back of the case. Instant keyboard cheater (and it certainly didn't cost ~$96.00 like commercial black boxes that I've found). Another problem that we've found with this board is that when shutting down in Solaris, it doesn't do the warm-reboot sometimes. We've had this problem with some other OS's as well, so its not exactly a Solaris problem. I think they have some bugs to get out of this motherboard. -- Doug McIntyre merlyn@visi.com Network Engineer/Tech Support/Jack of All Trades of Vector Internet ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hpux,hp.unix,hp.unix.admin,hp.unix.s800 Message-ID: <81eanc$8rg1@www-dev.bri.hp.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: hank.bri.hp.com Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 15:09:31 -0000 Organization: Hewlett Packard From: "Peter Hunt" Subject: USB Hub, Keyboard and barcode scanner System: HP B1000 Visualize workstation running HP-UX 10.20 w. JULY 1999 ACE USB hub: D6804A HP 4-way hub Keyboard/Mouse : a4983b standard HP visualize Keyboard and mouse. Barcode scanner: A piece of kit supplied by a company called symbol. As I understand it this device appears like a keyboard on the USB bus. It reads characters off a barcode and squirts them down the USB bus. I need to run three USB peripherals on a machine with only two USB slots. I decided to invest in a HP USB hub to expand the machines capacity. Test configuration: B1000: USB Port 1 - MOUSE USB Port 2 - USB Hub USB Hub: Port 1 - Hand Scanner Port 2 - Keyboard 3- empty 4- empty The machine boots up O.K. but then will only accept input from the barcode scanner not the keyboard. It seems that the system cannot operate with more than one character input device on the USB Ports. Does anyone know why this is or if there is a workaround? Regards, Peter Hunt ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hpux,hp.unix,hp.unix.admin,hp.unix.s800 Message-ID: <383AD997.789961E0@atl.hp.com> References: <81eanc$8rg1@www-dev.bri.hp.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: caslivkoff3107.atl.hp.com Organization: HP Response Center Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 13:14:47 -0500 From: Chuck Slivkoff Subject: Re: USB Hub, Keyboard and barcode scanner You'll probably need to do some tweaking in X0devices to get the device driver loaded correctly. Do you plan on using the scanner as a keyboard (ie, merging the 2 devices)? -chuck -- // Chuck Slivkoff // HP Response Center - XPlus Team // Atlanta, GA ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.hpux,hp.unix,hp.unix.admin,hp.unix.s800 Message-ID: <81em95$17d$4@fcnews.fc.hp.com> References: <81eanc$8rg1@www-dev.bri.hp.com> Organization: HP, WSY Date: 23 Nov 1999 18:26:45 GMT From: Bob Niland Subject: Re: USB Hub, Keyboard and barcode scanner Peter Hunt wrote: > > USB Port 1 - MOUSE > USB Port 2 - USB Hub > USB Hub: > Port 1 - Hand Scanner > Port 2 - Keyboard > 3- empty > 4- empty This pretty well ensures that the barcode scanner will be enumerated before the keyboard, and since it emulates a keyboard, the system will think it is console. > It seems that the system cannot operate with more than one > character input device on the USB Ports. Not so. We routinely stress-test with multiple keyboards. The problem is that unlike on HP-HIL, "console" does not automatically get connected to all enumerated USB keyboards. And unlike PS/2 (with eavesdrop PS/2 barcode readers spliced in upstream of a PS/2 keyboard), no USB device can eavesdrop on another, nor insert its data as if it were that device. Certainly you can open the barcode device to any desired process. But if what you want is for scan data to be treated like typed data and vice-versa (and typically you do want that, so that the keyboard can be used as backup when the bars don't scan), then I'll need to make some inquiries. An answer might take some time, as two key people are going to be out of position for some time here. I suspect it is possible to do this, perhaps with a simple background pipe. A workaround that would work is to use a USB-PS/2 adaptor such as the Y-Mouse, see URL http://patriot.fc.hp.com/rjn/usb/usbfaq.htm#Legacy (internal HP Web site) and then use a standard PS/2 keyboard and eavesdrop PS/2 barcode scanner. Regards, Non-HP Off-site contact: Bob Niland Hewlett-Packard PMB 503 3404 East Harmony Road 1001A East Harmony Road MS-K4, 3UN9 Fort Collins Fort Collins CO 80528-9599 CO, 80525-3354 http://patriot.fc.hp.com/rjn/ http://www.frii.com/~rjn/ Voice: (970/TN)-898-3364 Voice1: (970) 223-5209 FAX: (970/TN)-898-4432 or -6535 Voice2: (970) 225-2070 HP mailto:rjn@fc.hp.com mailto:rjn@frii.com NILAND,BOB (HP-FtCollins,ex1) ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Message-ID: References: Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 01:42:26 -0400 From: Roland Hutchinson Subject: Re: computer keyboards Brian Boutel wrote: > jmfbahciv@aol.com wrote: >> >> >> I'd have to dig out the pattern. IIRC, the bowtie pattern had >> the shape of a bowtie with a long band of cloth off the end. >> It seemed to me that it would be almost impossible to tie >> one so that the curvatures coincided with the bow. > > It's actually a long band of cloth with 1.5 bowtie shapes at *each* end. > > /---\ /-----\ /-----\ /---\ > / \/ \--------~~-------/ \/ \ > | | > \ /\ /--------~~-------\ /\ / > \___/ \_____/ \_____/ \___/ > > A B E F G C D > > To Tie a Bow Tie: > > 1. Put it round your neck and tie a half knot so that the 'A' end > protrudes horizontally to one side, with point E adjacent to the knot. > > 2. Fold the A-E part at B, with A-B in front so that a bowtie shape > appears across your adam's apple (if you have one). > > 3. Bring the F-D end down vertically over the A-B bow. There should be > enough of the band (F-G) to cross the narrow part of the bow before it > broadens at G. The band length adjustment makes this possible. > > 4. Fold the G-D end vertically up at C, so that you have another > bowtie shape crossing the first. > > 5. Bring the vertical bow, doubled end first(C), behind the horizontal > bow's doubled end (B), and tuck through so that C appears on the other > side behind A. > > 6. Tighten the knot and fiddle until it is even, straight and tidy. > > After this you deserve a drink Hint: Once you've got the hang of it, it's easier to do if you don't look in a mirror until step 6 is well underway. Hint 2: You already have the hang of it, because it's basically the same as doing up your shoelaces. -- Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my_spamtrap@eudoramail.com is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom, alt.folklore.computers Message-ID: References: <127e4692.0307300443.134514f3@posting.google.com> Date: 19 Sep 2003 03:36:00 PDT From: meier@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu Subject: Re: chording Keyboard layouts In article , Chris Baird writes: >>> You have a strap around the forearm that senses nerve impulses [..] > > > Morse key [..] > > A device that measures the nerve impulses made from tapping a finger > against any surface? It should be doable with current knowledge and > technology... > > -- > Chris Actually, there's a bunch of strange MIDI controllers out there in the art & technology world. [See http://www.synthzone.com/ctrlr.htm.] This one, the BodySynth, is made by a friend of mine, Ed Severinghaus, and does exactly what you're asking. (That is, it measures the nerve impulses in your finger, or whatever body parts the controller is connected to, as you tap.) http://www.synthzone.com/bsynth.html -- Vanessa ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Message-ID: References: <127e4692.0307300443.134514f3@posting.google.com> <1ca82fc6.0309180041.1b1d82b3@posting.google.com> <1152.391T459T7583784@kltpzyxm.invalid> Date: Fri, 19 Sep 03 09:43:31 GMT From: jmfbahciv@aol.com Subject: Re: chording Keyboard layouts In article <1152.391T459T7583784@kltpzyxm.invalid>, "Charlie Gibbs" wrote: >In article <1ca82fc6.0309180041.1b1d82b3@posting.google.com> >dooleys@snowy.net.au (dooley) writes: > >>hawk@slytherin.ds.psu.edu (Dr. Richard E. Hawkins) wrote in message >>news:... >> >>> Chording keyboards use multiple keys on one hand to type. They're >>> out there and available, and I've seen some Frankenstein contraptions >>> that put them onto what becomes a grossly oversized PDA. > >How about on a mouse? Are you feeling well, Charlie? > .. We could finally civilize the UDH. The only way is to remove the balls. > >>Of course afc readers will need the key sequences to be compatible >>with (one of the) the standard Hollerith hand-punch codes. >>See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/cards/codes.html for the options > >It should be a user-configurable option. That way you could also >include condensed versions of ASCII and EBCDIC. Then we'll wait >and see how long it takes some Exec 8 hacker to write a driver >that'll do Fieldata... or Baudot... I don't know shorthand, but it sounds like mapping a single hen scratch to represent a word of many letters is more efficient. I'm not sure that ASCII or similar flavors would stay around. Look at the language those kids, who yak with each other via a screen, use. ASCII's useful for storing info that one intends to read again over the long term. /BAH .............................................................................. Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Message-ID: <2244.392T229T6363826@kltpzyxm.invalid> References: <1ca82fc6.0309180041.1b1d82b3@posting.google.com> <1152.391T459T7583784@kltpzyxm.invalid> Date: 19 Sep 03 10:36:04 -0800 From: Charlie Gibbs Subject: Re: chording Keyboard layouts In article jmfbahciv@aol.com (jmfbahciv) writes: >In article <1152.391T459T7583784@kltpzyxm.invalid>, >"Charlie Gibbs" wrote: > >>In article <1ca82fc6.0309180041.1b1d82b3@posting.google.com> >>dooleys@snowy.net.au (dooley) writes: >> >>>hawk@slytherin.ds.psu.edu (Dr. Richard E. Hawkins) wrote in message >>>news:... >>> >>>> Chording keyboards use multiple keys on one hand to type. >>>> They're out there and available, and I've seen some frankenstein >>>> contraptions that put them onto what becomes a grossly oversized >>>> pda. >> >>How about on a mouse? > >ARe you feeling well, Charlie? You bet. Ornery as ever. Remember those digitizing pads whose pucks started sprouting buttons like chicken pox? >> .. We could finally civilize the UDH. > >The only way is to remove the balls. Oh, so you prefer optical mice? >>>Of course afc readers will need the key sequences to be compatible >>>with (one of the) the standard Hollerith hand-punch codes. >>>See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/cards/codes.html for the options >> >>It should be a user-configurable option. That way you could also >>include condensed versions of ASCII and EBCDIC. Then we'll wait >>and see how long it takes some Exec 8 hacker to write a driver >>that'll do Fieldata... or Baudot... > >I don't know shorthand but it sounds like mapping a single hen >scratch to represent a word of many letters is more efficient. >I'm not sure that ASCII or similar flavors would stay around. That's why I'm emphasizing it as an option. Different strokes... >Look at the language those kids, who yak with each other via >a screen, use. ASCII's useful for storing info that one intends >to read again over the long term. Which is what many of us here in this newsgroup would be interested in. Most of us have outgrown 733t sp33k, but there are practical uses for compact chording keyboards that can be used by one hand. -- /~\ cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs) \ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way. X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855. / \ HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored. Join the ASCII ribbon campaign! .............................................................................. Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Message-ID: References: <127e4692.0307300443.134514f3@posting.google.com> <1ca82fc6.0309180041.1b1d82b3@posting.google.com> <1152.391T459T7583784@kltpzyxm.invalid> Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 12:41:21 -0700 From: Jack Peacock Subject: Re: chording Keyboard layouts wrote in message news:bken8c$9mu$3@bob.news.rcn.net... > > I don't know shorthand but it sounds like mapping a single hen > scratch to represent a word of many letters is more efficient. > I'm not sure that ASCII or similar flavors would stay around. I believe the "hen scratch per word" encoding system was invented around 2700 BC. Today we call it "Chinese". And I believe there is a numeric equivalent for most chinese ideograms. We could simply replace all icons on GUIs with the equivalent word in Mandarin, thereby preserving literacy in the world (at least for a significant percentage) as well as keeping on the current trend of encouraging users to not bother to spell but memorize little pictures. And think of the benefits in compression when all words can be encoded in 16 bits (IIRC Simplified Chinese fills up most of the encoding for 16-bit Unicode). Me, I'm dumping all my stock in "Hooked On Phonics". -- Jack Peacock //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////