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Hi SignWriting list,<br>
<br>
In 2020, the state of SignWriting is strong and diverse. I enjoy
working with SignWriting on the weekends. There is too much to do
and so much possibility. I wish I had a team and I could devote all
of my efforts for SignWriting, but we have enough.<br>
<br>
2020 didn't go as planned. It started with a new technology stack
and ended with the return of Unicode 8.<br>
<br>
Let's review <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://SignPuddle.org">https://SignPuddle.org</a> . The
website needs rewritten for 2021, but other priorities come first.<br>
<br>
======<br>
Showcase<br>
======<br>
SignPuddle 2 - Still in use and still writing text. Source code is
available on GitHub. It offers features not available anywhere
else. Parts need rewritten before it can be moved to the new
server. Legacy code using old technology, inefficient processing,
and historical character encodings.<br>
<br>
SignMaker 2017 - An intermediate platform. Demonstrates the utility
of both Formal SignWriting in ASCII (FSW) and SignWriting in Unicode
(SWU) character sets. Creates SVG and PNG images for signs. Still
useful.<br>
<br>
SignPuddle 3 Beta - SignPuddle 3 isn't going to happen without
full-time development. Because I switched to part-time development
for 2020, I can no longer continue this project. The front-end is
being replaces by the Sutton SignWriting Web Components. The
back-end is being replaced by the SignWriting Cloud on the new
server as a Restful and GraphQL common data resource.<br>
<br>
The Sutton SignWriting Project - Stand alone implementation for most
of the current technology stack. Uses an older JS library, but the
product is solid.<br>
<br>
<br>
=========<br>
Work Projects<br>
=========<br>
Two-Dimensional Font - No progress. Grant from Wikimedia is not
going to happen. This project is still on my mind and will happen,
but it is low priority due to budget, complexity, and
time-constraints.<br>
<br>
SignPuddle 3 Network - to be replaced by the SignWriting Cloud.
Work in progress.<br>
<br>
Additional Handshapes - New progress this year. I've heard from
Brazil and Portugal along with a few others. I have a few options
for making this work. Unicode will consider the addition of new
handshapes. We need to collate, document, and process the new
handshape applications. This will require a font update.<br>
<br>
Printing HTML and PDF - The PDF printing is available on the old
server. This custom installation was time consuming and SignPuddle
2 specific. This will need re-implemented on the new server as part
of the SignWriting Cloud.<br>
<br>
Dictionary Cleanup - We lack real tools to make this possible.
Never the less, people continue to work with the tools they have.<br>
<br>
Handwriting Practice - I practiced a little bit of handwriting this
year. How about you?<br>
<br>
International Awareness - More every day. The Annex of Universal
Languages includes a section for "International SignWriting by
Valerie Sutton".<br>
<br>
Fund Raising - No success. My current Patreon campaign pays for the
old server hosting fees and part of the new server costs. Luckily,
my full-time job outside of SignWriting is able to cover the
additional costs.<br>
<br>
=========<br>
Collaborations<br>
=========<br>
Sutton SignWriting Facebook group - Lots of visual posts and updates
about SignWriting.<br>
<br>
SignWriting List - Email group for posting questions, answers, and
general information.<br>
<br>
Center for Sutton Movement Writing - The CSMW closed in 2019. We
are planning a new organization for the future, but we are currently
working together as individuals and friends.<br>
<br>
Wikimedia Sign Language Projects - Active. Lots of use for the
SignWriting in Unicode 8 (uni8) character set on the English
Wikipedia and Wiktionary. The test sign language wikipedias on
incubator use old technology that needs to be replaced. Lost of
posted sign graphics for Polish Sign Language.<br>
<br>
Steve Slevinski - I'm always available to chat about SignWriting.
Want to say thanks or formalize our relationship? Join my Patreon
campaign to help secure SignWriting's future.<br>
<br>
=======<br>
Challenges<br>
=======<br>
Unicode Standard - The challenge was accepted by Google. They
created an OpenType Font that is compatible with the SignWriting in
Unicode 8 (uni8) specification. The font is called Noto Sans
SignWriting. It forced me to reconsider the official Unicode
design. This last Sunday, I created a new support library over a
twelve hour code sprint. It resulted in the
@sutton-signwriting/unicode8 software package available on NPM. I
still don't like this character set for a variety of reasons, but I
will be including support in the Sutton SignWriting Web Components
as a third option for the character encoding.<br>
<br>
Script Encoding - I didn't see any new ideas or development of older
ideas with regards to script encoding and layout. People keep
assuming that polar coordinates are better than cartesian
coordinates. I still have my proposal for 17 additional characters
to finish the Unicode design for structural markers and number
characters.<br>
<br>
Font Design - The Noto Sans SignWriting works with facial
diacritics. This is untested but good enough for experimentation.
The new @sutton-signwriting/unicode 8 support library is ready, but
I still need to update the Sutton SignWriting Web Components before
we can really test it out.<br>
<br>
=========<br>
Internet Draft<br>
=========<br>
The Internet Draft called draft-slevinski-formal-signwriting is
expired. It contains information about SignWriting 2020, but does
not include the latest developments and technology stack. It
contains useful and valuable information. I will update it again
some day.<br>
<br>
===========<br>
SignWriting 2021<br>
===========<br>
I look forward to working with SignWriting next year. I have three
main focuses. 1) Keep the old server running, 2) Move the websites
to the new server, 3) New developments for the Sutton SignWriting
Web Components and the SignWriting Cloud.<br>
<br>
I am also interested in everyone else's SignWriting projects and
wish them all the best in 2021.<br>
<br>
-Steve<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://SteveSlevinski.me">https://SteveSlevinski.me</a><br>
<span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 111, 219); color: rgb(33, 111, 219); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; display: inline !important; float: none;"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://patreon.com/signwriting">https://patreon.com/signwriting</a> </span><br>
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Valerie Sutton
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