[sw-l] SignPuddle

[Adam Frost]

Stephen and fellow list members,

I would be very interested in this. I have a page on my webpage that I want
to only use signwriting. I have been wondering myself with route I want to
go. Doing each as an image would make it so that I know that the signs that
I want are going to stay there, but the two problems are that it would make
the download of the page too long and if updates ever are needed, it will
take forever. Because of these problems, I have been thinking of useing the
HTML codes to "transer" the image to my site. But then the problem is that
the signs could change to something that I don't want (like a totally
different sign or even a broken image because it no longer exsits) without
me knowing. As of right now, I don't have access to PHP or CGI. So I really
don't know what I want to do ... wait ... I just got a brainstorm. Is it
possible that I could call up each symbol and put them where I want to? This
would be kind of like typing the signs, but using a "font" from the
SignPuddle. I don't know if I have explained my thought will, or even if it
would actually work. Maybe you can help me out better with this. :-)

Adam


----Original Message Follows----
From: "Stephen Slevinski" <slevin at PUDL.INFO>
Reply-To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
Subject: RE: [sw-l] SignPuddle
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 15:18:02 -0400

Hi Stuart,

I've thought of writing such a library, but I am not sure of the interest.

There is the broader topic of what is the best way to use SignWriting on
websites.  There are several approaches we could use.

HTML Hardcode
Send yourself an SW email using the online images checkbox.  Copy and paste
the HTML code.

PHP Function
Requires PHP installed on server.  This would be the translate function you
describe.  Pass the langauge and the gloss.  Should also pass the style
(horizontal or verticle), or use two functions.

Other CGI
Same as above, but in ASP or Perl or ...

Javascript
Create a Javascript function that would generate the SignWriting.  This
would not require any special installation on the server.  This would
require Javascript on the client.

Gloss vs SWML-S
Should these functions accept gloss or use SWML-S?
For dictionary entries that were created with the new SignMaker, I can
output SWML-S.  For the other sign entries I can not.  The ASL dictionary
needs to be almost completely rewritten, over 3000 signs.

Gloss can be used immediately, but SWML-S is the superior solution.  SWML-S
will properly display verticle writing with the head in the center.  (I can
even include lanes.)

SWML-S can be built from the dictionary, but does not depend on the
dictionary.  In a few months, I hope to have a working version of Movement
Writer available as a Java Applet that will output SWML-S.

Anyway, there are many options, but what is needed and what will be used?
I'm willing to write the code, not because it is possible, but because it
will be used.

Seriously, who needs what?  Speak up and you may get it.
-Stephen
   -----Original Message-----
   From: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu]On Behalf Of Stuart Thiessen
   Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 10:07 AM
   To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
   Subject: Re: [sw-l] SignPuddle


   Stephen,

   I wonder if you could write a PHP function similar to your translate
function that can embed the SignBank dictionary locations (with the option
of adding local dictionaries) and then people can simply include that
function on their page, and then reference it with a <?php
translate("sgn-US", "ME GO STORE."); ?> or whatever
you call it. Then the
function can search the appropriate dictionaries both remote and local and
place the appropriate PNG's in that slot.

   For those who do not have access to PHP, maybe a CGI approach could be
available for them?

   What do you think?

   Stuart

   Valerie Sutton wrote:
     SignWriting List
     October 8, 2004

     Sandy Fleming wrote:

       This would be a very easy way to build webpages with SignWriting
without
       having to extract and store the images on my own sever, but would
this
sort
       of behaviour be acceptable to you, considering the load it would put
on your
       server? It might be quite a heavy load if people start using the
Puddle
       dictionaries to compose whole texts on their websites!


     Hello Sandy, Stephen and Everyone!
     Congrats on entering the sign for Wales (smile). I extracted the .png
image from the htm file and here it is attached to this message...Looks
good! When you create a sign in SignMaker now, it creates two kinds of
files. One is a graphic image in .png format, and the other is the one that
holds the language information, called a .bld file (Stephen's
development)...So when I opened your htm file, I found the .png file for
Wales there, and I right-clicked on my mouse and downloaded it. Then I
attached the .png to this message.

     Did you know that SignPuddle is not on Stephen's server? We moved Sign
Puddle to the SignBank site during the summer which means it is on my
server....not my server in my home...but on DeafVision, where I pay an
annual fee to host our SignBank site. And as far as I know our memory is ok
right now, so go right ahead, Sandy, and be as creative as you wish! That
was why we moved SignPuddle to SignBank, so we would have a long-lasting,
ongoing server for SignPuddle... Val ;-)




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