[sw-l] New Keyboard Demonstration Software

[Sandy Fleming]

Val,

That's great, thanks!

Unfortunately a large lightbulb has just appeared over my head and I've
realised there's a better way of laying out the keyboard, so a new version
is imminent.

The idea is that I can use the number keys to type handshapes as well - then
the number hands can be used as memory aids as well as fingerspelling, and
we'd have 36 hands that can be typed with just one keypress, rather than
just 26.

Funny how these things seem obvious in retrospect...

Anyway, it means that you may want to wait until early next week (I'm going
away for the weekend) so you can download the new version - but it's up to
you.

Stuart is giving me a lot of help with making a MacOS version more easily
available, too, so things are looking good  :)

Sandy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
> [mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu]On Behalf Of Valerie Sutton
> Sent: 09 February 2005 17:52
> To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
> Subject: Re: [sw-l] New Keyboard Demonstration Software
>
>
> SignWriting List
> February 9, 2005
>
> Hello Everyone and Sandy!
> I want to thank you, Sandy, for posting this information. Please
> forgive that I am running sooo late on everything now...SignWriting is
> really spreading...It is quite exciting. There are new groups using
> SignWriting everyday. And there are more and more computer programs
> being developed...We are sooo fortunate!! Right now I am testing
> SignWriter Tiger by Daniel Noelpp in Switzerland, and writing a web
> page about SignWriter Python by Lars Majewski in Germany, and working
> with Stephen Slevinski in the US, on new features for the SignPuddle
> programs...It may take me a few days before I can review your work...so
> be patient...it will happen! And I hope others can give you feedback
> even faster than I can...I look forward to reading the messages...Val
> ;-)
>
> ------------------------
>
>
>
> On Feb 9, 2005, at 7:14 AM, Sandy Fleming wrote:
>
> > Hi List!
> >
> > As promised I've written a proof-of-concept for some of the things we
> > were
> > discussing before Christmas.
> >
> > It features a new kind of keyboard, compact ASCII file storage for
> > SignWriting, and symbols displayed independently of the IMWA or SSS.
> >
> > Mainly I'd like opinions on the keyboard input method - whether you
> > think
> > it's worth developing further (for contact, movement &c) or whether
> > you have
> > problems with it. The whole point is getting quick access to the
> > symbols of
> > the language by touch typing. Obviously it's the sort of thing that
> > takes
> > practice to master, especially since there are many more handshapes in
> > ASL
> > than there are keys on the keyboard! But any handshape can be typed
> > with
> > only one or two keypresses.
> >
> > Curretnly this only demonstrates handshapes, but I have keying methods
> > for
> > everything else thought out as well - it's just a matter of finding
> > out if
> > people on the list think I'm going in the right direction before
> > writing
> > more of it.
> >
> > You can find downloads, instructions and everything at:
> > http://bsltext.org/software/
> >
> > Although this is presented on my BSL site the current language module
> > is
> > derived from the SSS-US, so it's more suitable for typing ASL, really!
> > More
> > language modules can easily be created, though.
> >
> > I should also say that this is my first attempt at releasing software
> > over
> > the Internet - so please be patient with me if you have problems
> > running it
> > on your particular OS to start with.
> >
> > Thanks for taking a look!
> >
> > Sandy
> >
> >
>
>
>