[Sw-l] Update for SignMaker 2015

Fri Jun 5 21:12:42 UTC 2015

SignWriting List
June 5, 2015

Congrats and thank you, Steve, for this major new software, using the new SignWriting TrueType Fonts. SignMaker 2015 works as a web application on all devices, using the Android and Apple OS systems, for tablets, smartphones and computers - Yeah!! ;-)

Steve is also working on, and almost ready to publish an App as well, that will someday be available in the iTunes and Google stores - The App still needs a little tweaking, but it is available right now in Android as Steve mentions below...

Meanwhile everyone can use the web application on any device - I found it confusing to understand the difference between a “web application” and an App, but nonetheless, there is a difference. So the “web application” (which means going to a web page on your tablet or phone or computer), is working right now for everyone...

I am working on the support web pages this weekend - I will try to write a quick and easy summary of how to use the software.

On Monday, June 8th, I will start the web pages for the presentations at the SignWriting Symposium 2015 - 

Thank you again Steve, and great to hear from you, Carine - Look forward to keeping in touch -

Val ;-)

-------------

> On Jun 5, 2015, at 11:58 AM, Carine Dingemans <dingemans.carine at TELENET.BE> wrote:
> 
> Thank you for a all the hard work!
> 
> Carine

-----------------------------

> On Jun 5, 2015, at 11:53 AM, Stephen E Slevinski Jr <slevin at SIGNPUDDLE.NET> wrote:
> 
> Hi SignWriting List,
> 
> Yesterday, I released version 1.2 of the new SignMaker.  There are a couple of great improvements and much wider platform support for desktops, tablets, and phones.
> 
> 
> 
> SignMaker Index page on SignBank:
> http://www.signbank.org/signmaker.html <http://www.signbank.org/signmaker.html>
> 
> Valerie Sutton is currently improving the SignMaker Index page on SignBank.  Thanks for your hard work Val.
> 
> 
> SignMaker Project Page:
> https://github.com/Slevinski/signmaker <https://github.com/Slevinski/signmaker>
> 
> 
> SignMaker and Fonts
> ------------------
> I'm happy to announce that SignMaker now works without installing the fonts on your system. If you don't feel like installing the TrueType fonts on your system (Windows, Mac, Linux, or iOS) or you can't (Android), the fonts will automatically be downloaded to your browser's cache on the first visit.  Once the fonts are downloaded into the browser cache, any other SignWriting Font website will automatically use the fonts cached in your browser.  If you ever clear your browser cache, the next visit to a SignWriting Font website will download the font again and reinstall the font in the browser cache.  The fonts are 13 MB, so the first install make take a few seconds or longer depending on your download speed and processor.
> 
> I've tested Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and Android.  Nearly every browser works as expected, with 3 exceptions.  First, the default Android browser is not usable.  For Android, use Firefox or install the App.  Second, unless the system font is installed, for Linux you may require a browser refresh if a page doesn't load properly the first time.  Third, Chrome has issues with the font.
> 
> 
> Chrome and Chromium Font Issue
> -----------------------------
> There are minor and major font issues with Chrome and Chromium.  The worst is that 5 symbols are missing.  Specifically, S10008, S10009, S1000a, S1000b, and S1000c.  To see the issue in SignMaker, on the symbol palette, click on the main index finger twice and then press Mirror.  You'll see a gap in the palette.
> 
> 
> 
> I believe the problem is caused by certain characters on plane 16 of Unicode.  The affected codepoints are U+100009 thru U+10000D.  I will be researching the issue further and submitting a bug report to the Chromium development team soon.
> 
> 
> SignWriting App
> -------------
> There is an App available for Android.  You can find information and download links on the SignMaker project page.
> https://github.com/Slevinski/signmaker/#android <https://github.com/Slevinski/signmaker/#android>
> 
> 
> Small screen and the popup keyboard
> --------------------------------
> There are a few usability issue for small screens, especially when the keyboard pops up.  These issues are with the SignMaker application itself, rather than the usage of the fonts.  Even for phones, the SignWriting 2010 JavaScript library and associated CSS work properly for nearly everyone.
> 
> 
> Create Website that use the SignWriting Fonts
> --------------------------------------
> Using the SignWriting 2010 Fonts requires a small JavaScript library (17 KB) and a few CSS statements.  With these 2 parts, any website can show SignWriting to any viewer.
> https://github.com/Slevinski/sw10js <https://github.com/Slevinski/sw10js>
> 
> 
> Future Development
> ------------------
> Still lots to do.  I'm excited for the symposium this year.  I have 2 presentations to prepare.  One will cover SignMaker in depth for end users.  Another will talk about the technology behind the development.
> 
> A new SignText is coming later this year so that we can compose entire sentences in SignWriting.  It will be based on the new SignMaker code.
> 
> Regards,
> ~Steve
> http://slevinski.github.io <http://slevinski.github.io/>
> ________________________________________________
> 
> SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION
> 
> Valerie Sutton SignWriting List moderator sutton at signwriting.org
> 
> Post Messages to the SignWriting List: sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu
> 
> SignWriting List Archives & Home Page http://www.signwriting.org/forums/swlist
> 
> Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages http://listserv.valenciacollege.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=SW-L&A=1
> 

________________________________________________

SIGNWRITING LIST INFORMATION

Valerie Sutton
SignWriting List moderator
sutton at signwriting.org

Post Messages to the SignWriting List:
sw-l at listserv.valenciacollege.edu

SignWriting List Archives & Home Page
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Join, Leave or Change How You Receive SW List Messages
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