Hi Wayne, Thanks much for the mail. We are currently finishing the fix for "Traditional Chinese" keyboard wrongly called as "Taiwanese" in kbd -s output. Regards, Suresh
W. Wayne Liauh wrote: >> But it's not a selection of language, but keyboard >> layouts - and those vary >> by nation, region, and/or language - Sun really does >> sell keyboards in Taiwan >> with a different layout than mainland China, and >> needs some way to refer to >> those differently. >> >> -- >> -Alan Coopersmith- >> alan dot coopersmith at sun dot com >> > > (for some reason my original reply was lost in the Jiva-land,? b/c the > importance of this matter, I am reposting it below but making it shorter > while adding other thoughts) > > Hi Alan, > > The "keyboard layout" you have problem finding a name for actually already > has a name, and it is called "traditional Chinese keyboard", see, e.g.: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Chinese_.28traditional.29 > > If the picture there is not big enough, you can take a look at the keyboard > that I have: > > http://picasaweb.google.com/WLiauh/ChineseKeyboard/photo#5176592325922186370 > > (plse see also the attached screenshot) > > As opposed to the "traditional Chinese" keyboard, there is no "simplified > Chinese" keyboard, per se, because the latter "traditionally" uses the > so-called (Roman) Pinyin method, and it has exactly the same keyboard layout > as an English keyboard. In recently years, however, the methods used in > inputting traditional Chinese characters have been adopted for the simplified > Chinese characters, and there is really no distinction b/t a traditional > Chinese keyboard and a simplified Chinese keyboard. Both now should be > referred to as the "Chinese keyboard". Calling a traditional Chinese keyboard > a "Taiwanese" keyboard may raise an undue, unwanted, and far-fetched > imagination that someone inside Sun is trying to promote a de jure (as > opposed to the de facto) Taiwan independence. This was my concern. But I am > sure everyone knows that nothing could be further from the truth. > > However, the more serious problem is technical. Chinese characters > (simplified and traditional) are symbol-based as well as stroke-based; each > symbol comprises a number of basic building elements and is written according > to a well-established sequence. There are several ways to input a Chinese > character; e.g., you can construct (i.e., "type in") a Chinese character > based on its constituting building elements or using the associated sequence > of strokes. Additionally, you can type in a Chinese character phonetically > using the so-called bopomofo method or the Roman pinyin method. A Chinese > keyboard as shown in the linked picture reflects the several options > (typically four options). But the most important point to keep in mind is, a > Chinese keyboard cannot be separated from the input method which must have > already been running in the background. Eventually we may have a Chinese UI > for installation or starting the LiveCD, but, unlike all other languages, I > doubt there will ever be a Chinese "keyboard layout" for Indiana or > Solaris/OpenSolaris before the OS is loaded. > > Recently, Sun's acquisition of Innotek makes Solaris available as a > VirtualBox host, and this allows me to, for the first time in a long while, > pay attention to the SXDE/SXCE installation process (it has become so > mechanical). I found out that the problem of the mischaracterization of the > "Taiwanese keyboard" is not only limited to Indiana, but is indeed inherent > in OpenSolaris. I noticed that is also exists in several OpenSolaris > derivatives including at least Schillix and Milax. To those uneducated, it > may create an impression that Sun is unleashing its propaganda machine to try > to promote the idea of a "Taiwanese keyboard layout". From my own experience, > I don't think anyone in China will take this matter seriously, except > thinking that we must be a stupid bunch. Actually, it is Sun's potential > customers in Taiwan which may feel very uncomfortable. For example, it looks > like Mr. Mark Ma (???), my high school classmate and an NYU/Harvard law > school graduate, is all but certain to become the next President of Taiwan. > Before this silly matter is resolved, there is no way I will be inclined to > show the Indiana CD or SX DVD to his people. Again, the issue is probably not > political (which I believe can always be explained), but it simply makes me > look stupid. > > BTW, as a side matter, we are looking for a couple of Chinese-speaking > volunteers/Solaris enthusiasts who are willing to use Chinese-and-English > localized versions of SXDE4 (01/08) as the primary desktop OS on a 24/7 > basis. We will provide a laptop (a desktop replacement). I will be working > with David Clack to see which laptop is the most suitable (i.e., compatible > with SX but also reasonably priced). Mr. Ma is proposing a $100 billion USD > economic revitalization plan (three trillion NT$, ????????). How sweet it > will be if we can work OpenSolaris into his plan. :-) It's not just money, > but the clout of the OEM/ODM conglomerates in Taiwan which can make a big > impact. One of my former clients, TSMC, is now making post-45nm ultraSparc > CMT (& beyond) processors for Sun. > > > This message posted from opensolaris.org > >
