Re: keyboard symbols
On 10/9/07, Mitch Bradley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Bert Freudenberg wrote: > > On Oct 9, 2007, at 8:15 , Albert Cahalan wrote: > >> I notice that some keyboards lack the multiplication > >> and division symbols. Providing them for all kids > >> would be good, even if they need to move elsewhere. > > > > Why those? They are not used universally. > > And even in places where they are used, like the US, they fall into > disuse when you get to algebra. The multiplication symbol is too much > like the variable x, and the division symbol is replaced by > numerator-over-denominator notation. 1. The target audience is mostly below algebra. 2. The cross product is used in college. > > At least German kids are > > taught to use "·" (centered dot) for multiplication and ":" (colon) > > for division. And for real math formulae you don't need those either. Well, you have the colon, and I did suggest the centered dot. I forgot the infinity symbol. In case anybody wonders, the list comes from the symbols that tend to show up in character set standards. I picked though many of those while making a font. infinity symbol multiplication symbol division symbol bullet star heart smiley skull-and-crossbones musical flat musical natural musical sharp copyright symbol registered trademark symbol trademark symbol check mark dagger double dagger not equals symbol degree symbol pi alpha phi omega therefore symbol center dot (math) set union symbol set intersection symbol plus or minus symbol power of 2 spade clubs diamond ___ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
Re: keyboard symbols
Bert Freudenberg wrote: > On Oct 9, 2007, at 8:15 , Albert Cahalan wrote: > > >> I notice that some keyboards lack the multiplication >> and division symbols. Providing them for all kids >> would be good, even if they need to move elsewhere. >> > > Why those? They are not used universally. And even in places where they are used, like the US, they fall into disuse when you get to algebra. The multiplication symbol is too much like the variable x, and the division symbol is replaced by numerator-over-denominator notation. > At least German kids are > taught to use "·" (centered dot) for multiplication and ":" (colon) > for division. And for real math formulae you don't need those either. > > I agree that having easy access to more symbols is useful, though I > doubt it makes sense to put them all onto the keycaps. > > - Bert - > > > ___ > Devel mailing list > Devel@lists.laptop.org > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel > ___ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
Re: keyboard symbols
On Oct 9, 2007, at 8:15 , Albert Cahalan wrote: > I notice that some keyboards lack the multiplication > and division symbols. Providing them for all kids > would be good, even if they need to move elsewhere. Why those? They are not used universally. At least German kids are taught to use "·" (centered dot) for multiplication and ":" (colon) for division. And for real math formulae you don't need those either. I agree that having easy access to more symbols is useful, though I doubt it makes sense to put them all onto the keycaps. - Bert - ___ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
keyboard symbols
I notice that some keyboards lack the multiplication and division symbols. Providing them for all kids would be good, even if they need to move elsewhere. Other useful things found in Unicode: bullet star heart smiley skull-and-crossbones musical flat musical natural musical sharp copyright symbol registered trademark symbol trademark symbol check mark dagger double dagger not equals symbol degree symbol pi alpha phi omega therefore symbol center dot (math) set union symbol set intersection symbol plus or minus symbol power of -1 power of 2 spade clubs diamond ___ Devel mailing list Devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel