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From:
Valerie Sutton Date: Wed Jun 17, 1998 9:14 am Subject: SW Keyboard Design | ||||||||
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On June 16, 1998, Neil Bauman wrote: >I have a question here. Do you really map the new symbol to the Ascii >character or to the physical key. The reason I'm asking is that about 3 >years ago I changed over my keyboard from the standard Qwerty layout to the >Dvorak layout and after typing Qwerty for about 35 years I had to learn to >type all over again. Now I can only type using the Dvorak layout--and the >only two keys that are the same are the letters A and M. ________________________ Hi Neil & Everyone - Thanks for this question. There are two different SignWriter programs - the current program and the future program. The current program is SignWriter 4.3 for MS-DOS. That is what I am discussing here. Our current program types "in its own environment". It does not "hook into" other software...for example...it does not "hook into" keyboard software in your system folder on your computer. Therefore it "mimics" Ascii. The user never knows this detail, because it works. SignWriter 4.3 places you "in its own little world with its own special keyboards". __________ In regards to the Fingerspelling Keyboard... Your Dvorak keyboard will be a "new country", and just like all the other 15 countries, I will create a special country for the "Dvorak Keyboard", so that you do not have any problems. Just send me the keyboard layout for Dvorak in a picture, showing me where they have placed each letter of the alphabet, and I will create the 16th country, called "Dvorak". Do you want ASL fingerspelling symbols on the Dvorak keyboard? Or do you want French or Italian Fingerspelling - you have 15 countries with 15 fingerspelling systems to choose from :-) __________ In regards to the Sign Keyboard... that should work right now - The Sign Keyboard is not "hooked" to A or B or C on the keyboard. It is in its own environment. So if you downloaded the shareware, I believe you will find the Sign Keyboard will work properly on your Dvorak Keyboard right now without a special version from me. Of course, you will need to learn the new technique of typing signed languages - but that is fun! Everyone types signs the same in SignWriter, even if you are a 16th country! Of course, if I am wrong, then we will work together until we get it to work - simple as that! The reason SignWriter 4.3 is used now all over the world, is because I have done an enormous amount of collaborative work to make sure it is working - so if others are willing to work with me - we do succeed. Sometimes software can be frustrating to develop, because there are so many factors to consider - but it is all a matter of a good attitude and hard work :-) So if you want me to create a working SignWriter 4.3, for the Dvorak keyboard, just mail me the keyboard design through snail mail. I look forward to seeing it! All the best - Valerie Sutton :-) https://www.SignWriting.org Sutton at the DAC Deaf Action Committee For SignWriting Box 517, La Jolla, CA, 92038-0517, USA (619)456-0098 voice (619)456-0010 tty (619)456-0020 fax | ||||||||
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