[NCC] [MRRC] Gmail Tap using morse code-awesome (wink)

[Hal Offutt]

Very interesting!  Google Japan's search page posted a link to something 
very similar yesterday (it is now April 2 in Japan):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5AYb778pwA

This is in Japanese, but here is the gist of what they are saying.  The 
video describes a new method of inputting Japanese kanji characters into a 
computer.  As background, there are over 2,000 commonly used characters in 
Japanese and it was a big challenge to figure out an easy way to input 
Japanese using a normal western-style keyboard.  The video first describes a 
supposedly uncessful way of doing this that they tried in 2010 which used 
1,000+ keys set up in the shape of a set of drums and the idea was that you 
would write documents like you were playing the drums.  That method did not 
catch on, the video continues, so the Google researchers came up with this 
new method whereby you input the Japanese phonetic alphabet using the 
Japanese Morse Code and then the computer converts it to a kanji character. 
You don't need to remember the location of 1,000+ keys with this method. 
You can input using just one hand!  You can even write documents while 
juggling, with your foot while reading a book, while talking on the phone, 
while eating lunch, etc.  And if you don't happen to have a straight key at 
home, you can use the space key on your computer.  All you have to do is 
memorize the Japanese Morse Code.

The guys on the JA contest reflectors had a good laugh at this video.  It is 
really hilarious.

Looks like Google US and Google Japan coordinated these but produced 
completely different versions to suit the local culture.  Pretty slick.

73, Hal W1NN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Kovatch" <w8car at buckeye-express.com>
To: <n8dmm at adelphia.net>; <ncc at contesting.com>; <mrrc at contesting.com>; 
<w0jx at yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 4:13 PM
Subject: [MRRC] Gmail Tap using morse code-awesome (wink)


> http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/introducing-gmail-tap.html
>
> Dan W8CAR
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