Lady Drid, you've got to read this - about the keyboard

Lady Drid *Hi lady! Good day if you're reading this!* asked me about my keyboard in last entry, whether I type in two independent keyboards respectively with Chinese Charcters and Roman Alphabet on the keys. So I came up with the idea of depicting the whole thing in detail alongside illustrations in this post. 


Two snapshots of the keyboard I'm currently using:




Nothing special to them, right? Fact is, keyboards being used here are no difference from those in the west but may be different from those in Korea and Japan, where languages are largely in "characters". So why this happens? To know how Chinese texts are entered, I'll introduce Pinyin first.


Here, wikipedia presents a generally correct and thorough explanation of what it is and how it works. To make things simpler, Pinyin is a system of romanization for standard Mandarin by introducing the pronunciation of Roman Alphabet. Yet the pronunciations which the letters of pinyin represent do not correspond exactly to those of the letters that English represent, just as Roman Alphabet used in Spanish, German, French, etc. also contain different pronunciations.


More than just being an effective tool for Chinese learners both in and outside China, Pinyin is widely used among computer users as the simplest way of entering Chinese texts. Of course, one important prerequisite is that your PC or laptop need to be equipped with a Chinese version of Microsoft Windows or alternatives that support the language. In fact, my machine includes four different Chinese input methods, three in pinyin and the other in an encoding system. Basically, Chinese input methods through standard keyboard can be classified into three types: by encoding, by pronunciation, and by structure of the characters. Users who are already familiar or have mastered Pinyin, the comprehensive system by pronunciation, could save much the effort to learn other methods that are created by encoding or breaking characters into structures.


And how do people learn Pinyin? Simple. I was taught the system early in primary school, so is every young kid when he is old enough to follow the teachers.


Some other links are here, here and here if you are into the language and all.


 
3.9.05 13:42


Am I the only one

... that loves plugging into mp3 player playing your current favourite song over and over again until you get systematically disgusted with its rhythm, or until the next favourite appears to replace the former one?
5.9.05 14:39


Low key

I've been low key lately and am not in a good mood to punch a little something. My absence has somewhat prolonged due to the worsening relationship with bonne amie. I am asked to make a trip to Beijing to see her. The ticket is already in my wallet and in less than two days I will be in the train heading north. When a relationship keeps consuming your energy, what is left for both parties to hang on to it? I've decided to leave our relationship on destiny. My gut feeling told me to do so.


Perhaps it's best to get back to my bachelorhood.

12.9.05 10:38


Back home

I was home three days ago, and kept thinking what to blog about until today. Yet still I came up with nothing paticular to write. I will need some extra days to compose a thorough reflextion of my trip. Bonne amie and I are fine. Got a mild cold but am feeling better now.


The weather has been extraordinarily hot. Some 35 degrees at noon and 27 or so in the evening. We have to have the aircon on to help us sleep comfortably. I need some torential rain to cool off.


And inspired by FoCoMo I replied a junk mail yesterday, in some sense of profanity. It seems the attempted scam was on some sort of automatic mailing program and I see no sign of receiving its reaction.
20.9.05 16:38


我就是個掉渣兒燒餅

越土越美味。
24.9.05 17:13


Jotting

Due to my recent sloth the entry concerning my trip is having a hard time being published. Instead, I was trying to do an entry about my incresingly crowded room. Books of various categories piling up high against the wall occupied a significant amout of space available. Reference books, mags, novels, etc. Did I mention I hated to read novels? Well, I think I am steadily forging a relatively positive relationship with them. The worst thing is I keep buying and bringing in books. 


What else? CDs, also loads of; DVDs, I have quite a collection. Both copyright and pirated. Piracy is rampant here. You get the latest release from venders with only a quarter of the price you are likely to pay for the copyright one. I have my struggle for this. Theoretically, I am in favour of the Intellectual Property Law that all piracy should be banished and any violation should be heavily penalized. But the thing is,  I don't think I am in any favour to shed any extra fortune for a no-better disc or two of the same kind, practically speaking. And it seems the damned authority allows most pirates to exist by imposing some selective punishment on the less fortunate ones. After all, it all turns into realistic bargains when it comes to money.


As digressive as a jotting is, I don't think this off-topic entry makes any sense. But it serves perfectly as a reflection of my recent off-topic life. I am heading for the book store when this one is done. One personal statement, two references from professors and the application form from target university top my to-do list at the moment. Actually I have five targets so far: Nottingham, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Loughborough and Manchester. Each has its merits and downfalls. I need some help to get those materials done, like how to compose a successful personal statement. There are books that provide tips and even templates I've heard.


Any suggestion?


Ta.
27.9.05 09:45


When in the book store

I saw a young man running on the escalator as using a treadmill. Innovative and absurd at the same time.
27.9.05 16:47