On Sun, 2007-08-05 at 03:35 +0200, Guylhem Aznar wrote: > Hello > > I have many many questions but starting with them would be rude - so I > will first introduce myself :-) > > My name is Guylhem Aznar, I am a medical resident doing a PhD in > computer science, working on computer support for a written form of > sign languages. (for a good introduction on the topic, see > signwriting.org). I have been using GNU/Linux since 1993, wrote > various application (xiterm, etc), documentation (en.tldp.org) played > with Linux on ARM devices (first with the zaurus, then letux.org), > etc. > > For my CS PhD thesis, after having worked on the other aspects of the > problem of global computer support, mostly revolving on the > encoding/Unicode issues, I am now working on the display and the entry > process of signwriting support, > > Following a real-life test of an XO at the RMLL in Amiens, France, I > reoriented my work from the basic Gnome support (which isn't research > work by itself) to the more interesting issues an OLPC implementation > would bring (which is full of unknowns - like will the faster > algorithms I proposed will be fast enough on an OLPC?) > > Anyway, I currently have 2 research topics : > 1. how can the OLPC display signwriting text. I read some good > guidelines on http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/devel/2007-January/003817.html > but I wonder how children will perform with signwriting, which is > quite different from written text > 2. how can the stylus area be used to help writing in signwriting. > This is still an open problem, for which current methods relies on > either on-screen pickup of signs or keyboard based "shortcuts" > > After this quick introduction, here are the questions I have. Spent a > lot of time with google, the wiki, etc. but I still have no > definitive answer, so I'm asking. Tell me if there are dumb questions, > I could understand :-) > > 1. Is the keyboard on a B4 identical to the pictures posted on the wiki ? > > http://wiki.laptop.org/go/BTest-4_Release_Notes doesn't say anything. > I need to know because I may have to use shortcuts until other entry > methods have been completed
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Keyboard_layouts > > 2. Is the touchpad working in pen mode? > > I'm asking because I found conflicting information : I read on page 30 of > http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Image:KGDMFA001-non-confidential.pdf > > "10.3.2 Because GS is designed to be operated by a finger, a finger > wearing a glove, a pen, a ball-point pen or pencil will not make it > work. GS will not behave normally with two or more fingers > on the surface or with something laying on the surface. " > > I thought pen mode was supported? : on > http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/devel/2006-November/003069.html Jim > said it wasn't possible *yet* - at least that brings hope. > http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/2341 let me think it is possible now. > > In the end, is it? Yes, it can be used. What isn't done is support for calibration, and the like. > > 3. Can you disable anti aliasing for the color mode ? > > The anti aliasing in the dcon specs is interesting; I will have to > test it to check how much it may impact on the display process sice > the wiki says it currently can't be turned off, while the DCON specs > let me think it could be. Another open question for me. Yes, it can be turned off. > 4. Who is working on the display issues ? > > While studying the wiki, I noticed on the display page a mention to > perception tests which had been performed, and whose results would > soon be published. > > I wanted to run various tests before doing on-field tests with deaf > children, but such information could save me some time and effort, to > concentrate on the sign writing specificities. > > I was initially asking my dumb questions to Jim Gettys, but I figured > they would fit better on the mailing list and save his time. > > It's a bit late here (3:30 am here in France) and I'm tired, so I may > forget something - feel free to ask for more details if I haven't been > clear enough > > I'm eager to join all y'all in this interesting project, and hopefully > help making the OLPC more usable to deaf children. > > Thanks for any help, > Guylhem > > PS: if any of you is in Porto Alegre, please contact me offlist > _______________________________________________ > Devel mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel -- Jim Gettys One Laptop Per Child _______________________________________________ Devel mailing list [email protected] http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel
