HIGHLAND PARK, Ill./EWORLDWIRE/July 29, 2005 --- Yuvee introduces software which enables users to write and edit Chinese characters on computers using only Chinese brushstrokes. Because China is economically and politically important to the United States and other countries, Yuvee software is a globally important product introduction, easing learning and understanding of written Chinese writing - aside from accelerating writing in Chinese. Before this software release, no complete set of Chinese brushstrokes has been available for computers. The entire system is based around 12 keys, so it can be built directly into mobile phones or as a small, physical keypad in addition to the software product line, and it permits entry of any Chinese character by using brushstrokes directly in Word documents (that can be saved, edited and emailed).
A free 10-day trial of the software is available can be downloaded from www.yuvee.com, and the complete program can be purchased directly from the trial versions for $24.95. The current version is designed for PCs and laptops running Windows XP and 2000 using Microsoft Word.
Two complete sets of Chinese brushstrokes are included - a classic font (based on the Liu style) and a modern font (based on computer-generated characters), along with the ability to add new brushstroke fonts.
As an added learning tool, the software comes with an innovative system which allows people to learn to write and communicate with two-dimensional ideographs, and it works identically to writing with Chinese brushstrokes, except that the brushstrokes are replaced by fun pictographs of real things - called Squawks - so writers can create their own ideographs to tell stories or convey ideas and emotions without knowing Chinese brushstrokes. These pictographs add life and dimension to traditional linear alphabet-based languages, and they are offered via a tag line - Add Squawk to your Talk - intended to be fun and catch readers' attention.
Yuvee software is the only software available which lets people write entirely in Chinese using brushstrokes to directly create and edit characters. Chinese character entry systems traditionally require users to choose and insert whole characters at a time - that is analogous to being forced to write in English by entering whole words and phrases, with no access to the individual alphabet. The predominant way Chinese characters are entered is by typing in Pinyin, which uses the English alphabet to spell the phonetic pronunciation of the Chinese character. After typing the phonetics, users are prompted with a suggested list of characters; should the character not be on the list, users must access a pull-down set of other character choices or type in a new phonetic spelling. This process requires a significant number of extra steps, and it limits a person writing in Chinese to the English alphabet.
Distinguishing Features Of Yuvee Software
- Entry of any Chinese character by using brushstrokes directly in Word documents (that can be saved, edited and emailed)
- The ability to edit Chinese characters, brushstroke by brushstroke
- An intuitive and simple-to-learn system requiring only three steps: choosing a brushstroke, putting it in the right location in the character, and repeating until the character is complete
- Takes only minutes to learn the system and lets users focus on learning brushstrokes and characters immediately rather than reading a software manual
- Comes with two complete brushstroke fonts: a set of classic brushstrokes and a set of modern brushstrokes
- The entire system is based around 12 keys, so it can be built directly into mobile phones or as a small, physical keypad in addition to the software product line
- The software is easy to integrate into beginner, intermediate and advanced Chinese courses
- Comes with the innovative "Squawk" system for teaching the power of writing in two dimensions separately from teaching Chinese brushstrokes
Critical points in learning to write and understand the Chinese language include:
- Choosing the correct brushstroke for each part of a Chinese character
- Placing each brushstroke in its correct location on a two-dimensional grid
- Sequencing the brushstrokes correctly
The Yuvee software gives the user the ability to practice each of these in an easy system that closely follows the process a writer would use with pencil and paper, so it is immediately familiar to even a beginning Chinese writer. This is how Chinese have written on paper for centuries, but it has never before been available on computers.
To learn more about existing Chinese text entry systems, visit www.mozilla.org/projects/intl/input-method-spec.html.
The Unicode Consortium's (www.unicode.org) language sets for computers do not include full sets of Chinese brushstrokes, focusing instead on providing pre-built, whole Chinese characters. Without intending any criticism of the Unicode Consortium which provides invaluable services for all computer users as a key gatekeeper of language sets for computers, the lack of complete sets of Chinese brushstrokes on computers is in many ways comparable to not making all the individual letters of the English alphabet available on computers.
For more press information and press kit materials, visit www.yuvee.com and click anywhere on any of the home page "enter here" choices. Then click on "Pressroom" in the left hand column, enter the username "press" and the password "pressinfo" to access the press-only information, which contains photos, brochures, screen captures and quick-start guides.
About Yuvee, Inc.
Yuvee is a technology company headquartered in Highland Park, Ill. The company's focus is to make consumer electronics easy for everyday people by providing simple and intuitive user interfaces. The U.S. patent for the Yuvee keypad, in both its physical and virtual forms, has issued, and Yuvee has patents pending worldwide.
Yuvee is a trademark of Yuvee, Inc. All other marks are of their respective owners.
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