Input method
An input method is an operating system component or program that allows users to enter characters and symbols not found on their input device. For instance, on the computer, this allows the user of keyboards to input Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indic characters. On a mobile phone, this allows user using the keypad to enter Latin alphabet characters.
Terms
Most operating systems use the term Input Method. It is commonly called Input method editor (IME) in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Some sources state that front end processor was an equivalent term to input method editor, for other operating systems such as Unix.
Other operating systems may have a different name for the same idea, for example:
 in Microsoft Windows, the operating system component is called an Input Method Editor;
in Mac OS, the operating system component is called an input method;
in DOS, the type of program is called an input method (Chinese) or an front end processor (Japanese);
in the X Window System, it is called an input method. (The specific built-in implementation of X11’s input method support is called XIM, short for X input method; however, support for input methods are also provided by input method modules in various other parts of the system including GTK+ and Qt), SCIM is a common input method managing most methods (more than 130 including UIM ones) on GNU/Linux, followed by UIM.
in NeXTSTEP, it was called a front end processor named Clare, there was a Japanese input method which was developed by Canon.
in BeOS, it was called an input method, there was a Japanese input method.
Implementations
Although originally coined for CJK computing, the term is now sometimes used generically to refer to a program to support the input of any language. To illustrate, in the X Window System, the facility to allow the input of Latin characters with diacritics is also called an input method.
Relationship between the methodology and implementation
While the term input method editor was originally used by Microsoft Windows, its use has now gained acceptance in other operating systems, especially when it is important to distinguish between interface and implementation of input methods, or among the input method itself, the editing functionality of the program or operating system component providing the input method, and the general support of input methods in an operating system. This term has, for example, gained general acceptance on the GNU/Linux operating system; it is also used on the Mac OS.
The term input method generally refers to a particular way to use the keyboard to input a particular language, for example the Cangjie method, the pinyin method, or the use of dead keys.
On the other hand, the term input method editor on Microsoft products refers to the actual program that allows an input method to be used (for example MS New Pinyin). PRIME,
See also
Internationalization and localization
CJK characters
Related techniques
Alt codes
Keyboard layout, in particular Dead keys
Input methods versus language
Chinese input methods for computers
Japanese language and computers and Japanese input methods
Korean language and computers
Specific input methods
List of input methods for UNIX platforms
ATOK
Tise - Tibetan IM for Windows
Wnn
Input methods for handheld devices
Multi-tap – Hit the key for the letter you want until it comes up, then wait or proceed with a different key.
T9/XT9 – Type the key for every letter once, then, if needed, type Next until the right word comes up. Also corrects misspellings and regional typos (if an adjacent key is pressed incorrectly.)
iTap – Similar to first-generation T9, with word autocomplete.
LetterWise – "Hit the key with the letter you want, if it doesn't come up, hit Next until it does."
References
External links
Microsoft Global Input Method Editors (IMEs)
BhashaIndia, the Microsoft portal for Indic languages, which has Indic IME for download.
;Tutorials
What is an Input Method Editor and how do I use it?, a Microsoft article about Windows XP Input Method Editor.
Enabling International Support in Windows XP/Server 2003 Family, a Microsoft tutorial on how to install input methods on Windows XP.
IME Tutorial, tutorial on how to use Microsoft Global IME for pre-Windows 2000 systems.
|
|
|
|
This section is sponsored by:
Laptops
Find a great deal on a Laptop Computer by browsing our Laptop Computer listings.
www.LaptopComputersInfo.com
laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
www.ask.com
Complete Computer Types & Its Part
Find Computer Type& Parts that you Need. Easy Deal at Low Price!
1st-in-Computers.com
Laptops
Laptops Info
www.givemearticles.com
laptops
Search for laptops here.
www.aywoh.com
Laptops
Find articles, advice and resources on laptops.
www.experttopics.com
laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
wwwAsk.com
|
