Graphics tablet + what software = ability to communicate in Chinese?

[Wonderland]

Once I get a graphics tablet (input device), what other stuff will I need to get up and running with Chinese? That is, I'd like to be able to input Chinese characters into the computer and then learn them (or maybe the other way around) and then get enough etymology and translation to understand well enough to be able to communicate. And where would I communicate on the Internet?

OK, now how does the whole package come together?

I've seen these mentioned on this forum; would they help me (and which work together or in conjunction with each other?):

Wenlin; Skritter; PenPower; Wubi; and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack.

[www]

Get an ipod touch 4g + Pleco

[mikelove]

I'm certainly not going to discourage that :-), but it sounds from your post like you're very new at studying Chinese - is that the case?

If so, to be honest I don't know that diving right in and writing in characters is necessarily the best approach. If you do want to do that, then of the services you mentioned Skritter is the one that's the most learner-oriented; it shows you characters and has you practice writing them to learn their meaning / proper stroke order / pronunciation / etc. Wenlin is an excellent product but it's more designed for reading Chinese documents than for learning to write characters - probably something to consider once you're a little farther along in your studies.

However, just learning vocabulary isn't really enough, particularly not when you're first getting started and coming to terms with concepts like tones / measure words - have you take a look at ChinesePod or Popup Chinese or CLO yet? Those sites offer Chinese audio lessons with accompanying written materials - they should help you get up and running on other important aspects of learning Chinese.

(apologies if I've forgotten to list anyone else in that market - those were the first three that came to mind)

[renzhe]

Yes, what mikelove says.

The things you list will help you learn to write characters, but if you want to communicate in Chinese, you will have to learn Chinese.

[daofeishi]

Once I get a graphics tablet (input device), what other stuff will I need to get up and running with Chinese?

• A good textbook, covering grammar, syntax and phonetics
  
• A teacher, tutor or contact with native speakers
  
• Copious amounts of material for listening practice (podcasts etc)
  
• A willingness to commit to using these for a long period of time (several years)
  

Learning characters won't help you learn Chinese much more than memorizing the Cyrillic script will teach you Russian. If I were you, I'd go with pen, paper and a textbook for a while, before starting inputting things with a tablet.

Other than that, Skritter is a nice tool that might help you reach some of your goals.

[feihong]

As a former owner of a tablet PC, I have to say that they are not that great for practicing Chinese writing. A pen or pencil is a much better starting point. Later on, if you still insist on using handwriting recognition to write documents, go with an iPhone or iPod Touch.

[Wonderland]

I called one company that sells Penpower and they didn't know if it input into the computer.

I still don't know how to get the tablet I ordered to input characters.

Nobody else seems to be doing this.

There are so many parts and tools to learn in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

My idea was to seize on one tool that I could capitalize on and really use.

Reading and writing on the computer.

I have focussed a lot on books and they are still helpful to me.

I just don't feel I have time anymore for books with quizzes that don't tell the answer (I forget what this is called).

That's why I like Skritter's guided-learning and stroke-guiding approach to learn it right the first time.

Wenlin's translations seem to be a duplication of the free Zhongwen plug-in for Chrome or FireFox.

And I have books for learning etymologies.

Maybe the tablet's usefulness ends with Skritter's guided-learning for writing and learning characters and I will be happy with that.

[daofeishi]

汉王 has software for that

[Wonderland]

I'm not sure what Hanvon bundled tablet software did, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.

http://www.amazon.com/Hanvon-HDHW-T001-2003-Writing-software/dp/B000FNJ6AC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1297335811&sr=1-2

I found an article in English about Hanvon handwriting recognition software for iphone, but the links (to the software) are broken.

http://gizmodo.com/#!380302/handwriting-recognition-for-iphone-now-available

http://iphonecake.com/src/new

Here is an article about the Hanvon/Hanwang e-book reader:

article about Hanvon e-book reader

[feihong]

Do you have Windows XP or Windows 7? Either should be able to accept handwritten Chinese, provided you enable it in your language settings..

iPhones and other iOS devices have built-in handwriting recognition, you don't need third-party software.

[Wonderland]

I have XP. How do you enable Chinese handwriting in the language settings?

[feihong]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306906

The most relevant section for you is "How to Add Handwriting Recognition as a Text Service".

[Wonderland]

What do they mean (on the last step of "How to Install Handwriting Recognition if Microsoft Office XP Is Installed"):

"insert the Office XP CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, or click Browse to locate the Office XP installation files, and then click OK."

Am I supposed to have this disk? Is this something I have to buy?

I have disks from HP...here's one labeled version 7.4.2... HP PSC 1400 series; HP Officejet 5600 series; HP Photosmart 3100 series.

Is that it?

[feihong]

I would ignore that part, unless you need some specific functionality of Office XP's tablet support. Simply turning on handwriting recognition will cause it to work in any Windows program.

[Wonderland]

I don't see "Microsoft Office XP" on the list at Add/Remove programs in the control panel.

So, how can I "change" it to "expand features"?

I tried "How to Add Handwriting Recognition as a Text Service", but there is no "Handwriting recognition check box", listed as the last step below:

When handwriting recognition is installed, it is normally added automatically as a text service. Follow these steps to add handwriting recognition only if you removed it as a text service and you want to add it again.

To add handwriting recognition as a text service, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.

Click the Languages tab.

Under Text services and input languages, click Details.

Under Installed services, click Add.

In the Input language list, click the language for which you want to add handwriting recognition.

Click to select the Handwriting recognition check box.

[jbradfor]

Do you even have MS Office installed?

[Normunds]

this one ms technote is a bit strange. it does not clearly state that the handwriting recognition is part of MS Office, but the only way to install it seems to be from the office CD.

I wonder is there a way to plug in some other recognition engine in the same way as this microsoft one.

[feihong]

It's just really poorly written, but I didn't find any better instructions, either. I'm pretty certain that you do not need Office XP to use the handwriting recognition features, but I can't verify that since I longer have Windows XP.

[Wonderland]

I have Microsoft Office Word Viewer and it has no button for "change" in Add/Remove programs.

I just downloaded two softwares and can now "draw" in a little box with mouse or tablet.

These new programs are now in Add/Remove programs, but there is no button for "change".

I think I need to get to some box to check--to select the "Handwriting recognition check box".

I don't yet know how to get it to "recognize" foreign handwriting or how to enter the program properly.

I am in the help section and it says:

Ink Samples

These samples demonstrate how to collect, manipulate and render ink.

Ink Collection

Demonstrates a simple Windows form application that uses an InkCollector object to collect ink.

I downloaded:

Update for Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Development Kit 1.7

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=69640b5c-0ee9-421e-8d5c-d40debee36c2&displaylang=en

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack

Microsoft® Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 Recognizer Pack adds international handwriting recognizers to a Tablet PC or other personal computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=080184dd-5e92-4464-b907-10762e9f918b&displaylang=en

I tried to download the "recognizer pack" first, but it said it needed the "development kit 1.7" before it could download.

[Normunds]

A bit off topic - I wonder, have you seen this - there is quite a fun freeware program to learn characters - Pingrid: http://ehaton.blogspot.com/

It is kind of an SRS for characters and 2 letter words, but at the same time it has a writing practice mode (either auto or press TAB to get practice). I figure input device would be handy for that practice and I have also ordered one. I do not think you need anything else, kind of guided drawing :-)