Subject: Wang Yongmin and his Wang Code

From: Liedong Zheng <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1993 15:50:17 EST

Dear CCNET netters:

        There was a meeting here at Columbia University
yesterday (Feb. 12) with Professor Wang2 Yong3 Min2,
and general manager of WANGMA Computer Company, Mr.
ZHENLU XU. They were invited by the Chinese Division
of the United Nations. I would like to share some of the
info with you:

Wang Code (Wu3 Bi3 Zi4 Xing2 input method):

        Wang Code input method is a planar input method.
A chinese character is a planar figure, you catch the image of
the whole character when you read it. On the other hand,
other input methods including PinYin for chinese and all
western languages are linear, you have to read it from
one direction to the other. This somehow slows down your
speed. As a simple example, you can test the time you
spend counting the number of "o"'s in the following two
arrays:

                o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o

                                o    o    o

                                o    o    o

                                o    o    o

Usually, the second array is easier to count, and that
is the core of the Wang Code. The average key strokes
needed to input one chinese character are 2.6, and no
more than 4 key strokes to input one character. It takes
one day to learn Wang Code for a high school student,
and after some typing training, as you need to
be a secretory in western countries, for example, the
average input speed is most probably greater than 100
chinese characters per minute. Consider the typing
speed for an average secretory in the U.S., this is not
that slow though. With Wang Code, you can create new
characters, new phrases. It has Lian2 Xiang3
functionality, it can be used for both simplified and
traditional characters. They are pushing it to be the
national standard now.

In mainland China:

        Wang Code input method is installed on eighty-five
percent of the computers, and it is being used in almost
all the publishing houses, newspapers and all chinese
embassies and consulates and the Chinese Division of the
United Nations. About two million people in China are
trained to use Wang Code, and the average input speed for
most of them is greater than 100 chinese characters per
minute.  It is one of the curricular requirements in about 1200
elementary schools, high schools, including "Shanghai High
School" (SHANGHAI ZHONG XUE). About 10% of the reporters
use Wang Code in their NoteBook or desktop computers.

In overseas:

        Wang Code is being used by Wen Hui Daily in Hongkong,
Lian2 He2 Zao3 Bao4, Lian2 He2 Wan3 Bao4 in Singapore.
It became part of the curriculum of some chinese
elementary and high schools in Malasia.

WANGMA 480 Desktop System:

        This is their latest software package.  It has bitmap
48 song, fang3song4, kai, and hei (black) (GB48) in
firmware,  vector fonts from 8x8 to 480x480, pull-down
menu, up to nine windows for editing. It uses high memory,
and is compitable with PC/XT/AT, 286,386,486, supports HP
laser printers, and X.25 protocal, and some other features.
        Their earlier products cost from $95 (software only)
to $300 (software + card)

        Interested users my find the following useful:

        Mr. Wang Yongmin, or Mr. Xu Zhenlu
        R00m 401 Beijing Science Hall (Ke1 Xue2 Hui4 Tang2)
        Friendship Hotel
        Beijing, China 100873

        Tel:    861-8498736
        Fax:    861-8498737

        Store:

        WANGMA Computer Company
        Room 209, No.37
        BaiShiQiao Lu
        Beijing

        Tel:    861-8421346
        Fax:    861-8421291

        Autherized dealer in North America:

        COMAX SYSTEM INC.
        43-14 Main Street
        Flushing, NY 11355

        Tel:    (718)-762-2822
        Fax:    (718)-762-4320

--------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer:  I have no connection with the companies
mentioned above. This is only for the information of
networkers of CCNET and I assume no liability to the
accuracy of the information provided here.

Liedong Zheng
Chemistry Department
Columbia University