Re: [idn] Thoughts on nameprep

[Yoshiro YONEYA <yone@po.ntts.co.jp>]

Hi,

Sorry for short response.

From: "James Seng/Personal" <James@Seng.cc>
Subject: Re: [idn] Thoughts on nameprep
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 20:37:04 +0800

> > But Bruce, writing from Japan, says that the answer is no. Users type
> > full-width kana. Redeploying network software to convert half-width
> kana
> > to full-width kana, as Patrik is insisting that we do, would be
> idiotic.
> 
> You are basing your argument on a single non-Japanese based in Japan to
> make an assumption that Japanese cannot key in half-width kana?
> 
> Why not lets hear it out from the Japanese who is on this working group.
> I would appreciate if Yoneya-san could step forward to clarify the
> situation.

Half-width (or 1byte) kana is still used widely in Japan.  One of the
major reason is for backward compatibility.  Still many applications
require half-width kana for input, therefore, still many IMEs produce
half-width kana.  One possible scenario is:

- A user uses legacy application that requires half-width kana.
- He/she inputs half-width kana by 'intelligent IME'.
- The IME studies users preference.
- He/she changes application to Web browser.
- He/she inputs kana by the same 'intelligent IME'.
- The IME produces half-width kana according to studied preference.

And, the same problem will occur with ASCII alpha-numerics and
full-width (or 2byte) alpha-numerics.  It is very hard for users using
proportional fonts to distinguish displayed alpha-numerics is in ASCII
or full-width even in IME dialogue.  I sometimes receive ASCII and
full-width mixed alpha-numerics in e-mail message.

Half-width kana will be obsolete, but full-width alpha-numeric won't.

-- 
Yoshiro YONEYA <yone@po.ntts.co.jp>
           aka <yone@nic.ad.jp>