Hello Everyone!

First of all, thanks a lot to all who have devoted their precious time and knowledge to develop and release this excellent freeware to the Bangla-speaking people all over the world. Hats off to you, champions!

As far as a typing interface goes, Avro truly leaves very little scope to whine about. Just one feature that I really felt can be suggested at this time is an Alphabet Choice Menu.

Alphabet Choice Menu: Multiple alphabets with similar sounds (such as 'Ta, Tha, Taw, Thaw') can be located under one key ('T' key, here). Here is the concept: When the user hits the 'T' key (that already has 'Ta, Tha, Taw, Thaw' assigned to it), the base alphabet 'Ta' would appear underlined/dotted-underlined, giving the user a hint that there are several other choices available (SHIFT+T would show 'Tha,' but would act in the same manner as well). To select the right alphabet, all they have to do is to press a pre-defined key (maybe CTRL/F1~F12) that will bring up a drop down menu with all the alphabets of the similar sound (in this case, all four choices). Then using the arrow keys, the desired alphabet can be chosen and confirmed by hitting ENTER. Afterwards, when a new alphabet key is pressed, the selection hinting underline would disappear.

This arrangement can substantially reduce the allocation problem between several alphabets (for example, in Avro, 'U' would be able to house 'Hrossho-Uu', 'Dirgho-Uu' and 'Uu-kaar's, leaving 'D' free for 'Da' and 'Dha') and can also be used to display JUKTAKKHORs. The selection method from the menu can be further simplified by assigning simple shortcuts, but its upto the developer to device the way. Anyway, an Alphabet Choice Menu might make the Avro interface even more phonetic and would definitely leave a couple of keys free on the keyboard to house some other alphabet.

Thanks!

Hi Rezwan,

Just a nice idea indeed! I'll talk with other Bangla software developers about this issue. Thanks for your excelent thoughts...

I suspect there are people who type Bangla professionally (and the phonetic keyboard is too hard for them to adapt and hence the multitude of keyboard layouts still out there) and those who do it for fun (like me I won't write a novel in Bangla ever, I think).

I second Rezwan's suggestion (indeed, the idea hit me watching my chinese friends use their keyboard with such ease) and would like to add that it should not just a alphabet chooser, but should display the list of words that match the phonetics typed so far. as the trigger to the drop-down (cyclic) combo-box, I suggest ctrl-up(/down)-arrow. people would then find it easy to choose between ekta and ekTa without having to go backwards. jabotio would safely convert into zaboteeyo without hassle.

what do you guys say? is Avro opensource? where can I get the source codes from? I can then implement what I want myself..

Good news to Rezwan & uchchwhash, and of course to others---

Avro Keyboard version 4.0 is coming with the feature you have suggested.

Cheers!

when, when, when, when, when... ?
if it is still in development, please consider my suggestions once again (I think it's the best way to implement it, of course, but that's just my opinion).
can there be an optional download of a bangla dictionary? the chooser of course will be benefitted from it, and also the user in various circumstances. I suspect bangali people who grew up abroad will definitely find utilities for it. and at the same time, the possibility of a spell-checker will remain open.
I want to join the developer's team. what do I need to do?

We have estimated that the Bangla dictionary project of OmicronLab (already started) need August 2006 to be completed. After that the users will get the new release.

And yes, a spell checker is also coming!

The dictionar package will be as default add-in, not optional...

And another information...

This intelligent auto suggestion word feature will only be available for Avro Phonetic, not for fixed keyboard layouts.

Cause: Fixed keyboard layouts are mainly used by professional typists, who don't care about spelling or suggestion. We think that the drop down list of suggestion will only be a bothering for them...