Based on my research, I'm tentatively concluding that such a device does not
yet exist. But even assuming I'm right, it's probably safe to say that it
will soon.
I've seen cell phone models with a touchpad, and I've read about models with
a built-in Japanese / English dictionary. Obviously, a "Smartphone" would
potentially be a very flexible platform for non-commercial development.
Currently, I use a PocketPC2002-based Japanese PDA with JWPCE installed, and
frankly there is no going back once that magical solution is made possible.
But even a small PDA like my Toshiba is a trifle bulky, and I'd be more than
happy to merge this functionality into a smaller device like a cell phone,
especially if doing so simultaneously renders one handheld device redundant.
It would also give me an excuse to finally drop-kick Southwestern Bell.
So, has anyone heard anything about any upcoming cell phone models which may
enable handwritten kanji/kana input, in a manner not unlike what one may
typically find on a Japanese PDA? Granted, cell phone display resolution
may not be up to the task yet (220x176 is the norm, I believe, which puts it
neck and neck with a Gameboy Advance), but I doubt it will remain so forever.
And it may in fact be adequate. Obviously, the thing I'd most like to hear
is that JWPCE can and will be ported to a cell phone in the near future. But
for now, that seems to be a distant hope.
Michael Cash - 25 Aug 2003 06:21 GMT
>Based on my research, I'm tentatively concluding that such a device does not
>yet exist. But even assuming I'm right, it's probably safe to say that it
>will soon.
Your tentative conclusion is horribly mistaken. In Japan, everybody
and his grandmother has one and spends a good portion of the day
keying in e-mail, in kanji. Usually while they have a steering wheel
in the other hand.
jim_breen@i-never-read-hotmail.com - 25 Aug 2003 07:24 GMT
Apud Michael Cash <mikecash@sunfield.ne.jp> (sci.lang.japan) hoc legimus:
>Your tentative conclusion is horribly mistaken. In Japan, everybody
>and his grandmother has one and spends a good portion of the day
>keying in e-mail, in kanji. Usually while they have a steering wheel
>in the other hand.
The rest of them do it while riding unlit bicycles at night on the
wrong side of the road.
Actually, introducing keitai with handwriting recognition should both
cull the population, and raise the IQ.

Signature
Jim Breen http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/
Computer Science & Software Engineering, Tel: +61 3 9905 3298
Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia Fax: +61 3 9905 5146
(Monash Provider No. 00008C) ジム・ブリーン@モナシュ大学