Thursday, June 13, 2013

Digamma syndrome. Classical Greek keyboard for your computer.

We learned how to easily write in most Western languages that use Latin script with a single keyboard layout [One keyboard. All languages]. Now our writings on German, French and Scandinavian authors will be illustrated with appealing foreign citations -with no expected problems in most word processors. But then, with more or less legitimacy, these authors believed themselves direct heirs of the Greek world, and so it is not uncommon the need for typing terms, like ἀ–λήθεια, they are so prone to use. Although copy-paste has simplified enormously the task, sometimes we won’t have access to the text to borrow, or it will take some time to retrieve.

Smith-Corona Sterling Greek Typewriter


Without expending money on another physical keyboard, virtual keyboard or wandering through options of “insert character”, we can easily and rapidly modify or write our own classical Greek sentences. By classical Greek we mean here the koiné1, the standard used in the Hellenistic period, for which the corresponding script is the polytonic2 Greek orthography. It was used as the customary writing in which most of the Greek works have come transcribed to us, thus this alphabet will serve us well for most of what we are going to need. It includes all the diacritics to be rapidly combined with each vowel. Two important things to consider; firstly, it is not Modern Greek, but it can be used to write it. Secondly, it lacks characters of Archaic Greek and some Ancient Greek dialects, like digamma, heta, sampi… For these we will need the “insert character” option; but -unless you are a weirdo like me- you won’t use them much.


Alfios Greek typeface
Alfios typeface. Source: ta meta ta phonetika.


To set up the keyboard first we need Unicode support. This can be achieved either from the operating system or installed through the word processor. Those methods can be easily goggled. But if you already are into languages you most likely already have some Unicode fonts. There are available many Greek typefaces3, but not all compatible with diacritics, so make sure you have a Greek font for ancient script. Among my favorites are Alfios for the body (in serif) and SK Century Gothic for footnotes (sans serif).

Once we have the characters available in our computer we need the means to type them fast. We will add a keyboard layout parallel to the US International -or whichever you use; then we can alternate between Latin and Greek scripts naturally while writing. The new keyboard layout is added in the Language settings: In Windows -and similarly in other OS- go to: Start > Control Panel > Region  and languages > Keyboards and Languages > Change keyboards > Add. Then we select Greek as language, with polytonic keyboard -see images below.


Languages and keyboard layouts can be added or removed here.



Make sure for Greek you select Polytonic.


When more than one language/keyboard is installed, they can be selected through the taskbar or a combination of keys. 


We can also specify a command or combination of keys for shifting keyboards. But by default in Windows, while typing, we press left Alt + Shift and the keyboards will shift; in this case English to Greek successively. But then, the Greek layout will not be visible in our real keyboard (as in the first picture), as we have a Latin script engraved on our keys.

We can print the layout -below- to use as guideline -cheat sheet- in front of us, buy stickers or write with permanent pen on each key. With little practice, only the position of the diacritics may need to have some visual guide so we can find them fast. The letters themselves are mostly placed according to their Latin version. They are but close relatives derived from the Middle Eastern scripts.

Polytonic Greek keyboard
Polytonic Greek layout. Source: Wikimedia commons.


Some keys, however, are overloaded with characters and may become tricky for rookies. The rules for using diacritics are summarized as follows; we’ll take the key "\" as an example:

\ + spacebar = \
Shift \ + spacebar = |
\ + spacebar + α =
\ + α =
Shift \ + α =
\ + ρ =
Alt Gr \ + spacebar = ¬ 
Summarizing, "Alt Gr" will type the character represented at bottom right side. The center and left characters will depend on whether there is a consonant following (will type a sign) or a vowel (will type diacritic).

 Other combinations in a key with only diacritics:
΄ + ι = ί
Shift ΄ + ι = ϊ
Alt Gr ΄ + ι = ΐ
΄ + spacebar = ΄
΄ + α = ά
΄ + π ΄π
Alt Gr ΄ + α = ΅α 

As we can see, diacritics only work with characters that allow its use. Otherwise the sign would be typed, or the diacritic will be represented separated from the following letter. For typing signs just before a vowel we must press spacebar or else they may combine.

Now, don’t forget to shift back between keyboards or υοθ ςιλλ ηαωε α βαδ τιμε!


References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine
Note: The Classical period in Greece corresponds with Ancient Greek dialects.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytonic

3. Some ancient fonts available here: http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-47197.html
and http://toxa.cocolog-nifty.com/phonetika/2004/09/post_3d2d.html

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Retro-Timing

I always hated instant cameras.


I suppose I was not yet ready to accept my own mortality in the same way modernism couldn’t accept the death of God. To compensate for one’s impermanence we look for immortality in the world surrounding us or in immutable ideas; much like before we relied on the idea of an immortal soul.

Thus, having an instant photograph, which often got damaged, ultimately loosing quality with age and with no possible reproduction or replacement seemed a poor choice at the time. Particularly having available to us a -generally- more resilient film, with higher quality, from which we could make several –even infinite! - copies in different sizes. A kind of immortality. The Polaroid cameras available in the 90’s were also of quite poor plastic making and of questionable taste in design. Finally, in 2008, the unavoidable fate of this miscreation was met, and Polaroid closed their last instant film factory. When the last film cartridges were to be sold, Polaroid instant cameras would cease to take pictures.

But then I discover the Polaroid SX-70 Land camera from the 70’s thanks to the short film / ad directed by the very own Charles and Ray Eames, with music by non-other than Elmer Bernstein. The camera was a state of the art of technology and design of the time. An astounding upgrade from early Polaroid cameras.




As it turned out, after Polaroid close their instant film factory, some enthusiasts made possible the Impossible. That last factory, located in the Netherlands, was partially reopened to produce new film by this group of people, with the name The Impossible Project. In 2010 they started producing their film, which is not quite the same as the old Polaroid: after several “blends”, the latest stable product will take half an hour to be processed. Not quite the original idea behind instant film.


Fully opened Polaroid SX-70 Sonar
Fully opened SX-70 front.


Restored cameras from the Impossible Project are also available from time to time in their on-line shop. I was lucky to find a second hand SX-70 Sonar in Bern by less than half their price. One must be careful when acquiring this camera from someone or somewhere, as it is very delicate due to age. Many internet resources help recognize a good condition for a camera without need of becoming too obsessed. I was fortunate enough to currently be in Switzerland, where people are extremely careful with cameras, clocks and virtually everything.


Polaroid SX-70 Sonar folded
The SX-70 Sonar folded; size compared to a book.

The original SX-70 is a very fine-looking metal box with leather finishing. Those were the times! The lens is a 4 element 116mm f/8. Not particularly bright. The Sonar version was the first auto-focus single-lens reflex camera (other models used it before), released in 1978. The AF comes as an extra piece made of plastic on top of the original box. But do not expect this ultrasonic auto-focus to be anything close to the AF of the Canon 5D mark III. Many times it is necessary to rely on manual. The Sonar model is also an interesting example showing two very different philosophies put together, representing the transition from the post-war industry to what was to come. A late 60’ish mechanical body design, versus 80’ish cheap plastic design typical of the new electronic era.


Original instructions.

What can be anyway the interest on such toy if not just as an antiquity? I am for sure not appealed by the retro looking pictures –as this is much easier to fake with software. Neither I am compelled by memories of childhood as I never had an instant camera near me. More likely, after absorbing much of Zen impermanence, among other reflections on aesthetics, I came to appreciate above all , the moment; that what is ephemeral.

We are acquiring now great control on our shots with the latest camera models. Even older cameras can be operated with little room for mistake. But with Impossible film we are having surprise shots. The ejected picture remains dark blue for a while. It has to be taken care of, aside of sunlight and kept in a warm place, usually a pocket. The chemical process starts, and yellow stars and rhizomes begin forming on the surface revealing, little by little, the final image. Quality and age of the chemicals in the film, ultimate mastering of the camera, wind and temperature come together to guarantee unpredictable results. After 30 minutes we would be long gone from where we took a shot that turned out to be overexposed, moved or just not correctly processed.



Polaroid SX-70 Sonar Circus Caravan Switzerland
Circus caravan, Morlon, Switzerland.


Polaroid SX-70 Sonar Close Up
I like close-ups and the chemical blend of colors.


Polaroid SX-70 Sonar Annecy
Annecy, France, facing the sun.



Summarizing; against the quotidian hi-rez, multi-copy, all-controlling high-tech, what we have is:
  • A unique ephemeral chemical process to enjoy watching what is be-coming. 
  • Focus on the subject. This film is expensive and some thought has to be put on where to expend every shot.
  • A unique picture; not meaning economic value unless we are famous or dead artists, as this would make it subject of preservation –just the opposite of what we are looking for. 
  • A potential aesthetic exploration. Many examples can already be seen through the web as the camera is rapidly gaining cult following.
  • The joy of handle it!



References:

1. When was your camera made? Exactly?

http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/sx70sn.htm
Those are the results for my camera:
 SX-70 Serial Number Calculator Results

The SX-70 serial number calculator has determined the following statistics about your camera:

The complete serial number you entered is 5C946868264.
Your camera has the Alpha 1 shutter design with the Alpha "K" focus wheel.
Your camera is probably an SX-70 Sonar OneStep.
The serial number itself is: 68682
Your camera was made on March 22, 1979 during the A shift. 

2. Original manuals, scanned:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/polaroid_cameras/sx-70/sx-70.htm
http://landcameras.com/blog/how-to-take-sx-70-pictures/


3. Original link to the documentary/ advert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaiq_ZZ_eM


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

One keyboard, all languages.



Unfortunately, not all writing systems are as well tailored as Dutch. Instead of relying on combinations of existing Roman letters to reproduce particular sounds, like the former, many languages choose special markings. So, I see people complaining, as I was time ago, when they are abroad and cannot find the character they desire in a foreign computer, or struggling to write exotic names or sentences in their own. If you strive to write ‘ñ’ in your Spanish e-mails or some wunderschön German citations in your papers this might be of your interest.

The history of why a keyboard has its keys distributed as they are nowadays goes back to the origins of the typewriter 1 and shall not be discussed here. As many other gadgets or conventions we have, we are just stuck with them. The different keyboard layouts 2 are probably the biggest barrier when you have to change between them. A disposition QWERTZ or AZERTY become a big trouble when first encountered in a new country. You can buy different keyboards for your PC, but in a laptop you are stuck with the one that comes from factory. So be wise choosing.

QWERTY is the most employed layout, mainly because is the one used in English language, and also Spanish and Portuguese, being a total of a billion potential users. But QWERTYs can also have  US or ISO layouts. The main difference, so you can tell them apart, is that the first has a horizontal ‘enter’ key whereas in the second it comes as an inverted weird L shaped key. ISO keyboards are manufactured with keys adapted for different languages, as German (in Switzerland is even different than the standard German keyboard) or Scandinavian languages. That is, plenty of different typesets.

Many people use ISO keyboards and change the letter input through the operative system. Basically, in Windows, you have a language bar and you can switch between keyboard inputs depending on the language you want to use. It may be OK while you have only 2 or 3, or one of them is not in Latin script (like Greek or Russian). But if you change often between languages, or worst, in the same text you are writing, it becomes a horrid waste of time, especially if swapping between QWERTY, AZERTY and QWERTZ.

So, for having all characters at your disposal in the same keyboard while writing, there is one easy solution:
  • Order your computer with US layout (if you don’t reside there). If you are in the Netherlands, India or other countries US keyboards also come by default.
  • Set the keyboard entry as US International 3. You can also set an ISO keyboard as US International but many common keys (except for the letters) will be changing places. If using an input language other than English US, choose in ‘other’ or ‘show more’ keyboards, and United States – International will be listed.

US International Keyboard
All characters in the keyboard. Source: Wikipedia, open license.

No more need to continually go to ‘insert character’ in word processors, or press Alt + number combinations. Now, with just AltGr you will have at your hands all the characters for all major Western languages, including ñ, ß, ø, å, x², and of course all kind of accented vowels and umlauts. Those characters, even if you see them in the layout depicted above, are not shown (imprinted) in a normal US keyboard. You may memorize them, print a guide or buy some cheap stickers to place on the keys.

No more excuses fellow expatriates and researchers!


References:
  1.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typewriter#Keyboard_layouts
  2.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout
  3.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#US-International

Monday, February 4, 2013

About Brussels Café

Why a Café?

This blog is born with the purpose of putting together a diversity of thoughts in different fields. Opinions and information that could become convenient or may open discussions, trains of thought… As it doesn’t have a defined thematic, is inspired by the lieu where artists, intellectuals and all people shared their inquietudes, where they wrote notes and sketches on a napkin that could change but a little their lives, their field or history.

A café embodies the informality of a group of people that share their thoughts around a common table.


Why Brussels?

Brussels is but a shadow of what it was. Its streets showing the remarkable architecture produced by a long-gone well-educated bourgeoisie; a way of life that disappeared scattered among passing tenants with no roots, thus with no bonds. Both, past and present, representative of their respective era. Nevertheless, Brussel, Bruxelles, is again forced to be a meeting point between the cultures of Europe; well-meaning purposes of brotherhood between them but not exempt of conflict, for it is situated in the line that hopelessly divides the continent between two antagonistic language families. But precisely, opposite positions in dialogue may become more constructive than a lethargic existence.

Brussels represents the diversity in disciplines and languages the blog appeals to.