From: gperkins@netcom.com (Glen C. Perkins)
Newsgroups: sci.lang.japan
Subject: Japanese Script Module for Mac 7.1
Date: 18 Dec 92 19:28:30 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Apple now has the wonderful WorldScript technology built
into (incl. with) the new System 7.1.  With this system, it
is possible to drop a script module (such as Japanese) into
your system folder and have that language (script system)
available to all of your applications without having to
change operating systems (to KanjiTalk, for example).

There are some problems, though.  The major problem seems
to be that Apple doesn't believe there is a market for the
Japanese script module that's worth their attention. Their
attitude has been "well, we have the technology available
now to make Japanese script usable by people with with
non-Japanese systems (such as American system 7.1), but
really how many non-Japanese are interested in having
Japanese text on their screens?  Hardly anybody, so why
should we bother distributing our Japanese script module?
Besides, if we start passing out the Japanese script
module, it will give non-Japanese systems essentially all
the features of the full Japanese KanjiTalk at the click
of a mouse. This is great, of course, for all languages
except Japanese, but our distributors in Japan want the
right of all Japanese distributors which is to sell
products to their own people at extremely high prices
which in this case means KanjiTalk.  If we distributed
the Japanese script module, the Japanese might start
using it and our Japanese distributors would be offended
because of the difficulty of maintaining the standard
Japanese domestic price bubble.  This isn't an issue
for "standard" countries (such as Korea or China!) so
we'll probably make those modules easily and widely
available.  Since there's essentially no demand for Japanese
language capabilities outside Japan (except for fringe
elements like YOU!) we might just sit on this technology
for a while. We just don't get the feeling that it
matters enough to non-Japanese for us to worry about it
right now."

Another issue is that so few applications are WorldScript
compatible right now that Apple seems to be in no hurry
to get the script modules out in massive numbers.  This
is ridiculous, though, because app developers will make
their apps WorldScript savvy if there is a large installed
base of potential users who have the modules.  Apple has
passed out the Japanese script module (and others) to 
developers and told them to get their apps ready to use
them, but they refuse to tell us when they'll start
creating an installed base of actual customers for us by
distributing the script system widely (read "cheap and
plentiful").

What I think Mac users in this group should do is start
pestering Apple to distribute the Japanese script module.
Imagine having Japanese dictionaries in your apple menu,
Japanese word processing (on a small scale) in your
standard word processor, easy access to the fj.* newsgroups
and Japanese e-mail, Japanese outline fonts in your
favorite graphics programs, all without changing your
normal operating system. All of this can develop if we
can convince Apple that there are enough of us "fringe
elements" out here for them to be willing to release
(not develop, just release) the technology that they 
already have at "penetration prices." With an installed
base of those script modules, developers will develop
the Japanese dictionaries and modify their word processors
which they would otherwise have no incentive to do.

There are a lot of sharp people at Apple who agree with
what I'm saying and are lobbying their superiors already.
What they need is help from "real users" out here to give
them ammunition to convince their bosses that THEY are
not alone in their conviction that there is a lot of
interest in Japanese among non-Japanese.  Apple execs
seem to be using unit sales of the $400 DOLLAR!! KanjiTalk
outside Japan as a means of counting us.  They don't
understand that 1) most of us can't afford $400 for rent,
much less an extra operating system for occasional use, no
matter how much we'd like it, 2) most Mac users are not
sophisticated enough to know how to do something weird like
switch between operating systems and worry about screwing
up their "regular" Mac, and 3) if you're trying to learn
Japanese, you won't be able to use KanjiTalk because you
won't be able to read any of the menus, dialog boxes, etc.,
so anything designed to benefit Japanese learners needs
to run in that users normal operating system and KanjiTalk
won't be useful.  For these reasons, I think that the
number of us is drastically underestimated.

Contact Apple and tell your non-internet using friends to 
do likewise.  Tell them how excited you are about getting
the Japanese script module and how much more attractive
that module is going to make your Mac than those dumb ol'
Windows machines!
-- 
+-----------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|--- Glen C. Perkins ---|                                                   |
| <gperkins@netcom.com> |             "Don't forget, your mind              |
| Native Guide Software |              only *simulates* logic."             |
| Palo Alto, California |                                                   |
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