GeezIME on release of Windows 8

It looks as though Microsoft has finally realised that Tigrinya as a language is worth being part of the Windows operating system. The recently released Windows 8 is shipping with language packs of both Eritrean and Ethiopian Tigrinya, in addition to Amharic which has been available since Windows Vista and 7. Both the languages Tigrinya and Amharic use the Geez script as a writing system. The bottom line of this is Windows 8 users can now change the language of their system to Tigrinya and will also be able to type Tigrinya texts using the built in input method editor without use of additional software, unlike in earlier versions of the operating system.

So what does this mean to Geez input method vendors like us?

I can't tell what it exactly means to the commercial vendors but it is safe to assume that they could be pulling their hair off and wishing to see failure in the widespread use of this particular Windows release, or if optimistic enough they might be discovering new business plans for their products. To Eri Lingual Solutions in particular as the providers GeezIME, the effects are almost insignificant! Let’s prove you why? 

In a nutshell: because GeezIME has qualities that are indispensable to the majority of the Geez users we target; it is free, is lightweight, is disabled people considerate, is cross platform, is cross processor architecture _ GeezIME 2 out of the box is honed to seamlessly work in both 32 and 64 bit systems and applications, is library for developers, is on portable devices _ we now have Android version of GeezIME, is easy to use, and finally we develop it for the sheer sake of contribution and help of people, and it has been both an educating, satisfying and fun experience to us.

It would have been well and good if all operating system vendors provided input methods to all languages, but that’s not the case yet and not only that, even the many already provided ones lack the needed standard and consistence in providing the solution. One example of the inconsistencies is the way a user is required to input texts, which many times is not how the majority of the local users want it. These and other reasons leave a gap to be filled by third party solution providers. Providers that are willing to do the job in all major platforms and devices, in a way the end-users expect and love it be.

Eri Lingual Solutions try to do that with GeezIME, one is by providing the same keyboard mapping in all editions, so users don’t have to be challenged to learn different schemes as they move between different systems.

The primary edition of GeezIME is for Microsoft Windows because that’s the most popular operating system among Geez users, then that experience is ported to other operating systems through Yaga, tested on Linux and Mac. And now with the popularity of portable smart devices, an Android version of GeezIME is ready and will soon be on air.

It is our believe that the high quality fonts that come with GeezIME such as Geez Able will still remain of huge value to those in the field of publishing Geez based materials and general ly all users. And the fonts have been more polished with the coming GeezIME2.

Our commitment to our fellow disabled people once again shows with the development of GeezBraille, a text editing and translation system, making automated translation of Geez text to Braille and vice-versa possible. And GeezIME is an integral part of the solution.

Lots of users and companies are comfortable with the older versions of the Windows operating system such as XP and 7. And these users are going to need more reason to move to Windows 8 than just  the presence of a language pack. Additionally it is more of a personal test of users but the inputting mechanism used by the Windows IMEs has not being preferable to many. GeezIME keyboard mapping takes a long used and famous scheme among users, and rationalises over some of combinations, all for better effect.

GeezIME as a library for developers. Software developers that would want to support or enforce Geez input with in their application will definitely need to provide a built-in feature than merely rely on the ability of the host operating system. GeezIME Enabler library can do that from the heart of their software, and is available in a number of programming language flavors.

We could go on and mention more reasons but I think the point is made and it is: we are right on the track of our goals; GeezIME meets the needs of the majority of Geez users, and is affordable to all and favorite to many of those users. And to us the developers it stays more valuable and dear than it has ever been, even with the arrival of Windows 8.