Algorithmic Trim and Graphical User Interface Implementation of G6 on Mac OSX

Abstract

In the information age, Chinese Input Methods (IMs) are essential for Chinese to communicate with the computers. G6 is a new stroke-based Chinese input method that developed in City University of Hong Kong. It is an unprecedented input method that allows users to manipulate it without much practice beforehand. G6 is expected to be a break-through in the Chinese IM area. The first generation of G6 on Mac OS X platform was born according to the intensive researches and findings on stroke-based Chinese input techniques. Thus, the chief objectives of this final year project are to improve the searching algorithms and create graphical user interfaces (GUI) for G6 on Mac OS X platform. For algorithms enhancement, two areas are concerned deeply namely the efficiency of the database searching algorithms and the existences of bugs. The utilization of the algorithm is enhanced. Bugs are rectified through debugging. For GUI development, a QWERTY virtual keyboard is added to G6 that aimed to snowball its level of user-friendliness. Meanwhile, an unprecedented keyboard layout for touch screen based devices is developed catering for the foreseeable future trend that touch screen interfaces are essential feature for most of the electronic devices. In this sense, G6 is sustainable making it a farsighted application.