Interactive Flash

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

What is a "Word Code"



Drag-n-drop a zhuyin symbol into a building block essentially enters its code for a combination. The combination code is displayed at the lower part of the applicaton screen, if "Show Code" is enabled.

This code is used to load an MP3 file to pronounce the zhuyin combination. If the MP3 file is found, the "Speak Word" button will be enabled.

It is also used to load a visual scene, if available. If the SWF file is not found, a "No Content" string will be displayed.

On-Screen Keyboard IS the QWERTY Keyboard


There are a few Chinese input methods. Zhuyin is arguablly the eaziest one for people who have already learnt this phonetic system. The zhuyin symbols are usaully printed on the keyboard, of a Taiwanese computer system, for easy reference.

Software Interface Guide



The original design concept of this software was drag-n-drop phonetic (zhuyin) symbols to make words and read them. This improves the accuracy of the spoken language.

Simple, drag any zhuyin symbol in the keyboard into one of the 3 vertically aligned blocks and start building words!

The second-, third-, and fourth-tone symbols should be placed at the right side of a zhuyin combination. The light-tone symbol (a dot) should be placed on the top of a zhuyin combination. The flash software does not care about the location of the later, however.

Software Release Note



"Plateform" Release

This is the initial release of the interactive flash software for learning Chinese. This release is for interactivity review; there is only very limited language elements at this stage.

The core of this software is using drag-n-drop of Chinese phonetic (Zhuyin) symbols to build combinations of symbols to read words; this is usually the first step of Chinese learning in Taiwan. Well, at least at the time when I was a child.

The zhuyin spelling activity actually assumes users already know how to speak in Chinese; kids already speak Chinese before they attend schools. To overcome this limitation for foreigners, the software will build in lessons to get people to start with.