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An input method allows users to type characters not on their keyboard, often for different alphabets. It was created for CJK languages and can be implemented through an IME or other methods like dead keys, pinyin, or Cangjie. Most systems allow users to choose which languages to install.
An input method is a tool in an operating system or software program that allows the user of a computing device to use the keyboard to type characters that are not represented on that particular device’s keyboard. This method is often used for entering characters from a language with a different alphabet and for allowing letters to be typed with a numeric keyboard. It was originally created to accommodate a group of Asian languages on keyboards with the Latin alphabet, although it has now spread to several other languages and alphabets.
The first input method was created to handle the internationalization of computing CJK, a term that stands for the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages. The term CJKV, which includes Vietnamese, has since been coined to mean all East Asian languages for which the input method is most frequently used. The input method can be implemented through a specially programmed editor or by many other methods including the use of dead keys, the pinyin method or the Cangjie method.
Many systems use an input method editor (IME) to translate one alphabet into another or into a set of characters. The IME was created by Microsoft and is now adopted by most of the major operating system and technical companies involved in internationalization. Primarily due to the memory required, most systems will not ship with an IME installed. For the same reason, most input method editors will allow a user to choose which languages to install and even make selections within a language. For example, a user can choose between Traditional Chinese and Simple Chinese.
The Cangjie method was created in 1976 to allow input of Chinese characters. It was originally used for Traditional, but now handles Simple Chinese as well. In this system, each key is assigned a particular graphic, such as a cross or a certain type of bar. Multiple keys are then combined to create each character.
Another method used for Chinese is the pinyin method. A pinyin is a system by which Chinese characters are translated into words written in the Roman alphabet. When using this method, pinyin words typed on a keyboard are translated into Chinese characters on the screen.
Dead keys can also be used as an input method. These are keys that enter nothing when pressed by themselves, but when used before a letter they will add a sign to that character. For example, an accent mark may not appear when you press the key, but if the letter “a” is later selected, an accent mark will appear on that letter.
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