MSW:Historical Foundation

2.A. Before SignWriting
Valerie Sutton invented the DanceWriting notation in 1966.

2.B. Handwritten SignWriting
Valerie Sutton invented the SignWriting script in 1974. The SignWriting script was written exclusively by hand for 12 years. The script has evolved, spread around the world, and continues to be written on paper and chalkboard.

When written by hand, lines are drawn to form each grapheme. Different styles draw different types of lines: either for personal taste, speed, or quality. The main types of handwriting are formal, cursive, and shorthand. Formal handwriting, equivalent to block printing, includes defined lines for all graphemes, specific palm facings for hand shapes, and detailed arrow heads and tails. Cursive handwriting is more fluid and less detailed. Handwriting for personal use can omit palm facings, generalize arrows, and other liberties of personal consumption. Shorthand is a further reduction of detail, written for speed. Shorthand is a memory aid to a written record and should be rewritten soon after the notes were taken.

Understanding the ratios of size and shape for the graphemes improves hand writing.

2.C. Computerized SignWriting
When written with computers, the grapheme set must be limited and organized. A symbol is a reference to a grapheme rather than the grapheme itself. Each symbol has a unique identification.

In 1984, the first SignWriting prototype was created for the Apple IIe and Apple IIc. The application supported only a small subset of the SignWriting script.

In 1986, SignWriter was conceived by Richard Gleaves. Development started on the Apple IIe and Apple IIc. He pioneered the keyboard design for the SignWriting script. The resulting symbolset was limited due to the 128KB memory limit.

Richard Gleaves worked closely with Valerie Sutton and continued the development of SignWriter DOS to expanded the symbolset and improve the editor, resulting in the SSS-95 and a robust typing model.

The SSS-99 was created for SignWriter Java. The revamped symbolset was created without the limitations imposed upon the SSS-95.

The SSS-2002 reorganized the structure of the symbolset imposing a multi level hierarchy with the modern symbol ID. The SSS-2002 was the first symbolset used in the SignBank 2002 application by Todd Duell.

The SSS-2004 was created after reaching widespread international use. The SSS-2004 was the first symbolset used in the SignPuddle application by Steve Slevinski. This symbolset was expanded to include international MovementWriting concepts and became known as the International MovementWriting Alphabet.

The International SignWriting Alphabet 2008 was a major refactoring of the IMWA concept by eliminating the general MovementWriting symbols and focusing on the SignWriting script. The ISWA 2008 was the first symbolset released under the Open Font License.

The International SignWriting Alphabet 2010 was a further refinement of the symbolset to incorporate additional current best practices as deep in the standard as possible. The ISWA 2010 is the result of over 35 years of an inventor working with writers from around the world, and over 25 years of an inventor working with computers and programmers. The design balances complexity, efficiency, and usability. The ISWA 2010 defines 7 categories, 30 groups, and 652 bases. Understanding the basic concepts of the ISWA 2010 allows easy access to the graphemes without memorizing the minute details.

Since major standardization efforts started in 2008, there have been several disruptive but necessary changes in the data formats. With the formal specifications of Modern SignWriting, this type of disruption is no longer allowed. Signs for version 1 of Modern SignWriting will not change and will always be compatible with applications that support MSW v1.

The formal specifications for Modern SignWriting are a continuation of the past; based on long standing historical usage.

2.D. Input Model
In 1986, Richard Gleaves pioneered the keyboard model for SignWriting. With SignWriter Dos, it was possible to type complete SignWriting sentences. New symbols required 2 key presses: first for the SymbolGroup and then for the BaseSymbol. Many selected symbol could be transformed by rotation, mirror, flop, or variation using additional keystrokes. Within a sign, the cursor is based on a selected symbol and 8 rotational directions. A new symbol is added to a sign based on the selected symbol position and the placement of the cursor around that symbol. This model is extremely powerful, but has a learning curve. The design is still valid for the modern symbol set, but it is not currently implemented in software.

In 2004, Stephen E Slevinski Jr created the first drag & drop editor for SignWriting. This model incorporated symbol hierarchy for symbol selection, but did not use the keyboard or the circular cursor. This model has proven to be effective and easy to learn.