Equestria has a "binary" language.

[XMark 18]

Ooooh I really like that idea of the two buttons moving X and Y coordinates on a grid of letters and punctuation and stuff. I suppose the more common letters would be located closer to the origin to maximize typing speed.

 

EDIT: and you already covered that lol

Edited April 4, 2012 by XMark

[I_wesley125 393]

The X Y thing would have worked but the type writers only have 2 stamps.

[Sheogorath 1,155]

The X Y thing would have worked but the type writers only have 2 stamps.

 

But it doesn't have to be like our typewriters. just two buttons and then internal machination.

[XMark 18]

Come to think of it, a regular human typewriter would still be a better idea for ponies. Unicorns could magically hit the keys, and Earth ponies and Pegasuseses would just use a little typing rod in their mouth.

 

Of course, the limitation of three big buttons may not be as much an issue of hoof usability as the way typewriter technology developed in Equestria.

[I_wesley125 393]

But it doesn't have to be like our typewriters. just two buttons and then internal machination.

 

But they can only output two characters.

[Tiina Brown 67]

Arrogance here was on other hoof, a single "what" is not a sufficient question to offer clarification to, to me that only speaks of blatant neglect of proper discourse and therefore not worthy of a response.

 

Incorrect.

A simple "what" do not have to mean "WTF", it is also used as "i don't understand".

I could have written that "what?", since i'm not always as articulated as right now.

I did not see your first response as arrogant, but the bolded part is definitely arrogant.

 

However, your schematics to show what you meant, worked to get me to understand what you meant, but i fail to see how that solution could mean that 4 presses would result in 8 or 9 syllables .... unless the "commonly used letters"-area really includes common letter combinations ... or, more probable, common words.

 

It still seems like a cumbersome way of doing it to me, though, and morse would be, if not more probable, then at least more effective.

 

If it was Morse code, or Morse code-like, then surely they'd only need one key? That's how Morse code works - it's based off the length of the key press, not which key you press. It could be that each letter is encoded to some combination of button presses, so one button could be labeled "0" and the other "1", and the letter "a" would correspond to button presses equivalent to "0001" or something similar, but I believe that's roughly what the OP was implying when they said that the language was "binary".

 

The opinion of some of my pony loving fellows over on another forum seems to be that the the two large buttons can each produce several symbols by pushing them to the sides or corners, as opposed to merely pushing them downwards. I'm not sure this is in keeping with how they were used in the show, but it's certainly the most practical way of typing with large, single-digit feet that I can think of!

 

To only have one key would make the morse harder to understand and write.

.. And the idea of Binary would technically also just need one button, since it is noted if it is "off" or "on".

 

I think the other option you present is more probable, though.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Tiina Brown

[Sheogorath 1,155]

Incorrect.

A simple "what" do not have to mean "WTF", it is also used as "i don't understand".

I could have written that "what?", since i'm not always as articulated as right now.

I did not see your first response as arrogant, but the bolded part is definitely arrogant.

 

However, your schematics to show what you meant, worked to get me to understand what you meant, but i fail to see how that solution could mean that 4 presses would result in 8 or 9 syllables .... unless the "commonly used letters"-area really includes common letter combinations ... or, more probable, common words.

 

It still seems like a cumbersome way of doing it to me, though, and morse would be, if not more probable, then at least more effective.

 

 

To only have one key would make the morse harder to understand and write.

.. And the idea of Binary would technically also just need one button, since it is noted if it is "off" or "on".

 

I think the other option you present is more probable, though.

 

Syllables are combinations of letters to form sounds, so with two syllables you can make up words like car-bon, even such as carr-ot.

This means that while you still have to press keys to navigate syllable grid, you can form parts of the word with that effort where as in binary you are stuck tapping on and off several times just to get one symbol out, highly inefficient system and would be even slower than writing with your mouth as ponies have to do otherwise unless unicorns.

 

What I proposed as typewriter for ponies requires some memorization to use but provides higher efficacy than binary or morse system in both space demand and time. In japan this syllable system is highly efficient as their fonts Katakana and Hiragana can compose entire word with a single letter. Therefore I suggested that ponies lithographic history might be developed similarly and then making it really easy to compose pages and long stretches of text for mass printing.

So forth with efficient writing system building a device as I pictured with some clockworks and switches that navigate around a spherical or torus shaped grid would offer them a three button mechanism that allows production of multiple letters in relatively fast rate.

 

The efficiency can even be improved with making a specific written language variation of their language which allows syllables to be used freely to form sentences much like how Japanese convert to English making "blue" into "Bu-ruu" (as an example) according to their own familiar syllables.

 

but the bolded part is definitely arrogant.

It is arrogant to save myself the effort to completely re-explain my proposition just because someone feels like not even bothering to clarify what part of my idea was so "what" worthy? Well then sure, I am arrogant and damn proud of it as it seems to save me a lot of time having to repeat myself blindly to lazy asses. (no offence to donkeys, whom are hard working animals!) Edited April 4, 2012 by Pencils

[Tiina Brown 67]

Syllables are combinations of letters to form sounds, so with two syllables you can make up words like car-bon, even such as carr-ot.

///////////////////////////

It is arrogant to save myself the effort to completely re-explain my proposition just because someone feels like not even bothering to clarify what part of my idea was so "what" worthy? Well then sure, I am arrogant and damn proud of it as it seems to save me a lot of time having to repeat myself blindly to lazy asses. (no offence to donkeys, whom are hard working animals!)

 

Ok, i stand corrected in the case of syllables, i'm not completely fluent in english, obviously ...

I thought of it as the letters rather than the syllables .. but that should be obvious by now.

 

I may also stand corrected in the definition of efficiency concerning the comparison berween the x,y, -syllable grid and morse, since morse also requires learning the letters through it.

 

Oh, and if you get a "what" it may be because most of your description was hard or even impossible to understand.

Ok, someone less confused and/or more articulated might instead have said "Um, could you please explain what you just said?"

However, some might expect that they will just get another explanation that they won't understand anyway, and in that case, they just do like you: Since they don't expect much of an improved response, they just express a "what", and let that sufficce, and thereby, the haven't wasted any effort if they don't get any response.

[Krall 263]

To only have one key would make the morse harder to understand and write.

Well, that is how telegraphs worked historically - one button that you would press down for varying lengths of time to create dots and dashes.

[Tiina Brown 67]

Well, that is how telegraphs worked historically - one button that you would press down for varying lengths of time to create dots and dashes.

 

And how long do you think it took for someone to learn the morse code?

Not to mention how long it takes to learn to hear the small instances of silence, and differ them from the long distances ... or how slow those messages must have been to make once, compared to how speedy they are today ...

 

And then consider that the ones operating the "typewriters" is fillys and colts.

[Sheogorath 1,155]

Since they don't expect much of an improved response,

 

And this is not arrogant?

they just express a "what", and let that sufficce, and thereby, the haven't wasted any effort if they don't get any response.

When presented a proper question or counter argument have I not issued the question above and beyond? I have drawn a graph and articulated further with everyone who has asked me about my idea, yet still you insist I am arrogant? How many arrogant people arse over to draw a graph just to illustrate a point?

[Fghik 360]

Here we go again, overanalyzing every-bucking-thing.

 

I wish I could learn morse code well enough to type it. Having two keys and a space would make it super easy (only dots dashes and spaces right?) Theoretically, you could get really fast at it...although to type one letter you'd have to tap anywhere from 2-5 keys, when you could just tap those keys to get a word...

Edited April 4, 2012 by Fghik

[Killian Jones 2,655]

-snip-

 

While the grid idea is good, it doesn't allow for a well ordered sequence. while it is slightly efficient, if you ordered button one and button two you could get more combinations.

 

Right now XXYY and XYXY are the same input. However if you did force order in it you can make it 2^n- for n being the number of x's and y's you maximally have to input.

 

It would also be dependent on the written pony language, which we know nothing about. the number of alphanumeric symbols used could be high or low, we can assume they use regular English. If they did and perhaps assume we need 128 symbols for everything the typewriter would need to handle then then a maximum of 8 key presses can allot 128 symbols.

[Queen Cassie 3,058]

Incidentally, I found a "typewriter" (actually a keyboard) that appears to offer up an alternative explanation, a system that may be slightly easier to master than the one Pencils created.

 

http://www.enablemar...oards/orbiTouch

 

How It Works

Traditional keyboards can cause discomfort or pain. That's why the orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard doesn't build on any of the traditional keyboard concepts. The orbiTouch's award-winning design offers an entirely new method of input.

 

 

A Keyboard and Mouse

The orbiTouch creates a keystroke when you slide the two domes into one of their eight respective positions. You type the different characters by sliding the domes to create letters and numbers. The orbiTouch also has an integrated mouse, so moving the domes gives you full mouse and keyboard capability!

 

 

Operation

• Each dome slides into one of eight zones to type a character.
• Either dome can slide first or move both at the same time.
• Domes slide toward the center of their color or character zones. (not directly at the characters)
• Slide the right dome to the zone of the character you wish to type; slide the left dome to the color of that character.

[Tiina Brown 67]

And this is not arrogant? When presented a proper question or counter argument have I not issued the question above and beyond? I have drawn a graph and articulated further with everyone who has asked me about my idea, yet still you insist I am arrogant? How many arrogant people arse over to draw a graph just to illustrate a point?

You are correct enough for me to not wanting to try reasoning with you further, but as i see it, you are not correct enough for me to say that you are fully correct.

We clearly have different viewpoints on what is arrogant, and what may seem arrogant .. and not.

 

When asked clearly, as you see it, you also answer clearly, i admit that, but then, i never questioned that, either.

An arrogant comment doesn't mean that the one who said it is fully arrogant, either.

 

Also, i will now leave this discussion, since it is off-topic for this thread.

... Perhaps i should have left this argumentation before ... perhaps i shouldn't have posted this reply either, but ...

[JhonHipster 124]

Canadian schooling moves at much slower rate then american schooling. This I have no idea what your talking about

[ponyvangelist 732]

Not Your Type

 

Oh come on! Everyone knows the crew carry universal translators, which is why all aliens seem to be speaking English.

 

Oh wait... wrong fandom.

 

Or is it? Sometimes these sorts of discussions remind me of the Star Trek fandom. Thank goodness we aren't arrogant.

 

* cough *

 

The correct and indisputable fact is that the Ponian Typewriter uses a method derived from the pioneering efforts of the legendary Clever Hans, more commonly known as the "Pony Einstein". To this day, ponies draw upon methods perfected by Clever Hans when typing by employing an ingenious technique of number/letter transposition.

 

The number system used by ponies since the days of Star Swirl the Bearded was quinary, since ponies have no fingers and originally counted using their legs and tail. The exceptions, of course, were pegasi, whose own number system developed independently among the clouds and was septenary, since pegasi have four legs, two wings and a tail.

 

Under the guidance of Clever Hans, these different systems were replaced by a simple method of hoof taps based on a unary numeral system, which is used for general arithmetic, and which is rendered in text through the use of unique symbols in standard Ponese.

 

The Ponian Typewriter is based on the common unary system, and uses a simple method for printing both numbers and letters. It uses two keys for data entry and a space bar for separating terms and words.

 

The left key is a shift key used to distinguish between letters and numbers. The right key is used to tap out the numerical value of either letters or numbers, depending on the position of the shift key. By using the correct number of taps corresponding to the numerical values assigned to the Ponese alphabet, pony typists can belt out large volumes of equine prose with ease, producing tidy, legible documents at the touch of a hoof.

 

Clearly, and beyond all argument, my explanation is correct and must be accepted as gospel without question. Anyone who disagrees with me is, therefore, inherently wrong and should be ashamed.

 

It's times like these that I'm glad I went for my master's degree in Analytical Poniology (which hasn't exactly been a big money-maker for me, if you know what I mean).

 

Whatever would you do without me?

[Espionage 113]

They type it out in binary or morse code and then there's a machine that translates it out in normal Equestrian. Equestrian isn't binary though. The newspaper isn't in binary though so that's my best guess.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=17PR2qE8eQk#t=29s

Edited April 6, 2012 by Espionage

[XXVYNIKK 145]

Don't they always make them squiggles in cartoons?

And if strong Bad could do it, I bet ponies could.

[Feather Spiral 1,892]

Really big keyboards!

 

I wrote a story once where a genetically altered dog used a keyboard large enough so he could use his paws to hunt and peck at it. I had him writing at about a ten year old's level of comprehension, and his favorite show was Dr. Who!

And his favorite game was Silent Hill 2?

 

While the grid idea is good, it doesn't allow for a well ordered sequence. while it is slightly efficient, if you ordered button one and button two you could get more combinations.

Thing is, the typewriters we saw looked rather small (at least to me). The mechanism allowing them to differentiate sequences like that, similarly to binary codes like the Morse... I don't know, wouldn't it have to be rather large?

Unless the typewriters in Equestria have electronic components for that purpose. I know my grandfather on my mother's side, owns a semi-automatic typewriter.

But then, wouldn't all those ink sploshes cause short-circuits every other stroke?

 

Incidentally, I found a "typewriter" (actually a keyboard) that appears to offer up an alternative explanation, a system that may be slightly easier to master than the one Pencils created.

This would make sense, seeing ponies can grab objects in their hooves with some sort of touch-and-stick principle. If only the buttons were round and not square...

That being said, instead of rotating them around, they could still push them sideways. As Krall reported from his fellows from the other forum (which I do not know).

Edited June 2, 2012 by Feather Spiral

[Dreadmallon 353]

That is rather interesting actually. A sign of maturing, as little girls don't know what binary code is.

[RBDash 176]

The number system used by ponies since the days of Star Swirl the Bearded was quinary, since ponies have no fingers and originally counted using their legs and tail. The exceptions, of course, were pegasi, whose own number system developed independently among the clouds and was septenary, since pegasi have four legs, two wings and a tail.

 

Under the guidance of Clever Hans, these different systems were replaced by a simple method of hoof taps based on a unary numeral system, which is used for general arithmetic, and which is rendered in text through the use of unique symbols in standard Ponese.

Odd-based number system EWWWWW, half in base 5 is .2222222222222222 through infinity. Half in base 7 is .3333333333 through infinity.

 

I'd rather have ponies use base 8 or base 12 for numbers. Base 8 because they count their legs and they did it with 2 ponies, base 12 because they did it with 3 (and because base 12 is best base besides 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, etc... all of which are multiples of 12 but too big).

[RazzyJam 1,519]

 

 

While hooves are certainly at a disadvantage to our hands, the ponies are born with them, and easily learn to adapt with hooves. Since it has been a part of their lifestyle for over a millennium, they do not care one bit about not having hands.

 

unless you are Lyra

[Swit Swat 536]

Ponies are superior. They are smarter than all of us, so they use this very complicated form of morse code.

Edited June 2, 2012 by Swit Swat

[AppleTreeBrony 228]

Ponies are superior. They are smarter than all of us, so they use this very complicated form of morse code.

 

Agreed Edited June 2, 2012 by EppalJeck