CHIN 410 Chinese Information
Processing (I):
Concepts and Practice
Fall 2003
Syllabus
Dr. Tim Xie
txie@csulb.edu
Office FO3-315 Office Hours: Monday and Thursday 2:00-4:00p,
Phone: 5-5278, URL: http://www.csulb.edu/~txie
Course
Description
Introduction to the basic concepts related to in Chinese information processing. Development of the skills of using Chinese word processors, e-mail, discussion board, chat and web site designing. Knowledge of the language is desirable. Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to: 1. understand the basic concepts of Chinese computing; 2. master basic skills in Chinese information processing; 3. communicate in Chinese over the Internet; 4. creatively design web pages in Chinese.
By completion of the course, students will have knowledge
of the Chinese language, script, character set, and Chinese computing related
issues. They will be able to use Chinese word-processor to input Chinese text,
use English word-processor with Chinese fonts to process the Chinese text. They
will also able to write/read email, post messages on the discussion board and
conduct online, real-time chat with other Chinese speakers. Finally, they will
be able to create simple Chinese web pages and laid down foundation for
learning more advanced skills in Chinese web designing (Chinese Information
Processing II: Chinese Web Designing).
1. Students will understand the basic concepts of Chinese computing:
a. How is Chinese script coded?
b. How are Chinese characters typed into computer?
c. How is Chinese information stored, retrieved and searched?
d. Is automatic machine translation possible for Chinese?
2. Students will master the basic skills of processing Chinese
information:
a. Word processing
b. E-communication
c. Surfing the Chinese web sites and
d. Developing simple Chinese web pages
Course Procedures
The course will be conducted in English with some Chinese examples. The course format includes instructor’s lectures, hands-on practice sessions, and students’ presentations of their own project.
Textbooks and Software
· Required: This course makes full use of internet resources. Readings will be introduced during the semester where relevant and will be announced and distributed in class.
· Optional: Lunde, Ken. CJKV Information Processing. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1999.
· Optional: Castro, Elizabeth. HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide 3rd edition. Peachpit Press.
· Microsoft Word (2000 or XP) with the Chinese language package, installed in LAB (Language Art Building).
· Internet Explorer or Netscape, email account.
· Microsoft Front page
Students are evaluated in two general areas: their understanding of basic concepts of the Chinese language and Chinese information processing. These will be assessed by a series of assignments, classroom participation, students’ presentations, and exams. The second area of evaluation is students' actual ability to process the Chinese language and design web pages. Their ability is evaluated based on the quality of their assignments and projects such as web pages designed by students.
Midterm 30%
Final exam 30%
Projects 30%
Participation 10%
Weekly Schedule and Assignments
Week 1 and 2 - Unit 1: Introduction to Chinese Language and cript
Concepts: Chinese language, Chinese script: evolution and styles, Chinese software
Practice: Creating your first document in Chinese
Week 3 and 4 - Unit 2: Encoding Chinese characters
Concepts: Character standard set, ascii and non-European characters, GB, Big5,
Unicode, Other
Practice: Editing Chinese documents
Week 5 and 6 - Unit 3: Word Processing
Concepts: Independent word-processors: NJSTAR, Chinese systems and English applications: TwinBridge, Chinese Star, RichWin, Microsoft Chinese input methods (IME)
Practice: Editing and formatting Chinese documents
Week 7 and 8 - Unit 4: Input
Concepts: Keyboard Input
By shape - Cangjie Input Method Site 1: U Michigan, Wubizi
By sound - Pinyin, Zhuyin
Scanning In - OCR Dan Qing OCR Chinese OCRs IRIS Pro with Asian Adds_On
Sound recognition - ViaVoice
Practice: Editing Chinese documents using Microsoft input method, adding Pinyin tones, converting Chinese documents
Project presentation and Midterm
Week 9 and 10 - Unit 5: Asynchronous
Communication
Concepts: Email, Listserv, discussion group
newsgroups
Practice: Composing email messages in Chinese, repairing damaged email messages
Week 11 - Unit 6: Synchronous Communication
Concepts: chat by typing
Practice: Online typing and discussion
Week 12, 13 and 14 - Unit 7: Web Pages in Chinese
Concepts: Surf web pages in Chinese
Practice: Creating web pages in Chinese
Week 15 - Unit 8: Automatic Translation
Concepts: Automatic translation in European languages, Automatic translation in Chinese, Automatic translation web sites
Practice: Creating web pages in Chinese
Project presentation
University Withdrawal Polcy
It is the students' responsibility to withdraw from classes. Instructors have no obligation to withdraw students who do not attend courses, and may choose not to do so. Withdrawal from a course after the first two weeks of instruction requires the signatures of the instructor and department chair, and is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons, such as documented illness and a change in work hours/schedule. Students should be aware that the definition of "serious and compelling reasons" as applied by faculty and administrators may become narrower as the semester progresses. During the final three weeks of instruction, withdrawals are not permitted except in cases such as accident or serious illness where the circumstances causing the withdrawal are clearly beyond the student's control and the assignment of an incomplete is not practical. Ordinarily, withdrawals in this category involve total withdrawal from the university. The College of Liberal Arts adheres to this policy strictly, and does not sign withdrawal forms in the final three weeks of class for other reasons.