From: Hans Aberg (haberg@math.su.se)
Date: Thu Jan 08 2009 - 17:29:24 CST
It is only a matter of how far you want to go - perhaps combining
characters can do it. And the there are signs like putting the left
hand onto the right elbow, which I do not know what it means. The
assignment of Unicode code point might speed up again.
Hans
On 8 Jan 2009, at 21:23, Kenneth Whistler wrote:
>> Counting that right/left hands can be used, as well showing front/
>> back, and four directions, two colors white/black, there are
>> 2^5*2*2*4*2 = 1024 hand characters.
>
> Ah, but this proposal neglects to note that in addition to
> the 2^5 combinations required to represent all possible combinations
> of finger extensions for a human hand, some provision needs to
> be made for lateral finger contact versus separation. Otherwise, there
> is no way to distinguish:
>
> WHITE UP-POINTING PALM OUTWARD ALL FINGERS EXTENDED RIGHT HAND
>
> from
>
> HALT SIGN
>
> or from
>
> LIVE LONG AND PROSPER SIGN
>
> Nor would this proposal pass muster for its potential discrimination
> against those born with a sixth digit -- or for that matter,
> those having lost a digit due to unfortunate accident.
>
> Furthermore, I see the need for combinations or control functions
> to indicate hand orientations involving tip-to-tip articulation
> between thumb and fingers. Otherwise, there is no way to
> represent:
>
> A-OK SIGN / MONEY SIGN / BRAZILIAN WELL WE WONT GO THERE SIGN
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