tr4nslator

One of the trade-offs of using an unobtrusive approach (no DOM insertion) to maximize compatibility is that we're limited to the decoration offered by a vanilla text control. Otherwise, the flow of insertion/deletion/selection was based on OS X, so I think you'll find it familiar.

Technically, it's a misspelling for こんぴゅーたー (konpyu-ta-), which converts correctly into katakana.

But I really got a kick out of seeing someone use the tool itself to give us feedback...

This is exactly what we had in mind. The latency of hitting the server for each kanji conversion would make it difficult to compete with a native implementation, but this is just a hack to fill in the holes when no such implementation exists.

Aside from other language support, we're thinking of eventually implementing a passive feedback mechanism that would tell the back end about conversion preferences, so that users could teach the system merely by correcting suggestions.

Before kicking off work together on a startup, my cofounder and I have built two test projects to make sure that we have a good technical fit.

If there are any Japanese typers out there, we'd love you to check out our first project: typd.in. It's an unobtrusive bookmarklet that enables Japanese input on any textarea/input on the web, even on platforms without a native input method editor.

Any and all feedback appreciated!

see you guys there.

I'd be interested in an afternoon/evening event in SF.