Non-ASCII in the future in the lexer

[Abdulhaq]

On Thursday, 1 June 2023 at 22:04:11 UTC, H. S. Teoh wrote:
>
> I believe that the next step is to USB/WiFi touchscreen 
> keyboards that can be reconfigured to any symbol set by 
> software.  All we need is a long, horizontal device with a 
> touchscreen mounted on suitable support that makes it 
> comfortable to type on, then have a standard API for software 
> to configure whatever symbols it wishes the user to use on it. 
> Instantly switch to APL symbols and back, for example.  Or, for 
> that matter, have the layout completely software-driven: 
> imagine instantly switching from a typewriter keyboard to a 
> piano keyboard, for example, for easy music input. Or a guitar 
> fret for instant MIDI improvisation.
>
  Of course it's subjective but I strongly dislike typing on 
touchscreens and am surprised to find a programmer who prefers 
them.

Also when playing the guitar, the way the string is struck and 
the position and force of the finger on the fretboard allows 
great variation in the sound. The idea of somehow even attempting 
to simulate that on a touch screen makes me feel sad for the loss 
of virtuosity even just thinking about it :-) . Similarly for the 
loss of key weight and travel on a piano keyboard. It all reminds 
me of how the virtual world is generally supplanting the real 
world, with the massive loss that entails.

I obviously got out of bed on the wrong side today :-)