Bilinguality of microcomputers—new hardware, software, and converting techniques

Abstract Problems of microcomputer bilinguality are addressed, with emphasis on the Arabic language as a non-Latin based language. Problems cited include design and implementation of character sets, developing the character generating routines which reflect the rules of two different languages as well as problems associated with programming in more than one language. Solutions for these problems and the introduction of new hardware which can efficiently handle bilinguality are presented. The development of applied software, especially for industrial applications, may not necessarily require a “foreign” programming language. Software may be developed using a high-level language with insertions for any displaying statements. The result as seen from the user's point of view is a “foreign”-base software. A software-converting methodology/algorithm is presented with the objective of “translating” English software into Arabic software with some initial results.