muCiYu (μ词语)

Dan Mailman

2026-04-14

muCiYu (μ词语)

Overview

muCiYu (μ词语) extends the duration-based μLex idea into Mandarin lexical input. The opening grid presents a compact inventory of frequent items keyed to ordinary QWERTY letters and digits. A short press on a braced prefix opens a deeper grid and redraws the display with a narrower set of choices. A long press inputs the red candidate text.

Unlike a simple one-layer word board, μ词语 also has generated overflow pages for larger families. When a prefix family spans multiple screens, < and > cells move backward and forward as navigation routes through that sequence. The top-left cell shows μ词语 at the starter grid and shows the current prefix or page label deeper in the system.

Gesture Short press Long press Overflow navigation
Result Open a deeper prefix grid when one exists Input the red candidate text Use < / > when a family spans screens

Interactive Demo

Interaction Model

μ词语 demonstrates that duration-based interaction can be used to surface Mandarin lexical items directly rather than only individual characters. The grid therefore acts both as an input surface and as a compact lexical preview of what can currently be selected.

A short press follows a visible prefix path when the JSON action says a deeper grid exists. A long press inputs the displayed red lexical candidate, so the same cell can support both direct output and guided prefix narrowing.

The overflow-page mechanism is important here. Some prefix families require more than one 4 x 8 screen, so the generated JSON supplies explicit < and > navigation cells. This lets the overall interaction remain compact while still supporting larger lexical families.

Dissertation Context

In dissertation terms, μ词语 helps show that μLex-style duration logic is not limited to alphabetic or accent-driven cases. It can also support a lexically organized Chinese demo in which selection depends on visible grouping, prefix transitions, and compact browsing through larger families.

The browser demo is therefore useful both as a prototype and as an explanatory figure. It makes the grouping logic visible on screen and shows how a duration- sensitive grid can mediate between direct lexical entry and deeper guided selection without falling back to opaque menus or invisible candidate lists.

Current Design Notes

  • The live interaction logic is now server-owned; the CSV remains the lexical source used upstream by the converter.
  • The top-left cell shows μ词语 at the starter grid and the current prefix or generated page label at deeper levels.
  • The Quarto page embeds https://danmailman.net/muCiYu/embed/ and does not copy GridPack packages or server source.
  • The standalone route https://danmailman.net/muCiYu/ remains useful for debugging the server-owned IME surface.
  • The lower-right cell is explicit JSON: inactive options on home, and / to return home on non-home grids.