Proposal to add Bitcoin symbol to Unicode

[runpaint]

You may be interested in my related article on mining Bitcoin on a 1960s mainframe: http://www.righto.com/2015/05/bitcoin-mining-on-55-year-old-ibm-1401.html

I've read that before, great article!

[mrsalve]

Nice proposal.

[Gyrsur]

good work! keep it up!

[kens]

So why do we need the Unicode approval for this?

Cant we just create a patch for all OS's and include the BTC in it's alphabet? I dont understand why we need their permission to include it in the alphabet.

Can anybody enlighten me?

Unicode is the standard that most computers use to define what text characters exist and how to encode them. In the bad days before Unicode (e.g. the 1990s), different computers used different characters and stored them different ways. If I used Russian and you used Japanese, we couldn't exchange files. But with Unicode, everyone's computer handles characters the same way. I can send you Ӂ ڠ ᅗ Æ א ₳ ☢ 五 and your computer can handle it (as long as you have the fonts installed).

The point is that computer companies aren't going to patch random characters into their OS. But if you get a character added to Unicode, then everyone will support it. The Unicode Committee has the people who decide what goes into Unicode. The purpose of my proposal is to convince them that putting the Bitcoin symbol into Unicode makes sense and isn't just some crazy idea I came up with.

(I've oversimplified somewhat but this is probably already more than you want to know about Unicode.)

Ken

[runpaint]

Reading through the proposal again, it is clear that the Unicode people require a lot of detail.  Canonical Category, Bidi Mirroring.  You seem to know what you're doing.

I do see one thing that might be slightly improved, although it may not matter.  Where it says, "(Although
there are factions encouraging the use of alternative characters.)", it might raise the question of whether BTC is the right symbol to add.  Although you later explain why BTC is the necessary character, the previous sentence by itself does not make it clear that all alternative characters are insufficient as well as already existing in Unicode, and that the addition of BTC would eliminate the need for other characters. 

Maybe something like "(Although there are small factions who have given up on adding BTC to Unicode)" which is still accurate but more favorable.

[jt byte]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

Yeah that's the best idea for big companies that will produce these keyboard something like this prototype:

[gogxmagog]

Good work OP. I've wondered about the process behind Unicode symbols before, seems like you only need to get your proposal right. I'm surprised they think there is ownership behind the Bitcoin symbol... But hey... Bitcoin be Bitcoin.what was the Unicode symbol that you successfully petitioned for before?

[TheRealSteve]

what was the Unicode symbol that you successfully petitioned for before?

Previous page:

my previous Unicode proposal was for the group mark symbol used by IBM mainframes in the 1960s. It was approved, so that symbol will be in the next Unicode release.

[tmltd]

You have done a great work for the Unicode BTC addition. I hope this time the proposal will pass because I find your documentation very thorough and accurate.

[Minecache]

A fantastic idea and all the best of luck. Sorry I cannot help you with the process as it is all beyond me, however you have my support in your endeavour. 

[LFC_Bitcoin]

OP - Just seen this thread. Awesome, this 100% needed doing, good luck with your proposal. I'm quite excited about this. Please keep us informed.

[runpaint]

So why do we need the Unicode approval for this?

Cant we just create a patch for all OS's and include the BTC in it's alphabet? I dont understand why we need their permission to include it in the alphabet.

Can anybody enlighten me?

Can you imagine the credibility and bragging rights?

Headline:  "Every Computer In The World Now Has The Bitcoin Symbol"

[xhoneyael]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

Yeah that's the best idea for big companies that will produce these keyboard something like this prototype:

nice proposal 
if your proposal get approved
it will make a big help in bitcoin community..
i also like to have keyboard with BTC .. 

[tspacepilot]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

If Unicode adds BTC, I'll teach you how to print a sticker and to remap your keyboard's output so that you won't have to buy a new one for half that price


I'm quite supportive of this.  I've worked quite a bit with various minority alphabets and I understand the value of getting symbols into Unicode.

Big ups to the OP!  Thanks Ken!

[RealBitcoin]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

If Unicode adds BTC, I'll teach you how to print a sticker and to remap your keyboard's output so that you won't have to buy a new one for half that price


I'm quite supportive of this.  I've worked quite a bit with various minority alphabets and I understand the value of getting symbols into Unicode.

Big ups to the OP!  Thanks Ken!

Can I change for example the right ALT or right CTRL button into the BTC button after it gets into unicode?

I have never used these buttons, and it would be nice. I have a black keyboard, and i can paint the button into a BTC symbol with white paint afterwards it gets revamped.

[TheRealSteve]

Can I change for example the right ALT or right CTRL button into the BTC button after it gets into unicode?

If you OS supports it, yes.  Even if your OS doesn't support it, there may be third party utilities that intercept keypresses (note: be careful as this type is often lumped in with keylogging software) and output something else.

[tspacepilot]

Can I change for example the right ALT or right CTRL button into the BTC button after it gets into unicode?

If you OS supports it, yes.  Even if your OS doesn't support it, there may be third party utilities that intercept keypresses (note: be careful as this type is often lumped in with keylogging software) and output something else.

But there are open-source ways (at least on linux) which are quite normal for doing Input Methods which aren't fishy at all.  I tend to use several keyboard layouts because of the languages/scripts I have to use.  @RealBitcoin: once there's a unicode codepoint, you definitely should be able to map one of your keys to it.

[jt byte]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

Yeah that's the best idea for big companies that will produce these keyboard something like this prototype:

nice proposal 
if your proposal get approved
it will make a big help in bitcoin community..
i also like to have keyboard with BTC .. 

Ha, well I guess we can hope but I don't see the need for such a big key, even a shift number symbol would be nice or a small key near the keypad.

This is just a prototype so maybe not such big but at least a key to custom keyboards not in the standard one.

[tiggytomb]

Great stuff, Imagine having it on a standard keyboard, that would be quite a statement.

[maokoto]

Will be really nice to see it in the keyboard when it goes mainstream, and then to remember "I was there when that guy in the forum posted the proposal"...