SubscribeHow Google Can Build Chinese Input Method Better
The words are out that Google’s new released Chinese Input Method Editor seems to be using similar vocabulary library with Sogou. You can refer to the two Infoworld articles here and here. While some people are really fond of trashing Guge, the majority of the users are looking for better product from it.
My take is that further discussion on this similarity case is not necessary. If Google really infringes Sogou’s intellectual property rights, they would sue Google. Is it possible that they all licensed vocabulary library from the same source? You will never know it.
In fact, not many people are talking about usability and innovation in Chinese Input Method Editor. Compare Google IME with Microsoft’s, which was released several years ago. Is there significant improvement?
The one standing out feature of Google IME is its network syndication. It syndicates your personal dictionary and typing habit. Google might forgot that they already have user’s habit in database. Ideally, if user has signed in his Google account, his input method should be immediately personalized, without further learning and configuration.
And what is IME 2.0? Should it be webbified, browser centric, or in other words, without installation? There’s such kind of example really. InputKing is an online Chinese Input System. It has a 300k local dictionary and a remote dictionary. With local dictionary, it will show you real-time candidate words. The remote one has more data. It will show you candidate words after network inquiry. And it can be used alone, so you don’t bother to download the local dictionary. There’s a simple rich editor to format the text, then you can copy and paste them to other places in pure text or HTML format.
This kind of product maybe is not enough for some users, but can meet my requirement most of the time. Google, how about integrating similar feature into Chinese version of Docs & Spreadsheets? In this way, whatever operating system we are using, once we open the browser, the office system and input method are both ready.
Update 2007-4-8: This is a post by a developer of Sogou IME. If this is the truth, they should sue.
Two other thoughts have come to my mind:
1) There should be a common vocabulary library that anyone can use. At least something can be used as ground truth for particular language. It would be better if there’s a non-profit, neutral organization to take care of it.
2) Microsoft should release their IME as an independent product. Now you can only get the latest version by installing its Chinese version of Office. Now is the time for other free alternative IME to push Microsoft doing this.
Update 2007-4-8: Sogou IME official blog has a post about how they build the vocabulary library.
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I personally believe that Google has used library of Sogou. They should better explain it rather than saying nothing.
I wonder if this Google’s IME have English interface (or only Chinese, as I can see from picture)?
No, it doesn’t have English interface. The picture included in the post is actually InputKing’s web interface.
[...] The Recent Google-Sogou IME debate is such a case. No one think Google’s PR not aware of IWOM. Why did they act in a not so smart way? There must be a story here. I would suggest Sam to invite former Google China PR manager Cui Jing to participate in the next roundtable if possible. That must be instructive enough to other people dealing with branding management. [...]