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authorNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
committerNorbert Preining <norbert@preining.info>2019-09-02 13:46:59 +0900
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+\def\blt{$\bullet$}
+\centerline{\bf DIDOT}
+\centerline{\bf European project for training}
+\centerline{\bf in
+numerical typography}
+\smallskip
+\noindent
+The Laboratory of Peripheral Systems of the Polytechnic of Lausanne is
+preparing a project for continual training in digital typography. This
+project seeks to establish a European system for training for typographers
+and artists with a view to enabling them to use new creative tools and for
+computer experts in order to make them competent to create these new tools.
+This training therefore would be carried out by mixing the two groups in
+shared seminars. In fact, the purposes the project are several:
+
+\item{\blt}To prepare a curriculum which would define the type of training
+which
+ would be carried out;
+\item{\blt}To define tools, especially computer-assisted, for this instruction;
+\item{\blt}To organise short duration courses to validate these methods;
+\item{\blt}To anticipate the training of instructors in professional schools.
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Objectives of the project Didot}
+\noindent
+The object of project {\sc Didot} (`Digitalisation and Design of
+Typefaces') is to conceive, to equip and to evaluate a European programme of
+instruction in digital typography for computer experts and graphical arts
+specialists. This area includes not just the creation and use of fonts (and
+more generally logos, drawings, etc.) in printing or for laser printers, but
+also for all sorts of displays, computers, television, etc.,
+tele-distribution, (of which fax. is just a first sketch) their storage
+(CD-ROM, for example) etc. In other words, this sector is an important one,
+even though this is not always recognised.
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Reasons for the project and its origin}
+\noindent
+While the great typographical inventors
+ (Gutenberg, Baskerville, Mergenthaler, Higgonnet and Moyroud, Karow,
+B\'ezier, etc) are European in origin, the market in typefaces has for a
+number of years been in the hands of some American firms. (ITC, Bitstream,
+Adobe, Allied, etc). By a market we mean the market of the artistic creation
+of the font and its `giving it a number' and finally its distribution. The
+ recent font-war (choice of a standard) proves that very adequately.
+ Europe could be better placed in this market thanks to a better
+ knowledge of the new technologies, hence the need for a formation which
+ is `state-of-the-art' and mixed (computer specialists and
+ graphical specialists).
+ Didot is also the
+name of a whole French dynasty of font-engravers, founders, printers or
+booksellers, whose activity spans more than three centuries. The most famous
+are probably Fran\c coise Ambroise Didot (1704--1804) who gave his name to the
+Didot point, a typographical unit still used in most European countries
+and his son Firmin Didot, (1765--1836) who drew `Le Didot'.
+
+The state-of-the-art technology have reached a certain maturity. On
+ the other hand, training in this area remains very localised and
+ Europe remains thus dependent on countries which do not necessarily
+ share its culture.
+
+The modern display interfaces (NeWS, Display \PS) and programs on
+ page printers are based upon derivatives of the page descripion language
+ \PS. It is essential that European industrialists should be
+ capable of developing their own controllers for displays, printers and
+ phototypesetters based upon such a language.
+
+Very soon, all computer and office systems will incorporate extensive
+ typographic possibilities/facilities; it is therefore essential to bring
+ together European typographers, computer specialists and industrialists.
+ This training will permit the exchange of information between teachers
+ and students from diverse industrial academic and artistic backgrounds.
+ It ought to be possible to obtain a very significant synergistic result.
+
+
+
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Types of activities and training be undertaken}
+\noindent
+The principal activities of project {\sc Didot} therefore concern the
+preparation of a curriculum and associated tools. At the same time, training
+will be carried out with a view to validating this program of instruction.
+The types of training to be carried out concern, for example,
+
+\item{\blt}For typographers who create fonts, how to use the new computer
+ tools
+
+\item{\blt}For computer specialists of PME, the bases of classic typography,
+ the computer-based techniques of rasterisation, etc.,
+
+\item{\blt}For specialists in office equipment, (distance distribution,
+ storing CD-ROM, etc) standards and servers for fonts.
+
+\item{\blt}For researchers in typography, how these new technologies
+ enable new developments in typography.
+
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Proposals}
+\noindent
+Project {\sc Didot} therefore proposes:
+\item{\blt}To prepare in collaboration with the PME who are concerned and
+ with typographers and computer experts and researchers who are
+ computer experts in this domain a curriculum; that is to say,
+ to conceive a programme of courses in digital typography
+\item{\blt}To develop tools for this training both CAI tools for teaching
+ in groups and for individuals
+\item{\blt}To validate these tools in training sessions.
+\item{\blt}To train the instructors on the relevant professional courses,
+ e.g art school, high school of graphic art and printing, so
+ that they can instruct their pupils in the new technologies.
+
+\noindent The organisers have already been involved in attempts at training of
+this kind -- the INRIA school `Typography and Computer at Rennes, 1985', and
+Aussois, 1987 `colloquium on digital typography at Sophia-Antipolis (1987)'
+`Raster Imaging and Digital Typography at Lausanne, 1989'. Conference on
+Electronic Publishing at Nice, 1988; as well as many courses of a more
+academic nature at EPFL Lausanne and at the University of Rennes.
+These have always been successful both with PME and with researchers.
+
+
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Results to be obtained}
+\noindent
+\item{\blt}To introduce font designers and logo designers to the new
+ technology, and notably to the use of computer-based systems
+
+\item{\blt}To initiate computer experts in the problems of traditional
+ or digital typography
+
+\item{\blt}To enable European industrialists to acquire the knowlege
+ necessary to develop an \PS-like interpreter and to
+ follow the work of international groups working on standardisation
+
+\item{\blt}To bring about, through the contact of these groups and
+ through the presence of motivated instructors a symbiosis
+ whose indirect fallout ought to be the creation of new tools
+ adapted to meet the true needs of creators and users.
+\smallskip
+\leftline{\sl Input required}
+\noindent
+This project will be presented at the end of February 1990, under the title
+`{\sc Didot}' within the auspices of the Comet-2 programme to the European
+Community.
+
+In order to give it weight, we wish to demonstrate that this indeed
+coresponds to a need both of typopgraphers and of industrialists and
+researchers. We would therefore like to hear from your institution
+telling us what you think of this project. We are at your disposal for
+further information.
+
+\rightline{\sl Jacques Andr\'e \& Roger Hersch}
+\rightline{\sl (translated by Malcolm Smith)}