We're on HN! People might find it more interesting to find out it's not just over 1000, but 1024 exactly. And I'll leave it for curious minds to think on it why that becomes obvious when seeing the problem from the right perspective.
Let's think about UTF-HANDS. Unicode needs 21 bits that means every code points needs two gestures plus 1 additional bit. Rotating the palm of each hand toward body/away from body allows us 2 additional bits per gesture. So we could actually have variable length encoding: 0x000 - 0x3FF one gesture, the rest two gestures.
You haven't accounted for endianness yet. After all, your left is my right when we're facing each other. Perhaps orient hands vertically and the upper one is the more significant set of bits.
Also, for cases when one hand is unavailable, I propose a companion 6-bit encoding UTF-HAND where the multi-gesture sequences begin at 0x20.
This should be adopted into sign languages, it would make a more culturally diverse alternative to standard single-alphabet finger spelling :)
I enjoy how the IDs are descriptive. I don't like the nanny filter. It's culturally insensitive because it only blocks a hand symbol that's considered rude in one cultural context but not another.
For instance, shape ID 0011000110 would be considered rude in England, but it's not filtered.
It also reinforces the cultural power of the symbol, which is the opposite of what is probably intended. See: Streisand Effect.
This is a very handy tool. I have actively searched for something similar via google for a while now but never came close to anything good. This "toy" of yours is excellent
I find the contortions needed to do base 2 with my fingers too cumbersome. On the other hand, base 6 is really easy. Each hand only needs to do the usual 0-1-2-3-4-5 arrangement and you get to count from 0 to 35(6^2-1).
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Don't worry. I'm not a bot. I'm just very new here; this is my first comment (and this is my first submission to get that many comments).
I've decided to start engaging with HN from today. You'll see me post other links from other websites soon.
Also, for cases when one hand is unavailable, I propose a companion 6-bit encoding UTF-HAND where the multi-gesture sequences begin at 0x20.
This should be adopted into sign languages, it would make a more culturally diverse alternative to standard single-alphabet finger spelling :)
I enjoy how the IDs are descriptive. I don't like the nanny filter. It's culturally insensitive because it only blocks a hand symbol that's considered rude in one cultural context but not another.
For instance, shape ID 0011000110 would be considered rude in England, but it's not filtered.
It also reinforces the cultural power of the symbol, which is the opposite of what is probably intended. See: Streisand Effect.
Edit: I ended up removing the filter.
This is a very handy tool. I have actively searched for something similar via google for a while now but never came close to anything good. This "toy" of yours is excellent
Wow TIL, this looked way much cooler
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chisanbop
I just discovered the Beefy 5-Layer Wrap.
One could count even higher if willing to put each finger into an intermediate state, as base-3 or base-4.