UNTIL recently, computing was done almost entirely in English but the trend towards full-function Chinese-language computing is well underway.
English-language computing has dominated the business world for several decades.
This is due to the nature of many computer's basic design, which utilises memory structures that only accommodate several hundred different characters, rather than the thousands required for Chinese-language.
While some specialised mini-computers and word processors, such as Wang's units, were capable of providing Chinese-language as a standard option, most computers could handle Chinese-language only if difficult to use add-on hardware was bought.
The advent of personal computers (PCs) brought a revolution in home computing throughout the English-speaking world, but this revolution has been slow to take hold in Hongkong.
With the majority of Hongkong business people and students being Cantonese speakers, English-only PCs have failed to make a major impact.