AX architecture
Encyclopedia
AX was a Japanese computing initiative starting in around 1986 to allow PCs to handle double-byte Japanese text via special hardware chips, whilst allowing compatibility with software written for foreign IBM PCs. It was developed by a consortium including Sony, Hitachi, Sharp, Oki, Casio, Canon, Kyocera, Sanyo, Mitsubishi, etc. but notably excluding NEC, Toshiba and Fujitsu (who were the market leaders and hence the 'opposition').
To display Kanji characters with sufficient clarity, AX machines had JEGA
screens with a resolution of 640x480 rather than the 640x350 EGA
standard prevalent elsewhere at the time. Users could typically switch between Japanese and English mode by typing 'jp' or 'us', which would also invoke an IME
enabling the input of Japanese characters.
AX later came to be superseded by IBM's DOS/V
, which accomplished the same goals purely in software thanks to advances in typical PC capabilities such as memory, speed, etc.
To display Kanji characters with sufficient clarity, AX machines had JEGA
Jega
Jega is the recording name of Manchester-based electronic music artist Dylan Nathan. Nathan has released records on the Planet Mu, Matador and Skam record labels....
screens with a resolution of 640x480 rather than the 640x350 EGA
EGA
EGA may stand for*EGA: estimated gestational age, medical*Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, the emblem of the United States Marine Corps*Egyptian German Automotive Company, the Mercedes-Benz manufacturer in Egypt*Elegant Gothic Aristocrat, a fashion line...
standard prevalent elsewhere at the time. Users could typically switch between Japanese and English mode by typing 'jp' or 'us', which would also invoke an IME
Input method editor
An input method is an operating system component or program that allows any data, such as keyboard strokes or mouse movements, to be received as input. In this way users can enter characters and symbols not found on their input devices...
enabling the input of Japanese characters.
AX later came to be superseded by IBM's DOS/V
DOS/V
DOS/V was a Japanese computing initiative starting in 1990 to allow personal computers to handle double-byte Japanese text via software alone. It was developed by IBM for its PS/55 machines . Kanji fonts and other locale information were stored on the hard disk rather than on special chips as in...
, which accomplished the same goals purely in software thanks to advances in typical PC capabilities such as memory, speed, etc.
External links
- Japan's PC industry in transformation (historical overview)
- Mitsubishi Maxy (information from a Japanese computer museum)
- Oki if386AX (information from a Japanese computer museum)