\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)}