The R&D TC, as its name indicates, focuses on all affairs related to research and development. The R&D TC itself focuses on projects that enhance the Chinese typographic capability of TeX (the ctex package, for instance). Meanwhile, it coordinates all major research and development of members affiliated to the Society. Major tasks of the R&D TC are listed below:
Members of the TC should be actively involved in doing research and development. Our current major projects focus on the enhancement of the Chinese typesetting capability of TeX, like the ctex package. The members should get involved in the development or testing of the package.
When close connection is established between the Society and other publishers, we will frequently be requested to design class files and packages for them. This will, in the future, be a major task of this TC. Directors should carefully plan the design and efficiently coordinate the staff during the composition process.
General members and other staff of the Society can submit their research plan to be reviewed by R&D. If the project demonstrates special merit and the author agrees to release the final result under
GPL, a special research fellowship will be issued to encourage and assist the member in his or her research effort, and the member will be named a Linbo Scholar.
Major efforts of this TC include:
Research projects on how to fully utilize the typesetting capability of TeX, and on improving the typographic quality of documents produced by TeX.
Provide tutorial to general members on the topic of typography. (Introduce typography to the general public in a lively and easy-to-understand format.)
When connection is established with major publishers, this TC will cooperate with the R&D TC to work on the design of class files – helping R&D to interpret the specifications from the publisher, assisting the publisher in the transition to the TeX platform by modifying their specification to cater to the capability of TeX, and so forth.
Provide such service to general members as reviewing papers and books for typographic issues; e.g., layout design and the style of math formulas.
Conduct research on the value of foreign publications for consideration of importation and translation. Organize the batch purchase of foreign books. Organize the translation of essential documentation and books.
Organize the writing of tutorials and books on typesetting with TeX.
Support staff and general members’ writing of tutorial and books in either TeX or typography. They could submit their writing plan to the TC for review. If special merit is demonstrated and the author agrees to release the final result into the public for free, a scholarship will be issued.
Manage donation and other source of money.
Manage the disbursement of fellowship.
Prepare bimonthly budget report.
Process the registration of general members.
Coordinate members and other technical Committees. For instance, a member might want the committee to help with the design of his paper, under which circumstance this Committee will pass along the request of the member to the R&D TC.
Appointment and removal of forum moderators.
Establish and maintain connection with international organization, such as TUG, and obtain international recognition.
Many institutions have an online forum dedicated to TeX. We should establish connection with those moderators and organize special seminars about TeX.
Establish connection with major publishers about publishing with the TeX platform.
