ArmSCII

ArmSCII

ArmSCII (Armenian Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a character encoding standard used for representing Armenian text in computers and other digital devices. It was developed to facilitate the use of the Armenian script in digital communications and data processing.

History

The development of ArmSCII began in the early 1990s, following the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union. The need for a standardized encoding system became apparent as the use of computers and digital communication grew in the country. ArmSCII was officially adopted as a national standard in 1997.

Versions

There are three main versions of ArmSCII:

• ArmSCII-7: A 7-bit encoding system, primarily used for compatibility with older systems.
• ArmSCII-8: An 8-bit encoding system, which provides a more comprehensive representation of the Armenian script.
• ArmSCII-8A: An extended version of ArmSCII-8, which includes additional characters and symbols.

Structure

ArmSCII encodes the Armenian alphabet, including both uppercase and lowercase letters, punctuation marks, and other special characters. The encoding system is designed to be compatible with existing ASCII and ISO/IEC 8859-1 standards, allowing for easier integration with other text processing systems.

Usage

ArmSCII is widely used in Armenia and among the Armenian diaspora for digital communication, data processing, and publishing. It is supported by various operating systems, software applications, and web browsers. However, with the advent of Unicode, the use of ArmSCII has declined, as Unicode provides a more universal and comprehensive encoding system for the Armenian script.

Comparison with Unicode

While ArmSCII was an important step in the digitization of the Armenian language, Unicode has largely supplanted it due to its broader acceptance and support. Unicode includes a dedicated block for the Armenian script, which ensures compatibility across different platforms and devices.

See also

• Armenian alphabet
• Unicode
• Character encoding
• ASCII
• ISO/IEC 8859-1

Related Pages

• Armenian language
• Armenia
• Digital communication
• Data processing
• Unicode Consortium

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