Imagine a world where an entire language, one of the oldest and most complex on Earth, with tens of thousands of unique characters, stands on the brink of being locked out of the digital age. This was the precipice China faced as computers began to reshape our planet. How could a culture built on intricate characters, each a universe of meaning, connect with a technology fundamentally designed around a few dozen keys?
This isn't ancient history. This was a puzzle that, had it remained unsolved, could have fundamentally altered the trajectory of modern China, preventing it from becoming the technological powerhouse we see today. The stakes were monumental.
This podcast from Radiolab explores this fascinating history. Listen now.
