Unicode/Block/Symbols for Legacy Computing/Ref

• Unicode Block Reference: Symbols for Legacy Computing

  • My Notes

    • I created a Semigraphics/Sextant Characters/Py Grid Utility for Proj/CGoL Bio
    • Some of these are also in Font/unscii

  • Overview

    • The Symbols for Legacy Computing block (U+1FB00–U+1FBFF) contains 249 assigned code points out of 256 total
    • Added to Unicode in version 13.0 (2020) with 212 characters, expanded in Unicode 16.0 (2024) with 37 additional characters
    • Contains graphical characters for compatibility with legacy computing platforms from the 1970s and 1980s
    • Located in the Supplementary Multilingual Plane (SMP)

  • Structure

    • Characters are organized by visual similarity and original platform
    • Hexadecimal code points are used for precise identification
    • The block includes 7 reserved code points that are currently unused

  • Core Components

    • Block Elements and Sextants (U+1FB00–U+1FB3B)

      • 60 characters for block drawing and pixel art
      • Includes "sextant" characters (semigraphic characters made up of six smaller blocks)
      • Compatible with CP437 and similar encodings
      • Example: U+1FB00 '🬀' BLOCK SEXTANT-1

    • Teletext Elements (U+1FB3C–U+1FB6F)

      • Characters used in Teletext broadcasting standards
      • Compatible with NAPLPS and similar standards
      • Example: U+1FB3C '🬼' BLOCK SEXTANT-121

    • Legacy Computer Characters (U+1FB70–U+1FBFF)

      • Characters from various home computers including:
        • Amstrad CPC
        • MSX
        • Mattel Aquarius
        • RISC OS
        • MouseText
        • Atari ST
        • TRS-80 Color Computer
        • Oric
        • Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
        • Minitel
        • ATASCII
        • PETSCII
        • ZX80 and ZX81

  • Technical Details

    • Script property: Common
    • All characters have East Asian Width property: Neutral (N)
    • General Category: Symbol, Other (So)
    • Bidirectional Class: Other Neutral (ON)
    • A supplemental block (Symbols for Legacy Computing Supplement) was added with Unicode 16.0

  • Related References

    • Unicode/Block/Ref/Block Elements
    • Unicode/Block/Ref/Geometric Shapes
    • Unicode/Block/Ref/Box Drawing
    • Unicode/Ref/Semigraphics