As young Chinese increasingly forget how to write characters because they don't have to, using keyboards and touch screen technology on mobile phones is changing the trend. 

For Yin Liang, a 26-year-old purchasing agent at a company, his embarrassment over forgetting how to write characters has gradually disappeared since he started to use the handwriting input method on his iPhone 4 a month ago. 

"When you write on the touch screen, you use your finger, instead of a mouse or keyboard," Yin says. 

"Actually, your finger is like a pen, writing the complicated characters that have long been spelled by pinyin, an alphabet-based input system. Whether typing on computers or texting on phones, most users in China type by phonetically spelling out the sounds of the characters and the software then gives a menu of characters that fit the pronunciation, so users only need to recognize the character. 

Handwriting technology on a mobile phone touch screen has been around for years and became popular with the iPhone, which recognizes the input and offers a wide selection of characters. 

"It's efficient and accurate," Yin says. 

Chinese characters are the oldest continuously used system of writing in the world, but as pinyin-based typing has become more widespread, youths have started forgetting how to write out characters. This was one of the main topics for debate at the first Cross-Straits Chinese Character Art Festival, held recently in Beijing, which attracted experts from Taiwan and the mainland. 

According to Zhang Zikang, president of the Culture and Art Publishing House, writing with a pen on the touch screen brings handwriting into the digital age. It is even better when you write with your finger, feeling the flow of the cursive script and the grace and art of Chinese characters, he says. 

"Smart gadgets don't take life from the square-shaped characters, instead they offer a new and advanced platform to show the charm of Chinese characters, which are always evolving," Zhang says.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. What is the most ancient and continuously used system of writing?
2. What has become more popular now?
3. What's the effect of that?
4. What gathering just occurred in China?
5. In what city was it held?
6. Were only Chinese invited?
7. Did they discuss the subject of Chinese characters?
8. What technology is beginning to change things back?
9. How does Yin Liang feel about not remembering how to write characters?
10. Is that going away?
11. What kind of phone does he have?
12. Has he been using the touch screen method of writing for over a year now?
13. How long?
14. Does one use a mouse to write on the screen?
15. What do you use then?
16. What object does your finger replicate?
17. How do Chinese normally input their language on a computer?
18. After doing that, what does the software do?
19. Who is the head of the Culture and Art Publishing House?
20. Does he think it is better to use your finger or a writing utensil?

Numbered answers:
1. Chinese characters.
2. pinyin-based typing
3. youths have started forgetting how to write out characters
4. Cross-Straits Chinese Character Art Festival
5. Beijing
6. No.
7. Yes.
8. keyboards and touch screen technology on mobile phones
9. embarrassment
10. Yes.
11. iPhone 4
12. No.
13. A month.
14. No.
15. Finger
16. A pen
17. By phonetically spelling out the sounds of the characters.
18. gives a menu of characters that fit
19. Zhang Zikang
20. Yes.