char « array « Python Data Type Q&A

1. Split string into array with many char pro items    stackoverflow.com

I have a string and I want an array of str for example:

"hello world"
["hel", "lo ", "wor", "ld"]

["hell", "o wo", "rld"]

["h", "e", ...

2. 2D array of Chars    python-forum.org

I have searched a lot and have found many ways (most of which do not work) for 2D arrays. I need to load a file into a 2D array, and I already have the loops to do so, but not the array. I tried using NumPy but it only can use numerical types.