The Hindu Business Line : Your say, in your way

E-mailing and chatting over the Internet has become so much a part of our lives that we scarcely even notice that much of the stuff that makes the information superhighway so exciting is done in English.

But given the lack of keyboards in Indian languages, many young people are cut off from learning more about the benefits of computers, e-mail and chat (yes, they have their uses too!). That’s why initiatives such as Educomp’s recent Mag ikeys are welcome.

To be introduced to government schools in the country in collaboration with Educomp, the Indian language Online Word Processor with a virtual keyboard will enable government school students to communicate on the Web, e-mail, chat and write documents — in their mother tongue. It is supported by Intel’s World Ahead Education Program and developed by the Israel-based software company FTK Technologies Ltd.

‘User friendly’

Soumya Kanti

Educomp says no alterations are needed before installing Magikeys on the computer. Its intuitive software predicts the next letter to be typed, making it easy and fast.

It includes Web-based editor, quick e-mail creator, over 3,000 different letters and combinations in 11 Indian languages (Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu, Telugu, Bengali and Konkani). In addition, it will also empower teachers to communicate effectively and make presentations for teaching and learning purposes in regional languages, says Educomp.

Soumya Kanti, President-ICT, Educomp Solutions Ltd, told eWorld, “Most children speak and write in their mother tongue. While we provide curriculum content in local languages, it is difficult for these children to write e-mails, chat online or prepare documents on the computer since they are not proficient in English.”

A goverment school in Gurgaon where the MagiKeys pilot project was implemented saw children enjoying the idea of writing in Hindi. “Some of them actually managed to write quite fluently within a matter of minutes,” says Kanti.

Rigorous tests were carried out to gauge both the technical and human feasibility of the project. The menus were in English and people outside the metros said some of the users won’t be able to even understand the menus in English, or use the support that was in English.

To make the product more user-friendly, the option of changing the menus to Hindi was added.

Client support too is available in both Hindi and English. More languages will be added in the future, says Kanti.

“For most people it was a new experience. They were not very proficient in typing in a regional language so they asked for some aids regarding spelling and translation.

This idea improved the product, and added the online tools of spell check, dictionary and vocal translation,” says Kanti.

paromita@thehindu.co.in

More Stories on : IT Training | Education

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Farming out

The details are in print

Your say, in your way

Unable to send mail

Mobile as financial advisor

How secure is your laptop?

Novelty, thy name is cyber deception

Quiz

A department for employee branding