HindiLearner News

Microsoft showcased a set of tools that help users enter Indian language text into computers easily and quickly, at the Microsoft India Development Center (MSIDC) in Hyderabad (india).

The beta version of the tools will be made available as a free download soon and will initially support the following six languages – Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.

“There is a huge demand to consume and interact with Indian language content today. Tools that make it easy to search, communicate and create content in Indian languages are key for broader computing adoption and the tools we are showcasing today are aimed at addressing this need,” said Srini Koppolu, Corporate VP & Managing Director, MSIDC.

These tools have been engineered by the Emerging Markets Labs team of the Microsoft India Development Centre (MSIDC) and the technology can be leveraged to support other syllabic languages beyond Indian languages.These input tools use free-form transliteration. Users spell Indian language words in a natural (phonetic) way using English alphabet, which the tools transliterate into the right words in the chosen Indian language.

A software, developed by Israel-based FTK Technologies, lets you type in ten Indian languages —Hindi, Bangla, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi and Urdu. The software uses a virtual keyboard that maps over your computer keyboard to be used like a regular keyboard or on screen with the help of a mouse.

The software comes in two variants. The advanced version, LooKeys Pro, uses a special webcam that determines what you are typing, representing essentially another method of input. LooKeys is compatible with MS Word and web browsers like Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. It can even be used with instant messengers like MSN Messenger and Gtalk.

As the LooKeys window opens, you can type a document in the language of your choice. The document can then be saved either as a Word document or copied and sent as an email.

To further the use of its vernacular options, the LooKeys window also has links to various dictionary sites and sites that provide vocal translations for those of us who may be unsure of pronunciation. Here you can also find links to Facebook, YouTube, AOL Mail, Gmail, Google, Orkut and Myspace. In short, your can modify you entire Internet experience to the language or your choice.

LooKeys, however, may take some getting used to. It is like learning to type all over again. But its comprehensive coverage of the languages it supports means you’ll also end up brushing up your grammar and spellings.