CRN Network, November 26, 2009, 1330
PC users can now enter text in Indian languages, easy and quick. Microsoft recently showcased the set of tools for Indian languages at the Microsoft India Development Center in Hyderabad.
The beta version of the tools will be made available as a free download and will initially support six languages—Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
These tools have been engineered by the Emerging Markets Labs (EM Labs) team of the Microsoft India Development Center (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. In addition, to desktop and web versions, visual keyboards for all supported languages are also available.
“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 Vice President and Managing Director, MSIDC.
“The desktop version is unique among the free-form transliteration offerings in the market today, in that it enables the user to enter Indian language text directly into any application running on Microsoft Windows, such as Microsoft Word or Windows Live Messenger.,” said Koppulu.
“The web version allows the user to enter text on any web page without requiring software download. The visual keyboard enables users who are not familiar with English alphabet to visually select and directly enter Indian language characters,” he added. |