1. It is a 3-year programme at Centre for Research in Urdu Language Processing (CRULP), National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES), Lahore, Pakistan, launched by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, for developing local language computing capacity. The countries (and languages) included in the project are Bangladesh (Bangla), Bhutan (Dzongkha), Cambodia (Khmer), Laos (Lao), Nepal (Nepali) and Sri Lanka (Sinhala, Tamil). For details, visit the Web sites http://www.panasia.org.sg/news/index12.htm and http://www.panl10n.net/.

2. July 31, 2003 (URL: http://www.google.co.in). The four Indian languages are: Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, and Marathi. This is in addition to English. Subsequently Tamil was added. As on April 14, 2004, the Google interface was available in five major Indian languages.

3. (a) Indian Script Code for Information Interchange, (b) The universal character-encoding standard, used for representation of text for computer processing. The Unicode standard provides the capacity to encode all of the characters used for the written languages of the world, (c) Indian Standard Font Code ( http://tdil.mit.gov.in/insfoc.pdf), and (d) Indian Script Roman Transliteration, and (e) Perso-Arabic Script Code for Information Interchange, devised by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune which defines storage standard for Urdu, Sindhi, Kashmiri and Arabic. For details, visit the Web site http://parc.cdacindia.com/PASCii.htm.

4. (a) Indian language database management system (1992), (b) Indian language publishing software – Windows version (1993), (c) Indian language browser authoring software (1996), (d) Integrated accounting inventory software – claimed to be world’s first accounting software for 12 Indian languages (1997), (e) Email software for Indian languages – claimed to be world’s first email software for 11 Indian languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, and Telugu) (1999), and (f) Java-based Universal Language Interface (2000). It makes it possible to use the Indian languages on the Internet without downloading the fonts or software. (Figures in parentheses denote the year of release of the product). Lastech Systems Private Limited, Chennai has developed all these software. For details, visit http://www.lastech.com/.

5. These are email software in Indian languages, namely, (a) Hindi, (b) Malayalam, (c) Tamil, and (d) Telugu, respectively developed by Lastech Systems Private Limited, Chennai. For details, visit http://www.lastech.com.

6. Shri Balram J.Rathore. Most of the work available currently has been voluntarily typed by him. This page, on the Web site of Language Technologies Research Centre (LTRC), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad attempts to create an online library of Hindi literature and develop e-texts of the writings of the famous Hindi writers like Meera, Suradas, Tulasidas, Premchand, Rahim, etc. for whose works the copyright is over. For details visit http://www.iiit.net/ltrc/script_html.

7. (a) A voluntary project attempting to improve the state of Indian language computing with special emphasis on open-source operating systems. Subject to merit, participation in the project is open to all. It was started on SourceForge.Net in Qctober 2001, and (b) On September 15-16, 2002 in Bangalore. For details, visit the Web site http://indic-computing.s ourceforge.net/about.html.

8. Technology Development for Indian Languages programme, which aims at promotion of information technology (IT) tools for Indian languages, was launched by Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India in 1991. For details, visit http://tdil.mit.gov.in/introindx.html.

9. (a) Content Development and IT Localisation Network. It was launched by Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) programme of Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India, in pursuance of specific recommendation of IT Task Force 2000 for promoting IT in lagging Hindi-speaking states. (b) The Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT) ( http://www.mait.com) - Consortium on Innovation and Language Technology (CoIL-Tech) set up in 2002 and funded by TDIL (Technology Development in Indian Languages) programme of Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India. It is a consortium of information technology (IT) companies engaged in development of local language applications and products. (Source: VishvaBbarat@tdil No.9, April 2003, inside front cover and p-110. For further details, visit http://tdil.mit.gov.in/tdil-july.2003.zip.

10. (a) (2002): $11 million, and (b) Over $64 million, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 79 percent over next three years, 2002-2005, according to a study conducted by Frost and Sullivan, a Silicon Valley- based growth consulting and training company ( http://www.frost.com), for Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), New Delhi ( http://www.mait.com). (Source: VishvaBharat@tdil, April 2003, No.9, p-102).

11. (a) A computer software, which renders text from one Indian language into another, jointly developed by Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.), Kanpur and University of Hyderabad. For details, visit http://www.iiit.net/ltrc/Anusaaraka/anu_flyer.html, (b) Microsoft’s a community portal for Indian language developers. For details, visit the Web site http://www.bhashaindia.com, (c) A bilingual (English/Tamil and English/Hindi) suite of applications including word processor, spreadsheet, database, browser, e-mail client, and drawing/paint developed by Chennai Kavigal Private Ltd., a part of TeNet group of companies incubated in 1996 by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras for producing software in local languages. For details, visit http://www.chennaikavigal.com/products.htm, (d) The first ever Indian language financial accounting software on Windows developed by Cyberscape Multimedia Ltd., Mumbai (Source: http://www.cybers capeindia.com/aboutus/history.htm), and (e) A range of software for Indian languages/ scripts (suite of fonts, utilities, keyboard drivers and cliparts) developed by Cyberscape Multimedia Ltd., Mumbai). The first product – Akruti for Windows – was developed in 1991. For details visit http://www.cyberscapeindia.com/products/akruti1.htm and http://www.akruti.com.

12. (a) The first Web site ( http://www.vishvakannada.com) hosted in Kannada on the Internet, established in December 1996. It is also the first online magazine in Kannada started by Dr U B Pavanaja, a scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, (b) A comprehensive major Hindi e-news portal ( http://www.prabhasakshi.com) by Dwarikesh Samvad Ltd., New Delhi launched on October 26, 2001. Envisioned by Gautam Morarka, CMD of Dwarikesh group and executed by Balendu Dadhich, Managing Editor-cum-Technical Head, it was originally a news portal which has now been made comprehensive to include 21 channels, (c) The first complete portal in Indian languages ( http://www.indianlanguages.com) developed by Cyberscape Multimedia Ltd., Mumbai in 1997 (Source: http://www.cyberscapeindia.com/aboutus/history.htm), (d) A leading portal in Marathi ( http://www.ramrampavna.com) launched on October 20, 2000 set up at a cost of Rs 40 crore (MD: Girish Balekundri) (Source: The Financial Express, October 20, 2000, http://www.financialexpress.com/fe/daily/20001020/fco20021.html), and (e) A Web site for Hindi poetry. Kaavyaalaya is run by Vani Murarka, an IT developer and Dr Vinod Tewary, a physicist. It was started on Geocities in 1997 and moved to its present site in 1999. Dr Tewary joined the team in 2001. For details visit http://www.manaskriti.com/kaavyaalaya/about_kavya.html.

13. It is a multilingual database of Indian theses and dissertations, currently available in English, Hindi and Kannada. According to an estimate, 25 to 30 percent of doctoral theses in India are in local languages. It is conceptualised as an eventual national repository and collaborative consortium of participating universities and institutions. It is an initiative of Dr. Shalini R Urs, Professor and Director, Vidyanidhi, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore. Beginning as a pilot project in 2000 with support from government of India demonstrating the feasibility of e-theses programme in India, it was started in 2002. The programme is supported by the Ford Foundation ( http://www.fordfound.org) and Microsoft Corporation ( http://www.microsoft.com). For details, visit http://www.vidyanidhi.org.in/html/aboutus.htm

14. (a) September 23, 1999, (b) February 1999, (c) September 1999, (d) April 13, 2000, (e) September 26, 2000, and (f) November 1, 2000. All of them were launched by Webdunia.com (India) Pvt Ltd., Indore (Madhya Pradesh), a company founded by Vinay Chhajlani, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). For details, visit http://www.webdunia.net/company/history.asp.

15. (a) LEAP mail (email software for 11 Indian languages), ( http://www.cdacindia.com/html/gist/products/leapm.asp), (b) IndoMail (email software for 12 Indian languages), (c) Apnamail. (Email system in 13 Indian languages) ( http://www.indianlanguages.com/email/help.htm)

16. (a) krishiworld ( http://www.krishiworld.com/default.asp), which claims to be India’s first multilingual agricultural portal, set up by Cyberdyne Solutions India Ltd., Pune.

17. (a) A machine-aided translation methodology for translating English to Indian languages, (b) A hybrid example-based machine translation (HEBMT) approach that is a combination of example-based approach and traditional rule-based approach for translating Hindi to English. Both Anglabharti and Anubharti have been developed by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. For details, visit the Web site http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/langtech, (c) One million pages parallel multilingual corpus, (d) Optical character recognition (OCR) for Devanagari script, which recognises Hindi, Marathi and Nepali, (e) Platform independent word processor (Linux, Solaris, Windows, etc.), and (f) A Unicode-based word processor with integrated optical character recognition (OCRs). Gyan Nidhi, Chitraksharika, Lekhika and Swarnakriti have been developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Noida ( http://www.cdacnoida.com) (Source: VishvaBharat@tdil, Number 9, April 2003, pp 97-99).

18. Graphics and Indian Script Terminal, developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur (R.M.K.Sinha, S.K.Mullick). The then department of electronics (DOE), government of India sponsored a project on design and development Integrated Devanagari Computer (IDC) terminal at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur in 1983. Demonstrated at the Third World Hindi Convention at Delhi, it was developed using Intel 8086 processor with multitasking firmware. The technology was further implemented in the 32-bit 68000 microprocessor and the result was named GIST. The technology was subsequently adopted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). A number of companies bought this technology for manufacturing multilingual computer terminals. (Source: http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/langtech/hist.htm).

19. (a) (i) A font styler, (ii) A text styler, (iii) A multilingual database utility, all in Shree-Lipi package, a de facto standard for desk top publishing (DTP) in Indian languages, and (b) (i) A Windows-based multilingual word processor, (ii) A multilingual appointments diary, both in Ankur suite. All these software have been developed by Modular Infotech Pvt Ltd., Pune, incorporating Modular System Pvt Ltd., Pune and TVS Electronics, Chennai. For details, visit the Web site http://www.modular-infotech.com.

20. (a) According to Mithi Software Technologies Pvt Ltd., Pune, which ran the free email service, due to the free nature of the service, there was an increased misue of the site by miscreants for spamming, and as a result they were forced to discontnue this free service. For further details, visit the Web site http://mithi.com/services/email/mailjol.html, and (b) It is an international email service in several, including many Indian, languages run by Langoo.com, Inc., Palo Alto, CA. Its characteristic feature is that it does not require special keyboards, language fonts or software. The name Langoo, according to the Web site is a combination of the first four letters of the word “Language”; with “goo” which is the glue that binds them together. For details, visit http://www.langoo.com/about/what.asp.

 

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