Doctor gives language computing a boost by taking Kannada into the cyberage

Having learnt Visual Basic when immobilized for 9 months after a 1993 scooter accident, Dr U B Pavanaja went on to write the first versions of what is now his 'Kannada Kali' software programme. This is a game that helps a child or new learner of the Kannada language of the Southern Indian state of Karnataka to shape their letters properly. Currently, the one-time scientist at India's prestigious atomic research centre is at the helm of the Kannada Ganaka Parishat, or Kannada Computer Association, a voluntary organisation to promote the standardisation and usage of the Kannada language on computers. Kannada is spoken by some 47 million people. "There is so much talk about computing for the common man. But the main problem that everyone seems to overlook is that the common man (specially in countries like India) speaks in languages other than English," as Dr Pavanaja reminds us. "If you don't put Indian languages into the computer, all our tongues will be relegated to just spoken languages in five to ten years." Contact the doctor on pavanaja@vishvakannada.com for more details.