The latest to join the local language computing bandwagon is the open-source community that has been trying local language versions for the past two years or so. Consider the recently released IndLinux Milan v0.37, with a Hindi interface by Mumbai-based Netcore Solutions. Says Prakash Advani, Co-founder, IndLinux.org, Netcore Solutions, "Hindi is the third largest language in the world, yet there are no operating systems available in this language. IndLinux.org therefore decided to make Hindi support available for free to create a revolution in Indian language computing".

IndLinux Milan allows the user to make a choice of language from all 11 Indian languages following which-the item/menu names of the applications would immediately convert or translate into the user-specified language. Apart from IndLinux, there are also smaller companies and individual Linux developers who contribute language interfaces to enhance the base of available Linux applications. In that sense, the IndLinux announcement is nothing revolutionary in its ability to popularize local language computing.

The elementary but persistent problem occurring here is the conflict over standards that the interfaces are based on. To circumvent the problem of standards, companies are beginning to develop packages on a single, largely accepted standard Unicode for greater feasibility to users and easier exchange of codes within the OSS community. This would further help users to be able to send emails from their Linux-based interface-email client to a Microsoft one both being supported by the Unicode.

Another issue that poses a hurdle in the process of localization is the non-acceptance of uniformity in the use of English-Hindi translated words. While the open-source community offers to give away localized interfaces for free, there are problems related to grammatical errors that can jar the user. The promise of Linux interfaces being developed by various organizations is that any software based on GTK (GNome tool kit-a mandatory tool-kit for any application to be installed on Linux) will automatically undergo language conversions once the user specifies his choice of language. However, such customization in spite of extensive code support will inevitably cause problems related to grammar and proper sentence construction. It is this sector that needs to be worked on for it to reach the level of sophistication wherein it becomes useful and handy for the
user. Says Vinay Chhajlani, founder and CEO of Webduniya, "Products need to be validated extensively before reaching a user".

The companies actively involved in developing localized packages have a wide spectrum of users in mind. The primary application areas are the desktop users, banking sectors, e-governance sector, projects for the visually impaired, the illiterate and developers not conversant with English. One way of promoting localized interfaces for e-governance in rural areas is by developing localized kiosks for the village folk, the illiterate and the visually impaired with the text-to-speech (TTS) technology implementation. A developer not conversant in English can benefit from these localized interfaces by getting the required exposure to a non-English programming environment and reap the same benefits and services as that of a developer working on an English platform.

Other notable players in the field of localizing interfaces are Bharatbhasha with their Internet translation services; portal Webduniya with their online translation services and offering solutions as one of the partners for Microsoft’s Office 11 development; Simputer with their inexpensive GNU/Linux computers and text-to-speech system for Indian languages; and CDAC with their slew of products in the multi-lingual area. Windows XP already offers a text-to-speech interface developed by Vaachak in collaboration with Microsoft India.

TEAM DQ