Engineers at NED University of Engineering and Technology have made a groundbreaking development in the realm of digital accessibility for the Urdu language. They have created an innovative Artificial Intelligence-powered application designed to bring Urdu books and texts to life, making the language more accessible to a wider audience. This app, still in its beta stage, has the potential to revolutionize how Urdu content is consumed, especially in the digital era.
The application’s primary function is to convert printed Urdu text from images or fonts into editable digital files, allowing users to interact with the content in a more flexible manner. Once the text is digitized, it can be transformed into speech, effectively creating an audiobook from any Urdu text. This feature has the potential to open up a world of possibilities, particularly for those with visual impairments or anyone looking for an alternative way to engage with Urdu literature.
The project, which has garnered support from the Anjuman Tarqi Urdu, aims to bridge the gap in the digital presence of Urdu. Despite being the 10th most spoken language in the world, Urdu’s digital footprint has been comparatively limited, with fewer resources available for those looking to read or listen to Urdu content online. According to Dr. Majida Kazmi, the lead researcher on the project, this app is designed to address that gap, making Urdu texts more accessible by turning them into machine-readable formats. The app is expected to be released in its beta version within the next three months, bringing this much-needed technology to the public.
One of the standout features of the app is its versatility in adjusting font sizes, ranging from 8 to 40, allowing users to customize the reading experience to their preferences. Additionally, the app offers 135 different script styles, giving users a variety of options for how they want the text to appear. This level of personalization makes the app user-friendly and adaptable to various needs.
In addition to converting books, articles, and other texts into editable and audible formats, the app also offers a translation feature, allowing users to quickly translate websites from multiple languages, including English, into Urdu. This makes online content more accessible to Urdu speakers, further enhancing the utility of the app in daily life.
Another key feature of the app is its text-to-speech functionality, which not only reads the converted text aloud but also does so in a synthetic voice that ensures clear and accurate pronunciation of the Urdu language. The app promises to deliver an authentic Urdu accent, providing users with an immersive experience that makes listening to Urdu content as natural as possible.
The technology has already been tested with older newspapers, demonstrating its versatility in handling different types of written Urdu. This suggests that the app is capable of processing various forms of Urdu text, from modern literature to historical documents, making it an invaluable tool for researchers, students, and anyone interested in exploring Urdu content from different time periods.
This innovative application from NED University’s engineering team is poised to make a significant impact on the accessibility and preservation of the Urdu language in the digital age. With its potential to transform Urdu text into an interactive and accessible format, the app offers a glimpse into a future where language barriers are reduced, and cultural heritage is preserved through technology.
