In an effort to bridge the language barrier that commonly hinders computer literacy in Government schools and even in urban regions, Lenovo has initiated a vernacular computing initiative.
Lenovo India today announced the launch of ‘Matrubhasha’ – a project that offers vernacular computing for school children to gain computer proficiency through their mother tongue, without depending on English.
20,500 children from 38 Akshara Foundation libraries in 35 Kannada Government schools and 3 Urdu Government schools across Bangalore will be the beneficiaries in this program.
As a part of this project, Lenovo is providing 150 Lenovo H series desktops, pre-installed with a unique vernacular computing software application called LooKeys.
The LooKeys-enabled Lenovo PCs donated to Government school libraries will allow children to learn computing programs in 12 languages – English, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Konkani and Punjabi.
Further, the children will also be able to use other applications like Chat, Word processing, PowerPoint, E-mails and browse the Web using the language of their choice as the medium.
The school libraries with these Lenovo – LooKeys PCs will go live on March 19, 2009.
Lenovo India employees will also commit approximately 3-5 volunteer hours per month to train the librarians in these schools, who will in turn impart computer education to the students. The volunteers and Akshara staff will also regularly monitor the progress of these projects at the schools, says Lenovo.