HP Labs India

Deccanherald.com
March 16, 2006

Researchers at HP Labs India have developed a gesture-based keyboard (GKB),a pen-based technology that could revolutionise communication in Indian scripts.

HP executives said the technology could open up the power of computing to vast numbers of new users, all in their own language and without prior knowledge of English or typing.

“The gesture-based keyboard can help bridge the digital divide by simplifying the use of IT,” said HP Senior Vice-President & HP Labs Research Director Dick Lampman told reporters here on Wednesday

HP also announced the technology that allows the Kannada script to be recorded and stored directly on the computer. Officials said GKB also holds the potential for Indic languages derived from the Devanagari and Tamil scripts to be used in a similar manner.

They said unlike other prevailing Indic language entry methods which either use bilingual keyboards or display Indic keyboard layout on a monitor, the GKB is a low-cost and rugged solution that helps solve phonetic language entry problem by allowing users to input data the way most people learn to write — with a pen. “This simple but intuitive data entry method could make it easier to communicate for people who may not understand English or know how to type,” they said.

According to HP Labs India Director Ajay Gupta the device is expected to be manufactured and distributed by a third party.

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