A Lagos-based social impact technology company, CDIAL AI, has unveiled plans to launch a revolutionary multilingual indigenous keyboard powered by Artificial Intelligence that enables seamless communication in 180 African languages.
The founder of CDAIL, Mr Yinka Iyinolakan, yesterday in Abuja, stated that the indigenous Keyboard was developed to address the growing need to support the diverse languages and dialects that makeup Nigeria’s cultural heritage, particularly those that are indigenous, unstandardized and underrepresented.
He mentioned that the Indigenous keyboard enables one to express yourself in Pidgin, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, English and hundreds of other languages, saying it will connect Nigeria to the global community, where everyone has a voice and can participate fully in the social and economic opportunities available.
Iyinolakan explained that the keyboard was designed with advanced Artificial intelligence and diacritics that make it easy to switch between languages, with support for over 180 languages.
He said: “This keyboard is the perfect tool for anyone looking to communicate in their native language or to learn a new language. The keyboard also includes smart emojis, speech-to-text, and auto-translate features, making it ideal for Africans and organizations that communicate in multiple languages. The keyboard also includes a sleek and ergonomic design that comes in four colours (silver, black, white and blue) ensuring a comfortable and beautiful typing experience.”
Adding: “We are thrilled to launch Indigenous Keyboard and bring a new level of convenience and accessibility to multilingual typing in Nigeria”, he stated.
The CDIAL boss pointed out that Nigeria is home to over 500 ethnic groups, with diverse languages as many indigenous languages are often marginalized and underrepresented in official communication channels.
He mentioned that the Indigenous keyboard can make a significant impact by providing a platform for Nigerians to communicate in their native languages, “we believe that the speech-enabled Indigenous Keyboard will empower students, teachers, policymakers and other Nigerians to learn, earn, trade and communicate more effectively in their native languages, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on language preservation and cultural diversity.”
He revealed that the Indigenous Keyboard is now available for pre-order through pay-stack, giving and backers can expect to receive their keyboards in July adding that the keyboard is compatible with all major operating systems and can be used on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
